One of the great opportunities about owning a vintage car or truck is the ability to just take a scenic drive. There is an abundance of wonderful areas throughout the country to do just that. The first in the series of Taking A Drive blogs looks at the Waterbury Stowe Vermont area which provides numerous roads for such a drive as well as food and lodging.
Stowe is a town in northern Vermont. It is overlooked by Mount Mansfield, known for its trails and ski slopes. The Auto Toll Road climbs to the summit ridge. Near the base, Smugglers’ Notch State Park has dense forest and a narrow mountain pass. The Stowe Recreation Path follows the West Branch of the Little River through town, with mountain views. The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum exhibits ski gear and artifacts.
The primary drive runs along Route 108 and Route 100 between Jeffersonville and Waterbury thru Stowe Vermont.
Along this drive you will encounter some great views of the maintains and Stowe Vermont valley as you wind your way along twisting roads. There is quite a bit to see in this general area as well as curvy back roads between Jeffersonville and Burlington Vermont at Lake Champlain’s edge. This area is filled with fine roadside restaurants that offer all sorts of food from Italian to local Vermont produce American cuisine. The Stowe area also has plenty of hotels from full size resorts to simple Bed-n-Breakfasts.
The area has plenty to see if you wish to stop your classic car, and walk the trails or the local shops. Taking a break to shop along the way takes in everything from art and jewelry stores with products from the local artists; farm stands with fresh foods, and even the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory.
The roads are great fun to drive along the 2 lanes with plenty of turns, banks and straight of ways to enjoy your old car by putting it thru its paces.
Seasonal events are also available with hot air balloon shows, and even a large car show in early August by the Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts. (vtauto.org)
So, if you’re convinced that Stowe might be a wonderful place to visit, check out this list of the best things to do there.
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
The best places to fly in a hot air balloon are scenic spots like the Stowe region. As you soar over the Green Mountains, you will have a magical experience, shared with your favorite person. The Stoweflake Resort offers rides and hosts the exciting Stowe Balloon Festival every July.
Hike to a Cascading Waterfall
Mountainous Stowe is an excellent destination for those who enjoy hiking. There are a range of trails that will suit various levels of experience.
The Long Trail, which traverses Vermont from north to south, runs across Mount Mansfield in Stowe. You can climb to the top of Mansfield via a few different trailheads, two of which are in Smuggler’s Notch. Want awesome views? Stowe Pinnacle might be a good choice, taking approximately 90 minutes to reach the top. Sterling Pond is another great hike, bringing you to an elevated trout pond. In the fall, this will be fringed with yellows and reds. You can continue on the same trail to the summit of Spruce Peak.
But a short and romantic hike is one with a waterfall at the end, like these. Area waterfalls include Bingham Falls and Moss Glen Falls, both impressive and scenic, and accessible via fairly short hikes. Enjoy the views or go for a dip on a hot summer afternoon.
Indulge in a Spa Day
After a hike, unwind with a massage or other spa treatment. Better yet, book an entire spa day or afternoon for two. The Stoweflake has an insanely awesome spa, with some 35,000 square feet of space and dozens of treatments available. You can easily spend blissful hours here, enjoying the steam rooms, sauna, jacuzzi, mineral baths, and quiet spaces. The highlight of the Stoweflake Spa is their Aqua Solarium, complete with a waterfall pool, which is modeled after the real Bingham Falls in the region. This rock-lined, warm-water pool allows you to sit underneath a 12-foot cascading waterfall which serves as a therapeutic massage for a tired neck and shoulders. Total serenity.
At the Stoweflake, you can book specific couples’ treatments. A side-by-side massage is a romantic choice, or meet in the Aqua Solarium following your individual treatments. Consider an Apres Ski Massage to soothe your tired muscles is or, if you’re after one of the signature treatments the luxuriant Vermont Maple Sugar Body Polish. Spa access is $20/day for hotel guests ($25 on Saturdays) but complimentary on the day of your treatment appointment. Non-hotel guests are welcome at the Stoweflake Spa as well, for a rate of $40 ($50 on Saturdays).
Sample Vermont’s Culinary Delights
Vermont has amazing things to eat. While there is plenty to indulge in within Stowe itself, take time during your drive through the area along Route 100 between Waterbury and Stowe. Here you can let your inner foodie go wild.
First, you’ll come across the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. Head inside for a factory tour (breathe in deeply, the whole place smells like heaven), and snag some samples. Ben & Jerry’s is such a Vermont staple, you really should not miss it.
Next up is the Cabot Farmer’s Store where you’ll find the best cheese ever. Cabot Cheese is known for their phenomenal cheddar. In the store, you can sample this, plus about 20 other flavors. As if that was not enough, the store is stocked with all kinds of Vermont products: wine, beer, cider, jams, jellies, crackers, syrup, and more. Go ahead and buy your fill. When you’re all cheesed out, go next door for some spirit tasting at the Smuggler’s Notch Distillery and chocolate samples at Lake Champlain Chocolates.
Just a few minutes further down the road is the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, an amazing spot that I’ve enjoyed visiting for years. This is a destination for apple lovers. They make the best apple cider and even more amazing apple cider donuts. In recent years, they’ve expanded. Cold Hollow now offers hard cider (you can sample it right on the property) plus a tasty cafe called The Apple Core. And in the same building is tasting offered by Boyden Valley Winery (taste the Maple Creme). Truly, you won’t even need lunch after this culinary road trip.
Finally, have an awesome beverage at the newly opened European-style coffee bar located at the Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Company. A maple latte is always a delicious choice.
In Stowe itself, head to the breweries and the cidery for more tasting! You’ll find The Alchemist (home of the famous Heady Topper) here, and plus Idletyme Brewing and Stowe Cider.
Hop On for a Horse & Carriage Ride
Romance is connected to a nostalgia for the past, for simpler times. Put away the electronics and enjoy nature on a horse-drawn carriage ride. In the winter, these become sleighs, ferrying you across a snowy wonderland. Gentle Giants carriage and sleigh rides are located right on Mountain Road, just a few minutes from The Stoweflake, and are open seven days a week throughout the year.
Take in the Views from the Trapp Family Lodge
The von Trapp family (whose story was told–and expanded upon–in the film The Sound of Music) settled in Stowe, Vermont in the 1940s. They opened a guest house to welcome visitors, and the Trapp Family Lodge was born. Today, this is an Austrian-inspired property that has gorgeous views overlooking Stowe.
Sail Away on a Fall Foliage Boat Ride
If you’re coming to Vermont in for its striking fall foliage, prepare for some slightly crowded roads. VT welcomes many “leaf peepers” each season, and traffic often moves a bit slowly as a result. We have a better way for you to enjoy the vibrant leaves–with a fall foliage boat ride. Local fishing guides and suppliers The Fly Rod Shop offer an innovative fall activity.
Hidden away in the region is a stunning man-made lake known as Waterbury Reservoir. Here is where you will experience the foliage at its best. Away from the chaos of the roadways, your scenic boat tour brings you through a peaceful and quiet lake.
In the fall, there are very few people on the reservoir, lending the experience an intimate touch. It feels as though you are exploring your own private lake. As for romantic things to do in Stowe, VT, this definitely qualifies.
Feeling adventurous? There is an amazing zipline that will zoom you down the mountain. For a couple’s activity, you can go side-by-side. It is certainly much easier to fly through the air when your loved one is on the neighboring line!
There are three zipline spans, all together totaling just under two miles of line. That makes the Stowe ZipTour® the second-longest zipline tour in the United States.
Stroll Through the Village
Stowe has a postcard-perfect downtown. The tiny Main Street is exceedingly charming, with the white-steepled church as its focal point. A romantic Stowe getaway would not be complete without some time spent walking hand-in-hand through the village. Stop into Shaw’s General Store for a foray into the past, Bear Pond Books for reading material, and browse locally owned boutiques, craft, and antique shops galore.
Access into this region for the backroads driving is via US Interstate 91 which connects to US Interstate 90 in southern Vermont, or by taking the scenic ferry ride across Lake Champlain into Burlington to the west.
We encourage you to take a drive on these beautiful roads if you are in the area.
