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Vermont Day Trip Ideas – Things to Do Around Stowe Vermont

Located in northern Vermont, Stowe is between the Northern Green Mountains and the Worcester mountain range.

Stowe, Vermont is known as the “ski capital of the east” but there are still plenty of things to do in the area, beyond the ski slopes. We discovered that you experience a lot of Stowe during a day trip.

I’m sharing more about all the adventures we experienced in Stowe as a day trip but you could easily extend your stay for more time to explore.

I have recommendations toward the bottom of the article for great stops on the way to Stowe.

 scenic view from Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

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Enjoy the Scenic Views From The Trapp Family Lodge

700 Trapp Hill Rd, Stowe, VT

The Trapp Family Lodge encompasses a resort, farm, and brewery on 2600 acres.

view from Trapp Family Lodge

You can experience incredible scenic views of the area from the Trapp Family Lodge.

The family Story  Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

The von Trapp family’s story inspired the popular film musical “The Sound of Music” which debuted in 1965.

photos at Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

The family fled Austria in 1938 and toured the US as the Trapp Family Singers in the 1940s.

Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

The family settled in Stowe, Vermont on land that was originally a farm.

sheep at Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

The family purchased the property as a farm in 1942. In 1950, the 27-room lodge was added to the property.

Many of the foods at the resort are locally sourced on the property.

photos at Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

The lodge displays of family photos show the Trapp family over the years on the lower level.

Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

The new 96-room lodge replaced the old one after a devistating fire to the original lodge in 1980.

 Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

The scenic views from the property are definitely worth a visit. There is also a gift shop near the lobby if you want to purchase a gift or souvenir.

view from Trapp Family Lodge

Stroll the Grounds of the Trapp Family Resort With a Property Pass

If you aren’t staying on property you can purchase a Property Pass.

The Property Pass gives you access to the grounds, chapel, family cemetery, gardens, farm animals, and hiking and biking trails.

Trapp Family Lodge Stowe Vermont

Activities Offered at the Trapp Family Resort

  • Guided Tours (von Trapp History, Farm Tour, or a Forest Tour)
  • Mountain Biking
  • Hiking
  • Disc Golf
  • Yoga
  • Massage Treatments
  • Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
  • Tennis
  • Rock Climbing
  • Water Classes
  • Seasonal Classes
  • Culinary Experiences
  • Cross Country Skiing/ snowshoeing

You can find vacation rentals at The Trapp Family Lodge here.

 von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall Stowe Vermont

Dine at One of Vermont’s Largest Breweries – von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall

1333 Luce Hill Rd, Stowe, VT 

“A Little of Austria, A Lot of Vermont”

The von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall craft brewery features Vermont-made, Austrian-style beers.

beer at von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

In addition to Austrian-style beer, there is KIS Kombucha, Artisan Hard Cider, Rookie’s Root Beer or Maple Lemonade, and soft drinks on tap.

von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

Make reservations in advance because this is a popular dining option. We made a reservation on the same day and killed time at another brewery before our visit.

family story von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

The menu at the brewery shares more about the history of the von Trapp Family.

 Chicken schnitzel with pretzel bun von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

I ordered the Chicken schnitzel and substituted the regular bun for a pretzel bun. It was the right decision because their pretzel bun was delicious.

The chicken is schnitzel style with lingonberry mayonnaise coleslaw and house pickle.

I’m typically not a sauerkraut fan but I really enjoyed their Sauerkraut mashed potatoes as my side.

I’m sharing the other menu items that our table enjoyed.

Bratwurst, knackwurst, bauerwurst at von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

“Bratwurst, knackwurst, bauerwurst” served with sauerkraut mashed potatoes, braised cabbage, tomato salad and pickles.

Beef braised pulled pork at von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

Beer Braised Pulled Pork Sandwich made with Champlain Valley Farm Pork braised in Vienna lager and mustard, with coleslaw, pickled red peppers, and fennel.

Grilled bratwurst sandwich  von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall

Grilled Bratwurst Sandwich served on a pretzel bun topped with house bacon apple sauerkraut.

The Alchemist Brewery in Stowe Vermont

Enjoy a Creative Craft Beer at The Alchemist Brewery

100 Cottage Club Rd, Stowe, VT

The Alchemist Brewery Stowe Vermont

This Alchemist began as a 60-seat brewpub in Waterbury in 2003, but Hurricane Irene destroyed it in 2011.

They opened a small production brewery in Waterbury in 2011 and shifted to the Brewery and Visitors Center in Stowe in 2016.

The Alchemist Brewery Stowe Vermont

There are a lot of unique design details to appreciate as soon as you walk into the building.

Look up and down, side to side to see all the colorful and intricate art.

craft beer at The Alchemist Brewery Stowe Vermont

This is the only place Heady Topper, their flagship double IPA is available on draft daily.

They also serve canned beer, bottled beer, non-alcoholic drinks, wine, and coffee.

The Alchemist Brewery Stowe Vermont

The Brewery doesn’t serve food but Thursday-Sunday Warren’s Food Truck is onsite.

The Alchemist Brewery Stowe Vermont

The outdoor patio and green space behind the brewery is nice for guests to enjoy on a beautiful day.

You don’t need a reservation for the brewery and there is plenty of seating throughout the brewery.

The Alchemist Brewery Stowe Vermont

Guided 40-minute brewery tours are offered at varying times daily. The tour includes a commemorative glass and a can of beer.

downtown Stowe Vermont

Explore Historic Downtown Stowe

The downtown historic village of Stowe has a variety of local shops and restaurants.

downtown Stowe Vermont

A few popular shops are Stowe Mercantile, Bear Pond Book Store, The Butchery, and Lake Champlain Chocolates.

Every Sunday from May to October you can find Vermont-made products at The Stowe Farmers Market.

downtown Stowe Vermont

Several historic buildings are in the downtown village of Stowe, including the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, Stowe History Museum, and the Stowe Free Library/Helen Day Art Center.

You can find a full list of buildings for a self-guided historical and cultural tour here.

Moss Glen Falls trail Stowe Vermont

Hike to Moss Glen Falls

513 Moss Glen Falls Rd, Stowe, VT

This short hike to a waterfall is a 5-minute drive from the Stowe Historic Downtown Village.

Moss Glen Falls trail Stowe Vermont

Moss Glen Falls is part of the C.C. Putnam State Forest, the fifth-largest forest in Vermont at 17,503 acres. The Moss Glen Falls Natural Area consists of 82 acres.

Moss Glen Falls trail Stowe Vermont

The .4-mile trail starts on a boardwalk and takes about 20 minutes to the falls and back.

Moss Glen Falls trail Stowe Vermont

You can enjoy scenic views of the stream along the way.

Moss Glen Falls trail Stowe Vermont

There are sections of stairs and a gradual incline that will get your heart pumping as you get closer to approaching the waterfall.

Moss Glen Falls Stowe Vermont

Moss Glen Falls is the tallest waterfall in Vermont at 85 feet.

covered bridge Stowe Vermont

If You Have Additional Time in Stowe, Vermont

Here are additional ideas for adventures in Stowe if you have more time.

Drive Smugglers’ Notch Scenic Highway

Smugglers’ Notch is a winding scenic drive between Stowe and Cambridge on Vermont Route 108. In 1978 the highway became Vermont’s first official state scenic road park of Smugglers Notch State Park.

The name is a nod to its history of smuggling as a great hiding place for contraband with an abundance of hidden caves and dense forests.

It was a secret route for smugglers to transport embargoed goods from Canada to the US in the early 1800s and for smuggling alcohol during Prohibition in the 1920s.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort is a four-season family ski resort in the area with 6 lifts and 78 trails. You can save on your stay at Smuggler Notch Resort here.

 Stowe Vermont

Spend Time at Stowe Mountain Resort

5781 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 

Stowe Mountain Resort has bragging rights as the:

  • Birthplace of alpine skiing in Vermont
  • The first lift-served run on Mount Mansfield in 1937
  • Birthplace of the 10th Mountain Division
  • Home to the nation’s oldest Ski Patrol established in 1934

Stowe Mountain Resort has 485 skiable acres, 12 lifts, 116 ski trails, and the highest skiing elevation at 3625 feet.

The Stowe Gondola Skyride is very popular in the fall transporting guests to the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest mountain at 4395 feet.

Guests can dine on top of Vermont’s highest peak at The Cliffhouse Restaurant on top of Mt. Mansfield.

The restaurant is open for lunch only and reservations are strongly encouraged. If you visit on the weekend allow additional time for gondola lines. The Waffle is an option if you’re in the mood for a sweet treat.

You can save on your stay at Stowe Mountain Resort here.

Ben & Jerry's Factory in Vermont

Additional Adventures Near Stowe, Vermont

We made all of these stops on our way to Stowe. They’ll appear in the order of our visit.

Ben and Jerry's Factory in Vermont

Tour Ben & Jerry’s Factory

1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd Route 100, Waterbury, VT (13 minutes from Stowe, VT)

Learn about one of America’s favorite ice cream brands at Ben & Jerry’s.

 Ben & Jerry's Factory tour in Vermont

Book Your Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour in Advance

Tickets for the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour open two weeks in advance. I’d recommend setting your alarm on your calendar so that you get your desired date and time.

The factory tours are popular and fill up quickly.

Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes in advance of their factory tour.

 ice cream sample on factory tour  at Ben & Jerry's in Vermont

The highlight of the factory tour was getting to sample ice cream in the Flavor Lab.

That day the sample flavor was “Dirt Cake” made with vanilla pudding ice cream, chocolate sandwich cookies, and chocolate cookie swirls.

Ben and Jerry's Factory in Vermont

If you have additional time before your tour you can take a picture with the pint photo lid, and browse the gift shop.

ice cream at Ben & Jerry's Factory in Vermont

Of course, no visit to Ben & Jerry’s would be complete without eating ice cream.

We got ice cream after our factory tour for an even greater appreciation of the flavors.

We ordered the small size for each of our ice cream flavors of choice “Chunky Monkey,” strawberry cheesecake, and “Marshmellow Sky.”

 ice cream at Ben & Jerry's Factory in Vermont

It was the perfect amount of ice cream after sampling ice cream on the tour.

 Ben and Jerry's  in Vermont

The gift shop has a lot of witty t-shirts and gift items.

map of  Ben and Jerry's  in Vermont

The Ben & Jerry’s campus has

  • Ice Cream Flavor Graveyard
  • Playground
  • Picnic Tent
  • Designated RV & Bus Parking
  • Gift Shop
  • Factory Tours
  • Scoop Shop
  • Outdoor Water fountain/ Dog Bowl
  • Pint Lid Photo Op
  • “Cowmobile”
 Ben and Jerry's  in Vermont

Younger guests can burn off extra energy on the playground. There are also designated areas for accessible parking for guests.

Ben and Jerry's Factory in Vermont

If you’re craving Ben & Jerry’s after you visit you can even find their ice cream flavors on Amazon if you can’t find them at your local grocer.

 Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard  in Vermont

Visit the Ice Cream Flavor Graveyard at Ben & Jerry’s

If you don’t have a factory tour booked you can still visit the Ice Cream Flavor Graveyard.

 Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard  in Vermont

This is where ice cream flavors that weren’t as popular go once they’ve been discontinued.

 Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard  in Vermont

Each tombstone states the name of the ice cream flavor, a witty description of its departure, and the years it was available.

 Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard  in Vermont

It’s fun to walk around and reminisce about the flavors you recognize.

 Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard  in Vermont

Fill out a request for Ben & Jerry’s to “resurrect” an ice cream flavor on their website.

Share your favorite flavor and why and they’ll resurrect the most popular.

Cabot Creamery in Vermont

Shop for Artisan Cheese at the Cabot Creamery Store

2657 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury Center, VT (11 minutes from Stowe, VT)

The Cabot Creamery Store is the perfect stop to load up on Cabot cheese products and specialty food.

Cabot Cheese was formed in 1919 by 94 families from Cabot, Vermont, who formed a cooperative to produce high-quality dairy products.

The farmers in the cooperative own Cabot and McCadam products brands and 100% of the proceeds of every purchase go back to the farmers.

Cabot Creamery in Vermont

You can try a variety of cheese samples in the store to help narrow your selections.

They also have a selection of fun t-shirts so I had to purchase their “Cheese the Day” t-shirt and a few packages of their cheese.

Smugglers' Notch Distillery in Vermont

Sample Spirits at Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Tasting Room

2653 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury Village Historic District, VT

Smuggler’s Notch Distillery Tasting Room shares the same parking lot as Cabot Creamery Store.

Smugglers' Notch Distillery in Vermont

The distillery was founded by a father and son in 2006 and won the Double-Gold award for their Smugglers’ Notch Vodka within nine months of its release.

The distillery has continued to win awards for its craft spirit products including vodka, gin, rye whiskey, rum, bourbon, and liqueurs.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

Apple Cider, Donuts, and More at Cold Hollow Cider Mill

3600 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury Center, VT (10 minutes from Stowe, VT)

donut at Cold Hollow Cider Mill

Cold Hollow Cider Mill has a Cafe & Tasting Room with breakfast and lunch menu items. The cafe also serves Vermont craft beers and hard ciders.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

The Main Entrance for Cold Hollow Cider Mill has a variety of apples, fresh pressed apple cider, a bakery serving delicious cider donuts, within a large retail store with gourmet foods including Maple products, apparel, souvenirs, and more.

apple pressing Cold Hollow Cider Mill

You can watch employees working on an authentic cider press from the large viewing windows within the store.

Watching the cider-making process on the rack-and-cloth press will give you a greater appreciation for their Vermont McIntosh cider.

Thundering Brook Falls in Vermont

Looking for More Adventures in Vermont?

Check out these outdoor adventures, local restaurants, and more for your next visit to Vermont.

What is the Closest Airport to Stowe, Vermont?

  • Burlington International Airport, (BTV) Vermont – (34 miles)
  • Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) New York (41.5 miles)
  • Lebanon Municipal Airport (LEB) New Hampshire (61.3 miles)
  • Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) Canada (86.6 miles)
  • Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) New Hampshire (123.8 miles)

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