Things to do in Stowe
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Dutch Pancake Café
- Stowe, USA
- Restaurants › Café
Located within the Grey Fox Inn, this Dutch-owned eatery decked in Delft tiles makes more than 80 kinds of pannekoeken (Dutch pancakes); some have a Southern American twist with sausage and gravy.
reviewed
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Catamount Trail
- Stowe, USA
- Activities › Hiking
Within Stowe's wide network of trails that traverse mountains and skirt lakes is the longest cross-country ski trail in the US, a 300-mile-long route that runs the length of Vermont. Known as the Catamount Trail, it starts in southern Vermont at Readsboro and ends at North Troy on the Canadian border.
In between lies some of the finest skiing in the east, from backcountry trails on Mt Mansfield to 11 ski touring centers (some within the Green Mountain National Forest), including Blueberry Hill (www.blueberryhillinn.com) and Mountain Top Inn & Resort (www.mountaintopinn.com). Contact the Catamount Trail Association (%802-864-5794; www.catamounttrail.org) for more informati…
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Mountain Top Inn & Resort
Within Stowe’s wide network of trails that traverse mountains and skirt lakes is the longest cross-country ski trail in the United States, a 300-mile-long route that runs the length of Vermont. Known as the Catamount Trail, it starts in southern Vermont at Readsboro and ends at North Troy on the Canadian border. In between lies some of the finest skiing in the east, from backcountry trails on Mt Mansfield to 11 ski touring centers (some within the Green Mountain National Forest), including Mountain Top Inn & Resort and Blueberry Hill. Contact the Catamount Trail Association for more information.
reviewed
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Blueberry Hill
Within Stowe’s wide network of trails that traverse mountains and skirt lakes is the longest cross-country ski trail in the United States, a 300-mile-long route that runs the length of Vermont. Known as the Catamount Trail, it starts in southern Vermont at Readsboro and ends at North Troy on the Canadian border. In between lies some of the finest skiing in the east, from backcountry trails on Mt Mansfield to 11 ski touring centers (some within the Green Mountain National Forest), including Blueberry Hill and Mountain Top Inn & Resort. Contact the Catamount Trail Association for more information.
reviewed
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Vermont Ski Museum
Located in an 1818 meeting house that was rolled to its present spot by oxen in the 1860s, this museum is an inspired tribute to skiing history. It holds much more than an evolution of equipment (including 75 years of Vermont ski lifts) and a chance to chuckle at what was high slope-side fashion in the ‘70s. A huge screen shows ski footage so crazy that you can hardly keep your footing. The most moving exhibit tells the tale of the famous 10th Mountain Division of skiing troops from WWII – it inspires wonder at how they held out with the (then cutting-edge) canvas- and leather-based gear.
reviewed
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Green Mountain Dogsled Adventures
Learn about the fine art of dogsledding with Green Mountain Dogsled Adventures and meet the dog team that will hurtle you 6 to 8 miles (in 2½ to three hours) over hill and dale through deep woods. These pups are training for the 1000-mile Alaskan Iditerod, so you know they pack some speed. After helping harness the team, you can ride the runners or relax on the sled. Afterwards, warm up in the cabin and head out again for a ski or snowshoe in some of the wildest yet most serene land around. Reservations are required and availability of tours depends on the weather.
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Smuggler’s Notch Resort
Consistently less crowded than Stowe, family-oriented Smuggler’s Notch Resort, just over the Notch, was founded in 1956. Spread over Sterling (3010ft), Madonna (3640ft) and Morse (2250ft) mountains, the resort offers incredible alpine and cross-country skiing (78 trails and 14 miles’ worth), dogsled rides (reservations strongly recommended), a lit tubing hill, nightly family entertainment, and the only learn-to-ski program for two- to five-year-olds in the country.
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Umiak Outdoor Outfitters
Umiak Outdoor Outfitters rents canoes and sport kayaks and will shuttle paddlers and boats to the river and then pick them up at the put-out ($28/38 for a two-/four-hour trip per person, which includes transportation and boat rental). Its guides lead popular snowshoeing jaunts, lit by the sun, headlamp or moonlight, for $12 (for a half-hour trip) to $48 (day trip ending with sugar-on-snow, hot cider and Cabot cheese at a remote cabin).
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Gracie’s Restaurant
Behind Carlson Real Estate, Gracie’s has dog-themed specialties, such as a Mexican plate called ‘South of the Border Collie.’ Or stick to big burgers, hand-cut steaks, Waldorf salad and garlic-laden shrimp scampi. Try its famous ‘Doggie Bag’ dessert: a white-chocolate bag filled with chocolate mousse and hot fudge.
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Mr Pickwick’s Pub & Restaurant
The respectfully teasing bartender at this pub and eatery in Ye Olde England Inne keeps the crowd on high perk. An old-world feel is fully manifested, and this is the place to try ye olde bangers-and-mash or ostrich tenderloin. Otherwise, indulge in the Chef’s Tasting Dinner ($60 per person, reservations required).
reviewed
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Blue Moon Café
In a converted house with a little sun porch, this intimate bistro is one of New England’s top restaurants. Mains change weekly, but the contemporary cuisine is usually sublime. Look for crab cakes, salmon dishes, or steak with chipotle and jicama. The cheese plate, compiled from local varieties, is exquisite.
reviewed
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Rusty Nail Bar & Grill
You wonder where the wild things are? They’re here, hanging around three bars, plenty of pool tables and a dance floor, where they groove to live bands dishing everything from alt rock to jazz funk to calypso. The martini bar has some local renown. Oh yeah, there’s food too, with an inventive menu.
reviewed
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West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park
Don’t miss the winding, sculpture-filled paths along the river’s edge at the West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park. A captivating collection of contemporary sculpture, paintings, photography and fountains fill this gallery and sculptural park, found 1 mile up Mountain Rd from Stowe village.
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Helen Day Art Center
In the heart of the village, the Helen Day Art Center is a gently provocative community art center with rotating traditional and avant-garde exhibits. It also sponsors ‘Exposed, ’ an annual townwide outdoor sculptural show that takes place from mid-July to mid-October.
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Stowe Recreation Path
The 5½-mile Stowe Recreation Path offers a great in-town escape, as the trail rambles through woods, farms and hillsides. Walk, bike, skate, ski - swim in one of the swimming holes—along this meandering yet well-kept course just above the village and east of Mountain Road.
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Cliff House
While the view atop Stowe Mountain is worth the visit alone, the food (made largely from local produce) is quite a revelation. Try the crepe of the day, the house burger (made from Wood Creek Farm beef) or the lamb skewer. You won’t be in a rush to descend.
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Stowe Coffee House
- Stowe, USA
- Restaurants › Café
What’s art without coffee? After a browse through the nearby art galleries, drop into this coffee house, which serves homemade baked goods and specialty lattes. Lunch offerings include wraps, grilled sandwiches, homemade soups, pasta, salads and quiches.
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Miguel’s Stowe Away
This Mexican farmhouse cantina became so popular that it launched its own line of chips and salsa that’s sold around the country. You’ll find Tex-Mex, gringo and creative Mexican dishes like salmon with a mango poblano sauce ($19).
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Straw Corner Shops
Stowe has no shortage of galleries and fine craft shops with artists of local and international renown. Within the Straw Corner Shops offerings are surreal, traditional, contemplative, sometimes prankish and always finely hewn.
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Stowe Craft Gallery & Design Center
Stowe has no shortage of galleries and fine craft shops with artists of local and international renown. Stowe Craft Gallery & Design Center offers some of the most adventurous, eclectic and surreal works of art and craft.
reviewed
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Straw Corner Mercantile
Stowe has no shortage of galleries and fine craft shops with artists of local and international renown. Look for the Straw Corner Mercantile, featuring folk art, Americana, prints and artsy home accessories.
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Restaurant Swisspot
In addition to the selection of pastas and meat dishes, this cozy spot in the village offers an impressive array of fondues, running from the bizarre (scallop and beef or whole peeled shrimp) to the more traditional.
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Trattoria la Festa
Just north of Topnotch at Stowe, this trattoria has very good Italian fare made by Italian chefs. Check out its spaghetti pescatore, which is chock-full of mussels, clams and shrimps for $18.50.
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Matterhorn
At the top of Mountain Rd, this place is always hopping, beginning at 5pm when skiers start to hobble off the slopes. Bands play Friday and Saturday nights during ski season.
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Robert Paul Galleries
On your way up Mountain Rd, pause to take a gander at Robert Paul Galleries, with its acclaimed collection of painting, photography and sculpture.
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