Stowe, Vermont, is a national favorite of outdoor adventurers for a reason. With its picturesque natural landscape and rotating seasonal activities, Stowe is a compact, vibrant experience. While in the warmer months the town hosts hiking, biking, and rafting, during the winter it offers various sports like skiing and snowboarding, enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. The town is also known for its high quality dining scene, with award-winning restaurants and plenty of breweries and cideries to sample.
The town, though small, has many roadside lodges perfect for roadtrippers, including the cozy, sleek Tälta Lodge. Serving as a ski retreat since the 1950’s Tälta Lodge is now newly renovated and fit with a community-oriented layout. After a long day enjoying the outdoors, one can sit around the fire pit and make some new acquaintances in the lodge backyard.
For a day of exploring the beautiful landscape, there is Lamoille Valley Bike Tours in the nearby town, Johnson, from which visitors can rent bikes and e-bikes to explore the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. There are also guided tour options that include stops at the many breweries along the 25 mile path. The tour starts off at Dog Head Falls, though in this case “falls” describes a small waterfall and rushing river rapids. From there, the tour stops at the European-styled Lost Nation Brewery with its convenient bike racks for some delicious platters and beer. On the way to the welcoming, relaxed Ten Bends Beer and Rock Art Brewery, bikers can enjoy more small towns along with dairy farms, almost cliche in how picturesque they are. Another lunchtime option is Stowe Cider, offering lunch with notable cider-based drinks as well as a roster of local talent for entertainment.
Embarking on another day of adventure, you can take a guided tour at the beautiful Mt. Mansfield State Forest with Sunshine Mountain Guides. For dinner, head over to the popular Idletyme Brewing Company, specializing in local flavors including Canadian influenced poutine, cheddar fritters, and giant Bavarian pretzels. There is also Doc Ponds, with delicious sides and small plates to pair with their popular burgers.
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