FALL GUIDE TO STOWE, VERMONT
View from Salon Salon
Hello Loves! Fall in New England is truly the most beautiful time of the year. Luckily, Boston is about three hours away from Stowe and we were able to still road trip to Vermont in these uncertain times. So there are few towns in Vermont that are absolutely charming for fall such as Burlington, Woodstock, Manchester and Stowe. We decided to go to Stowe because it's not too big and crowded in comparison to Burlington, and offers some of the breathtaking foliage views.
When to go
So deciding when to visit is the key. Typically first or second week of October is peak foliage, however timing of the peak is varied based on the towns in Vermont, so be sure to check the Foliage tracker (available on google) before deciding when to go! We went the first weekend of October and the weather was perfect in the high fifties, low sixties.
Where to Stay
The Lodge at Spruce Peak
There are a lot of ski resorts/hotels in Stowe. We decided to stay at the Lodge at Spruce Peak and it was honestly one of the best resorts I have stayed at. The resort has several amenities from the Spa, heated outdoor pool, jacuzzi, several restaurants and the best part is it's surrounded by mountains so you truly get incredible views. The resort has a huge courtyard outside with beautiful lights and it is definitely worth taking a stroll through the resort at night. During the day, they host Yoga and other fitness classes in the courtyard which are free for guests and other live events for children and families. Overall, our stay at this resort definitely a solid 10, the service was incredible, and the views even better.
Where to Eat
Butler's Pantry
Breakfast/Brunch: We had brunch at Butlers pantry which was a cute restaurant in a bed and breakfast hotel. I had an açaí bowl and my sister had the blueberry and banana pancakes with Vermont's famous maple syrup and it was absolutely delicious. The location was super convenient because it was right in the city center of Stowe, so after breakfast we were able to enjoy some time looking at the most charming houses in the city.
I have also heard great things about the breakfast at the Solstice Restaurant at the Lodge at Spruce Peak but we decided to grab dinner there instead.
One of the nights we had dinner at the Solstice Restaurant on the resort, and it was so good. I had the most incredible crispy Brussels sprouts and butternut squash soup. It is a bit pricey, but well worth the price. The soup was so good that we ordered seconds haha! We also tried Mexican one of the nights at Tres Amigos and the interior vibes of the restaurant was the cutest. I had cactus tacos which was okay, it couldn't better better. The guacamole was really good.
What to Do
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
There's so much to see and do in Stowe and around the area. One of the mainly sought attractions is the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. It is actually a functional mill where visitors can see the apples being compressed live to make cider, and the best part is you can taste fresh cider as it's being pressed. It was super cool and not to mention that they have the legendary delicious apple cider donuts I have had!
Ben and Jerry's Factory
A trip to Vermont isn't complete without visiting the Ben and Jerry's Factory. Although they don't have any factory tours right now, it's still worth visiting and trying their numerous flavors, especially with kids. They have a cute dairy farm where you can see the cows, and lot of seating space to enjoy your B&J's ice cream.
Stowe Gondola Ride
Hiking is probably one of the best things you can do in Stowe, walking through the multi colored leaves is truly magical. If you don't like hiking but still want a stunning view, I highly recommend trying the Stowe gondola ride. The ride is about ten minutes each way to mountain top and offers stunning views along the way. Once you are at the summit, they have a restaurant and some incredible picture taking spots. I recommend dressing warm for this as the temps are the at least ten degrees cooler than ground level. The other thing to note is there are no reservations and the lines get really long ~1hour+ wait times so I recommend getting there early in the morning.
Smuggler's Notch
Edson Hill Restaurant
A fall trip in Vermont isn't complete without driving through the roads full of foliage. We drove around Smuggler's notch rd, and decided to stop and take this picture with incredible backdrop. We also visited the Edson Hill Restaurant, and even if you don't dine there, the views leading to the restaurant are absolutely breathtaking. I recommend driving up the road and stopping for pictures, you won't regret it.
