10 Things You Can’t Miss In Stowe Vermont On A First Time Visit

The tiny alpine-style town of Stowe in northern Vermont encapsulates a quintessential charming, idyllic and rural setting surrounded by rolling hills and colorful leaves. Vermont is one of the most naturally beautiful states in the US, but with so many picturesque places to visit, what sets Stowe apart from the rest?

In this guide we show you why we think Stowe is worth adding to your New England road trip including our favorite things to do in town so you can plan the perfect trip. This quaint spot is a four season resort filled with adventure for travelers of any age.

Our Experience

We first visited Stowe, Vermont on a road trip through New England in 2020. While this was during the height of covid, the region was still very busy which surprised us. Unfortunately for most of this trip, the weather was extremely rainy which also made hiking and photography difficult too. Since many activities and restaurants were closed for our first visit, we decided to plan another trip to Stowe.

In late September 2023, we returned to Stowe for 3 amazing days to experience the town at its best and it did not disappoint! It’s the perfect stop on a road trip through New England, but it can be extremely overwhelming because its extremely busy. We started our days very early and avoided downtown in the middle of the day to get away from the crowds. The weather was almost perfect and we also hiked many of the popular trails. Read more about us.

SHOP: Our New England Guidebook features the best of Stowe and other popular spots in the region.

Now, let’s explore this beautiful area! Here’s what you should see:

1. Visit The Breweries

One of the most popular things to do in Stowe is visit the famous breweries so it’s only right to start our list here. During our last trip, we dedicated an entire day to visiting the breweries in town. These recommendations are tried and tested so if you’re a lover of beer, we won’t have to do much more convincing.

The von Trapp Brewery is one of the most well known names in Stowe. If you’ve seen the Sound of Music, this is the same von Trapp family who fled Austria in 1938. Drawn to the beautiful mountains of Vermont, they purchased their hilltop farm in 1942. After several decades of running a successful ski-resort and hotel, they open a brewery in 2010 serving crisp clean lagers and freshly prepared Austrian meals.

We like the von Trapp Bierhall because it’s nestled within a beautiful setting overlooking the Green Mountains. There’s a large outdoor patio which is dog friendly or you can opt to eat inside the restaurant on cooler days. We enjoyed a lazy afternoon with a bratwurst, a chicken schnitzel and a few lagers, but the lines were extremely long. You can also book tours here for $21.40/person.

Another unique brewery we like is The Alchemist. An American double IPA known as the Heady Topper is what officially put this brewery on the map with a location in both Stowe and Waterbury. We like this brewery for its whimsical interior with vibrant murals and string lights in an extremely peaceful setting. There’s a large outdoor space with games plus a food truck on site.

Stowe Cider is one of Kristen’s favorite stops because they have a large menu of ciders on tap. They also have an extensive food menu with several gluten free options. Unfortunately, the service was incredibly slow last time we visited in the busy fall season, but it seems from the recent reviews they have improved the wait time.

READ: Fun things to do in Vermont

2. Photography

New England is blessed with extraordinarily radiant fall foliage each year from the end of September to the middle of October and Stowe is one of the best places to see it. Autumn colors elevate a picturesque region into a postcard perfect region. We recommend spending as much time as possible exploring different areas at varying altitudes because colors change at different times depending on elevation and latitude.

Here are two of our favorite photo spots:

Stowe Community Church

The symbolic white building and 170 ft tall steeple commands the eyes attention from almost any direction. Even in bad weather, photographing this church is still a highlight. Head about 0.2 miles after turning onto Mountain Road from town. You can access a great vantage point for the church in small parking lot of Salon Salon. But make sure you park in the paid parking area down to the right and not blocking customer spaces for the salon.

Sunset Rock

Another vantage point of the Stowe Community Church and one of our favorites, a short hike to Sunset Rock. There are two main ways to access this trail, you can walk from town which is what we did or park in a very small lot off Taber Hill Road. It took us about 20 minutes each way and it becomes very dark when the sun goes down so you’ll need a headlamp.

Photography Tip: One of the most beautiful parts of Vermont for fall foliage later in the peak season is Manchester VT in the south of the state. It’s located in the heart of Green Mountain National Forest which means endless miles of rolling hills covered in an ocean of autumnal colors.

3. Climb Mount Mansfield

Stowe is the quaint town located at the base of “4000’er” Mount Mansfield, the tallest peak in the enchanting Green Mountains and all of Vermont. There are a few different ways you can get to the top. First, you can reach the summit using a variety of different trail systems. But this will involve hiking several miles and a significant elevation gain. You’ll have to be prepared for a long distance hike if you choose this route.

Another alternative is to take the Stowe Gondola SkyRide which runs from mid-June to mid-October. It’s the less exhaustive but more expensive route at $40 per adult and $26 for children ages 5-12. But other than enjoying the views or eating in the Cliff House restaurant, there’s not much to do at the top. Many hikers use the gondola to access other hiking trails at the top of Mount Mansfield.

Our favorite way to climb Mount Mansfield is drive the auto toll road to the summit. It begins right in Stowe continuing 4.5 miles zig zagging left to right and climbing 3,850 ft in elevation where you’ll end in a parking lot. However, the road is very narrow and while it begins on a paved section, it shortly continues to a dirt and gravel filled road so it’s not a smooth ride.

The auto toll road costs $35 per vehicle plus $13 per passenger with the driver included in the vehicle price. It’s typically open late May to late October from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Similar to the gondola, once you get to the summit, you’ll have plenty of hiking options with 360° views over New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Lake Champlain and endless miles of rural Vermont. From the top of the auto toll road, we hiked the Nose to Chin Trail which connects to the Cliff Trail from the gondola side of the mountain.

While we did enjoy the views of the gondola ride, we thought it was pretty average and very expensive for what you got. Overall, we enjoyed driving the toll road more, but it all comes down to personal preference. We think the gondola ride is good for families and large groups or hikers who plan to hike across the mountain ridge. The auto toll road is not for the feint of heart because you can expect cars passing on tight bends and steep drop offs to the sides.

Travel Tip: We highly recommend you book tickets for the gondola ride in advance online via the official website here. It’s a very popular attraction in Stowe and gets extremely busy in the fall season.

4. Experience Smuggler’s Notch

Mount Mansfield marks the far northern edge of Vermont’s Green Mountains but the nearby Sterling Range continues a wall of tall peaks. Smugglers Notch is a pass breaking through a low point between the two ranges. The Notch is an old trade route turned improvised road and now narrow mountain pass with a colorful history. Cattle herders illegally trading with Canada and liquor smuggling between the US and Canada during Prohibition were once rife on the pass.

Today, Smugglers Notch is an incredibly picturesque winding and narrow road cutting through forest. All you need to do is jump in your car, drive very slowly around the hidden bends and park at the top of the pass. Normally, it won’t take long to drive up, turn around and drive back down to continue with more of the fun things to do in Stowe, but in fall it’s a tourism nightmare.

The best advice we can give you for Smuggler’s Notch is to arrive early in the day to avoid the crowds and be patient. The secret is out about this beautiful scenic drive and every visitor in Stowe comes here. When we visited in 2020, the road was busy but still accessible. In 2023, it was a completely different story because there were cars parked all over on the road with people everywhere. Many sections of the road were also blocked off restricting traffic so it took a lot longer to get through the pass.

5. Go For A Hike

There’s no shortage of hikes in Stowe. Our small list of trails include both quick and easy options plus a few longer trails for those looking for a challenge.

• Bingham Falls Trail – A 0.5 mile short but steep trail leading down to a gorgeous waterfall just minutes from the auto road. It’s also a popular swimming spot.
• Moss Glen Falls – An easy 1.0 mile trail to a 125 ft cascade waterfall surrounded by tree. Or you can continue for a 5.0 mile roundtrip trail on VAST 100.
• Sterling Pond – A 2.0 mile hike beginning at the top of Smugglers Notch. Hiking around the pond adds 1.4 miles.
• Stowe Pinnace Trail – A 6.0 mile trail near Emily’s Bridge with amazing summit views of Camel’s Hump, Mt Mansfield plus the Sterling and Worcester Range.
• Sunset Ridge To Mt Mansfield – A 6.6 mile round trip out-and-back trail from Underhill State Park to Mount Mansfield summit.

Parking is very limited at many of these trailheads so we highly recommend you begin your day early so you don’t have to fight for a space. Sometimes you can get lucky mid-day as hikers leave for lunch.

Hiking Tip: If you plan to hike in fall, leaves on the ground can make the trails very slippery so always use extra caution this time of year.

6. Shop Locally

One of our favorite things to do in Stowe is shop in the local stores. We are extremely passionate about supporting the local communities when we travel and this is one of the best ways to do just that. From homemade local goods and farmers markets to general stores and maple syrup farms, there’s almost too much to try! Here’s where we recommend:

• Cold Hollow Cider Mill – Fresh pressed cider and amazing cider donuts
• Laughing Moon Chocolates – All the sweets you could ever need
• Shaw’s General Store – Right on Main St, this has been family owned since 1895
• Stowe Farmers’ Market – Local vendors every Sunday from May to October
• Stowe Maple Products – 100% pure Vermont maple syrup in Waterbury
• Stowe Mercantile – Vermont themed gifts, but it can be touristy
• The Butchery – Where to go for meats, seafoods and cheeses with a great deli

Travel Tip: We also enjoyed the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. It’s located on Main Street in the heart of downtown with a suggest donation of $5.00. There’s a ton of cool memorabilia and it’s only two floors so it doesn’t take long to see.

7. Vermont Covered Bridges

There are covered bridges all over the US Northeast, but when we think of covered bridges, Vermont always come to mind. We think hunting all of these beautiful bridges are one of the most unique things you can do in Stowe. But despite having more covered bridges per square mile than any other US state, Vermont’s bridges are scattered and it requires planning if you want to see more than a handful.

Stowe has a few covered bridges you can include on your visit to the northern parts of Vermont and the enchanting town of Woodstock in the south is a another great place to set up base for a covered bridge finding expedition. You can also use our popular guide to look for the best covered bridges in Vermont if you’re on a road trip.

Begin with Gold Brook Covered Bridge just a few miles south of Stowe. The bridge itself doesn’t come close to competing for the title of most picturesque covered bridge in Vermont, but it does come with a unique and chilling story. In the 1800’s a woman named Emily was supposed to meet her lover at Gold Brook covered bridge to elope. However, the man never showed and in a rage Emily hung herself from the rafters. Over time the story became so famous locally that the bridge is informally known as Emily’s Bridge (it’s pictured in the beginning of our guide).

Here are a few other bridges to add to your Stowe bucket list:

• Brookdale Bridge – Located at the end of the Stowe Recreation Path
• Red Covered Bridge – Built in 1986, this is only 10 minutes from Stowe
• Fisher Covered Railroad Bridge – About 20 miles east of Stowe

Travel Tip: Many of Vermont’s covered bridges are one lane traffic only. Always be mindful when taking photos and watch for vehicles trying to pass.

8. Dine In The Popular Restaurants

One of Stowe’s greatest assets is the collection of excellent places to eat and drink. But let’s start with an important tip here, many restaurants and cafes close for business on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Check the days you’ll be visiting to conform opening times.

If you only have one or two days total in Stowe, you’re seriously going to have to choose between at least a half dozen awesome options. Here are the top rated eateries between Stowe and the Mountain Resort for snacks, lunch and dinner in order from town heading northwest:

• Cork Restaurant – Wine bar with a full kitchen and creative plates serving local ingredients
• Plate – California inspired dishes with an ever-changing menu
• Harrison’s Restaurant – Cozy tavern serving creative American comfort food
• Doc Ponds – One of our favorites with a great atmosphere and craft beer
• Ranch Camp – Mountain bike lodge with international options
• The Bench – A chilled bar serving wood-fired pizzas and burgers
• Stowe Bee Bakery – Homemade breakfast sandwiches and lunch specials
• Piecasso –  Italian-style pizza with live music and craft beer
• Idletyme Brewing Company – American classics with lots of craft beer
• Trattoria La Festa – Popular Italian option serving organic ingredients

If your hotel does not include breakfast, you will have to plan ahead. One of the most popular spots in town is the Butler’s Pantry. The lines can be several hours long and they do not take reservations, but you can join the waitlist on Yelp here. They open at 8:00am and we highly recommend arriving well before opening time.

Travel Tip: Most restaurants close on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday so always verify open times before visiting. We also highly recommend you make reservations when possible if visiting in the peak fall season.

9. Tour Ben & Jerry’s

While not located directly in Stowe, the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury is an unmissable activity for travelers of any age. This factory is the only Ben & Jerry’s location open to the public and it’s less than 10 miles away, making it the perfect day trip from Stowe. You can book a tour for a small fee to learn more about the ice cream making process.

Tours include a 30 minute factory experience where you start with a movie and then view the production room floor to see how they makes their famous pints. It will continue onto the tasting room where you’ll also get one free sample (non-dairy and vegan options available). If you want to go on a tour, we highly recommend you book tickets in advance because they sell out very quickly due to limited capacity. Tickets are released two weeks in advance and cost $6 for adults or $1 for children ages 2-12.

During our last visit in fall 2023, tickets were sold out, but we still throught it was worth visiting the factory. So if you can’t get on a tour, don’t count it out because you can shop Ben & Jerry’s merchandise and grab a bite in the small scoop shop.

Travel Tip: Make sure you check out the Flavor Graveyard behind the factory near the parking lot. You’ll find an actual graveyard with granite headstones where old flavors are dearly de-pinted and laid to rest. See if you can find flavors you recognize!

10. More Outdoor Activities

The Green Mountains are an adventure lovers paradise and there’s so much more you can explore. Here are a few more things you can do near Stowe away from the major attractions:

• Bike tour in Lamoille Valley – A beautiful trail along a river and an old railroad track. Standard bikes and 2-bikes are both available.
• Stowe Mountain Resort – One of the best places to ski on the entire east coast with over 100 ski trails and ice rink
• Walk the Stowe Recreational Path – A 5.5 mile greenway directly behind the photogenic white community church

Travel Tip: We enjoyed the Stowe Rec path because it passes by various shops, restaurants and hotels following the West Branch Little River. It ends at Brook Road which is close to the swanky Top Notch Resort.

Stowe Interactive Map

Use our interactive map for Stowe to familiarize yourself with the area. Click to activate the map. We’ve included the best things to see and do that we already mentioned in this guide. Or you can access our map via this link here.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Stowe, we recommend you read our where to stay in Stowe guide next on our sister site. We’ve stayed in several locations so we’ll tell you what worked best.

Our Stowe Photos

We enjoy visiting Stowe and we’ve taken hundreds of photos. Here are a few of our favorites:

The Morgan Conclusion

What we like: Stowe is a beautiful and picturesque Vermont town so it’s hard not to like. It’s one of the most popular stops along a New England road trip because it offers stunning views and an energetic Bavarian atmosphere. We love relaxing in the breweries, enjoying the vibrant foliage and hiking in the Green Mountains. Stowe is a four season travel destination and you can visit any time of year which makes it unique.

What we don’t like: Because Stowe is very popular, it’s expensive and extremely crowded in fall. The downtown area is quite small with only a few shops and businesses within walking distance. The remaining sections of town are quite spread out so you’ll need a car to see everything. Hiking trails can also be very busy and it can be difficult to get a parking spot.

Is Stowe worth visiting? Yes, Stowe is definitely worth visiting. It’s one of the most popular places to visit in Vermont. But if you travel in the peak fall season, Stowe can feel like a theme park with the hundreds of people in town. So if you plan to visit in peak season, mentally prepare for big crowds. You’ll need to book accommodation early and book reservations at restaurants whenever possible or you might miss out.

More From New England

• What you can’t miss in Woodstock, Vermont
• Best things to do in Manchester, VT
• Popular things to do in Burlington, VT
• 7 Stunning Covered Bridges To See In Vermont
• How to plan a New England Fall foliage road trip
• 13 best stops along the Kancamagus Highway
• Flume Gorge waterfalls and covered bridges hike
• Unique things to do in Acadia National Park
• Where to stay when visiting Acadia

Want more Vermont content? Head to our Vermont Travel Guides to explore more from the Green Mountain State.

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We hope our guide featuring the best things to do in Stowe, VT helps with planning your visit!

Please let us know if you have any questions about visiting Stowe or planning a trip to New England in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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