We absolutely love Stowe, Vermont. It has everything that we look for while traveling; recreation, delicious local food, dog-friendly, walkable, and surrounded by beautiful views. Stowe is a charming village located in a valley at the base of Mount Mansfield which is the highest peak in Vermont at 4,395 feet above sea level. In Stowe, you are also surrounded by other peaks of the Green Mountains. It’s a convenient home-base location to explore all of Vermont. Here is our Best of Stowe, Vermont.

Lodging in Stowe, Vermont

Sun & Ski Inn and Suites is the only hotel in New England that has a bowling lounge, indoor pool, and miniature golf. We appreciated the huge open grassy area in the back for dogs (and humans) to play and the beautiful river views. It’s an easy location – close to anything that you need. Some of the rooms have patios off the back to take in the views. That’s where we stayed and really enjoyed being able to sit outside and take it all in.

Top Restaurants Stowe, Vermont

I acknowledge that we barely scratched the surface during our stay but here are a few of our favorites. The made from scratch biscuits at Stowe Bee Bakery are legendary. The pizza at Piecasso Pizzeria & Lounge made with fresh dough and the perfect amount of sauce, melts in your mouth. I would suggest dining in because of the groovy vibe. The service and sandwiches at Live Forever Foods food truck are beyond. You will find the truck parked at Stowe Cider.

Stowe Breweries

We checked out the von Trapp Brewery and Idletyme Brewing Co. We also had lunch and dinner a few times at Idletyme. I didn’t get pictures of the food but it is very good! Terry loved the burgers and I love the salads (huge portions) and salmon. Their outdoor patio is right off the Recreation Path. It was so great to take a nice stroll from Sun & Ski Inn and Suites to the brewery. Another special thing about Idletyme is they have apple trees that you can pick fresh and enjoy. The von Trapp Brewery is located up Mount Mansfield so the patio is surrounded by lovely views of the foliage. We had the grilled bratwurst sandwich with bacon apple sauerkraut and fries. The sauerkraut is unique and tasty! Both are dog-friendly and Allen gives them a paws up.

After visiting the von Trapp brewery, make sure to head up to the Trapp Family Lodge. It’s a little piece of Austria in Vermont. We stopped here for breakfast and to pick up homemade granola. This is another location to capture all the colors of fall and Mount Mansfield. They offer von Trapp family history tours which we didn’t do but heard great reviews.

Covered Bridges in Stowe, Vermont

We visited Emily’s Bridge (also know as Gold Brook Covered Bridge and Stowe Hollow Bridge) and the Red Covered Bridge. There is a haunting story about Emily’s Bridge dating back to the 1800s. A young girl named Emily was supposed to meet her lover and elope at the bridge. He never showed and Emily took her own life at the site. There are many stories of “angry” Emily while vehicles and people cross the bridge. Thankfully, we didn’t experience Emily while we visited. 🙂 This is a popular site so be prepared to wait and for traffic.

The Red Covered Bridge has a beautiful backdrop and not as much attention. We were the only ones there and it was so fun to walk around, take pictures, and listen to the water bubbling by.

Hiking and Walking Trails in Stowe, Vermont

The Recreation Path in Stowe was a nice surprise. The Recreation Path is a 5.3 mile path that runs through the village up to Top Notch Resort on the mountain side. It’s great for exercise, to walk the dog, to visit restaurants and shop, and awesome views of Stowe.

Smugglers Notch is in the top five of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever been on. If you’re traveling in the fall, make sure to hit this trail. You can also take a scenic ride on the Gondola Skyride or drive the Historic Toll Road to the top. Both are on our list for next time!

Please let me know if you have any questions in comments and see more places to visit in Vermont HERE.

Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers