Small Group Tour in Stowe, Vermont
A guided small-group day in and around Stowe, with mountain scenery, local food and the village charm that make the town a Vermont classic, without the stress of mountain driving.
Vermont
Stowe
Stowe is the Vermont mountain village that most people picture when they imagine New England in the snow or in October color: a white-steepled main street, a covered bridge or two, a paved recreation path through the meadows and, behind it all, Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the state.
This guide covers the whole valley, from the lifts and gondola at Stowe Mountain Resort and the Austrian-style Trapp Family Lodge to the dramatic road through Smugglers Notch, the waterfalls and swimming holes, and the food and drink stops that make the area more than a ski town, including a lager hall, a famous cannery and a cider mill known for doughnuts. It adds day trips to Waterbury, Montpelier and the Mad River Valley, then matches you to the right place to sleep, from a historic village inn and a spa resort to a slopeside lodge and a practical chain hotel in Waterbury.
Don't miss
Small Group Tour in Stowe, Vermont
A guided small-group day in and around Stowe, with mountain scenery, local food and the village charm that make the town a Vermont classic, without the stress of mountain driving.
Stowe Mountain Resort Skiing and Snowboarding
The big mountain behind the village, with long, historic trails on Mount Mansfield and a modern base area at Spruce Peak, one of the best-known ski experiences in the eastern United States.
Trapp Family Lodge and the Sound of Music Story
The Austrian-style mountain lodge founded by the von Trapp family, with meadows, hiking and cross-country trails, a bierhall and a story familiar to anyone who knows the musical.
Stowe Recreation Path
A paved, car-free path of roughly five miles that links Stowe village to the mountain road through meadows, woods and river crossings, popular for walking, cycling, running and winter strolls.
Things to do in Stowe
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Small Group Tour in Montpelier and Mad River Valley
A guided small-group day trip from the Stowe area to Vermont's tiny capital and the farm villages of the Mad River Valley, with a gold dome, covered bridges and good food.
ArborTrek Canopy Zipline Tour at Smugglers Notch Resort
A guided zipline and canopy tour through the forest at Smugglers Notch Resort, a short drive over the pass from Stowe, for travelers who want adrenaline with their Vermont scenery.
Stowe Mountain Resort Skiing and Snowboarding
The big mountain behind the village, with long, historic trails on Mount Mansfield and a modern base area at Spruce Peak, one of the best-known ski experiences in the eastern United States.
Mount Mansfield Gondola SkyRide
A scenic gondola ride up the shoulder of Mount Mansfield with sweeping views over Stowe and the Green Mountains, an easy way to get high without hiking or skiing.
Trapp Family Lodge and the Sound of Music Story
The Austrian-style mountain lodge founded by the von Trapp family, with meadows, hiking and cross-country trails, a bierhall and a story familiar to anyone who knows the musical.
Von Trapp Brewing and Bierhall
A lager brewery and German-style bierhall on the Trapp Family Lodge property, with house beers, hearty plates and a hillside view.
Stowe Recreation Path
A paved, car-free path of roughly five miles that links Stowe village to the mountain road through meadows, woods and river crossings, popular for walking, cycling, running and winter strolls.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
Smugglers Notch State Park and the Notch Road
A dramatic mountain pass on Route 108 between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, with towering cliffs, giant boulders, short trails and a legend of smugglers.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
Mount Mansfield Hike to the Chin
A classic Vermont summit hike to the alpine ridge of the highest peak in the state, with rocky scrambles, bare rock and views that reach across the Champlain Valley.
5 to 8 hoursDetails →
Bingham Falls and Moss Glen Falls
Two of Stowe's best waterfalls, a short scramble to a swimming-hole cascade near the notch road and an easy viewing walk to a tall, mossy fall nearer the village.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Gold Brook Covered Bridge and Emilys Bridge
The historic covered bridges of the Gold Brook area, a quiet loop of old timber, a babbling stream and a ghost story that locals tell on dark nights.
30 minutes to 1 hourDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Green Mountain Inn
Stowe Village
A historic inn on Main Street that has welcomed travelers since the nineteenth century, with traditional rooms, a village address and an easy walk to shops and the recreation path.
Check rates →Trapp Family Lodge
Luce Hill, above Stowe
An Austrian-style mountain lodge on a large hillside estate, with meadow views, a cross-country ski center, a bierhall and the von Trapp story at its heart.
Check rates →The Lodge at Spruce Peak
Spruce Peak Village
A slopeside resort lodge in the Spruce Peak village, close to the lifts and with a pool, spa and a mountain village of restaurants and shops outside the door.
Check rates →Topnotch Resort
Mountain Road
A spa resort on Mountain Road with a well-known spa, tennis, riding and a quiet setting on the road between the village and the ski mountain.
Check rates →Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa
Mountain Road
A long-established Mountain Road resort with a spa, a hedge labyrinth, restaurants and a range of rooms and suites suitable for couples and families.
Check rates →Sun and Ski Inn and Suites
Mountain Road
A friendly, mid-priced inn on Mountain Road with a pool, a casual atmosphere and a practical location between the village and the mountain.
Check rates →AWOL Stowe
Stowe
A smaller, design-minded inn in the Stowe area, suited to couples and friends who prefer a boutique feel over a big resort.
Check rates →Hampton Inn Waterbury
Waterbury (about 15 minutes from Stowe)
A dependable chain hotel in Waterbury, near the interstate, Ben and Jerrys and Cold Hollow Cider Mill, a practical and often cheaper base for visiting Stowe.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Small Group Tour in Stowe, VermontStay
Green Mountain InnStowe Village
Do
Stowe Mountain Resort Skiing and SnowboardingStay
The Lodge at Spruce PeakSpruce Peak Village
Do
Trapp Family Lodge and the Sound of Music StoryStay
Trapp Family LodgeLuce Hill, above Stowe
Stowe guides
Stowe in Three Days: Mountain, Village and Valley
A practical three-day Stowe plan that balances the village, the mountain, the notch road and a food-focused day through Waterbury.
Stowe Fall Foliage Guide: When, Where and How to Beat the Crowds
How to plan a Stowe foliage trip: timing, the best drives and viewpoints, crowds, lodging and what to do besides looking at leaves.
Where to Stay in Stowe: Village, Mountain Road and Waterbury
A guide to Stowe lodging areas, from the village and Mountain Road to the ski base and Waterbury, with the right hotel for each trip style.
Stowe Ski and Winter Guide: Slopes, Cross-Country and Cozy Days
A winter guide to Stowe: skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort, cross-country at Trapp Family Lodge, off-snow options and practical tips.
Stowe Food and Drink Guide: Doughnuts, Lagers and Maple
A food guide to Stowe and Waterbury: cider doughnuts, ice cream, brewery stops, maple treats and how to build a delicious day.
Day Trips from Stowe: Waterbury, Montpelier and the Mad River Valley
The best day trips from Stowe: Waterbury food stops, Montpelier, the Mad River Valley, Smugglers Notch and a lake day.
