Stowe, Vermont

Entering Stowe, Vermont feels a bit like stepping onto a movie set. Its walkable Main Street pulls everything together in one place, lined with historic buildings and surrounded by rolling green hills. Thanks to a longstanding state law banning commercial billboards, the scenery remains uninterrupted trading advertisements for open landscapes and mountain backdrops that make it easy to forget the outside world.

That sense of immersion carries through every season. Rainy days lead you into cozy shops for maple lattes and local treats, clear skies open up mountain trails and scenic overlooks, and when snow begins to fall, the slopes of the “Ski Capital of the East” take center stage. No matter the weather, days in Stowe tend to end the same, with a warm meal from local scratch kitchens and the feeling that there’s nowhere else you need to be.

From Pastures to Peaks

Chartered as a town in 1763, Stowe grew from lumber and agriculture, but it was sheep that first reshaped both the land and the community. In the early 1800s, diplomat William Jarvis introduced Merino sheep from Spain, and their prized wool quickly became one of Vermont’s most valuable exports. Hardy enough for rocky hills and long winters, the sheep flourished. These herds even sustaining farmers through difficult times like the infamous “year without a summer” in 1816. At its peak, thousands of sheep grazed these slopes, opening pastures and leaving behind the stone walls that still trace the landscape today. By mid-century, dairy farming took over, but the land had already been permanently transformed.

Long before Stowe became a world-renowned destination, it welcomed visitors whose stories would shape its identity. In 1938, Maria and Georg von Trapp and their family fled Austria, later touring the United States as the Trapp Family Singers — the real-life inspiration behind The Sound of Music. When they settled in Stowe, the alpine landscape felt familiar and functional, supporting traditions of music, farming, and mountain life they knew well. Today, that legacy remains woven into Stowe’s character, adding an international thread to a town already rich in New England heritage.

As early settlers passed through, many chose to stay in the valley of “where the mountains meet the sky.” Lodges and resorts followed, built not only to welcome travelers but to share a way of life shaped by the outdoors. Today, barns, covered bridges, and historic farm structures still scattered across the landscape echo Stowe’s earliest chapters. Reminders that the town’s warmth and sense of community have been centuries in the making.

Signature Stops

• The Alchemist- A family-run brewery that blends craftsmanship with creativity. The Alchemist feels as much like an art space as it does a place to grab a beer. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and community-first mindset, the brewery is also committed to sustainability, powered in part by on-site solar energy.
• Gold Brooke Covered Bridge (Emily’s Bridge)– Step beneath the only remaining 19th-century Howe truss bridge still used as a single-lane public road. Its exposed wooden cross-bracing has held strong for nearly 180 years. The sturdy construction allowed for a storied past, earning its famous nickname, “Emily’s Bridge,” tied to a lingering local ghost legend.
• Grant’s Restaurant and Bar- Named after President Ulysses S. Grant, this longtime Stowe favorite serves elevated comfort food in a setting steeped in classy history. Inside, a stunning 35-foot mahogany bar from the 19th century anchors the space, while live music on select nights keeps the energy lively and local.
• Little River Hot Glass Studio- A working glassblowing studio where visitors are invited to watch and even try the process themselves. With a massive 300-pound furnace burning continuously, the studio offers a hands-on look at an art form that’s equal parts fire, skill, and tradition.
• Nebraska Knoll Sugar House- Since 1980, the Coty family has been tapping sugar maple trees on the slopes of Mount Mansfield. Visitors can sample fresh maple syrup and tour the evaporator room, where sap is boiled down using time-honored Vermont methods.
• Ski and Snowboard Museum- Fittingly located in the “Ski Capital of the East,” this museum has been preserving Vermont’s ski history since 1988. Inside, you’ll find vintage equipment, legendary stories, and the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
• Smugglers’ Notch State Park- This dramatic mountain pass cuts through the Green Mountains, opening to one of Vermont’s most iconic views. Its narrow corridor has a layered past, once used for illegal trade during the Embargo Act of 1807, later as a route for escaped slaves seeking freedom, and again for smuggling liquor during Prohibition.
• Stowe Community Church Viewpoint– This is the iconic view you’ve seen on postcards, and for good reason! Framed by rolling hills, a calm river, and the white steeple of the community church, this spot captures Stowe’s timeless charm in every season.
• von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort – Set on more than 2,600 acres and still owned by the von Trapp family, this alpine-style estate blends Austrian tradition with Vermont landscape. Guests can explore bike trails, learn about syrup making, enjoy authentic Austrian food and beer, and even spot the estate’s famously fluffy Scottish Highland cows grazing the hills.

Bragging Rights

Recognized as “Fall’s Color Capital” and the “Ski Capital of the East.”

Stowe is Vermont’s largest town by land area, encompassing more than 50,000 acres with a permanent population of just over 5,000.

Mount Mansfield’s highest point, called “The Chin,” is located at 4,393 feet in the Green Mountains of Stowe. This is the highest peak in Vermont!

Reaching a height of 85 feet, Stowe’s Moss Glen Falls is the tallest waterfall in Vermont.

Every Season Has a Reason

Spring trades skis for mountain bikes and hiking boots as trails reopen and wildlife stirs. Snow still caps the peaks while the town below slowly reawakens.

Summer draws travelers with clear lakes, forested trails, and open state parks. Winter layers give way to shorts and t-shirts as days are spent outdoors from morning until dusk.

Autumn sets the horizon ablaze with color. The mountains settle into a quieter, cozier rhythm as trails and parks welcome their final visitors before winter returns.

When the cold arrives, snow blankets the range and ski season takes center stage. Firepits glow throughout town as skiers gather to warm up, sharing stories after long days on the slopes.

Mark Your Calendars

• The Stowe Derby (February): A legendary cross-country ski race that winds through Stowe’s backcountry and village. The Derby has been running for more than 80 years and remains one of the town’s most beloved winter traditions.
• Stowe Sugar Slalom (April): This two-day spring ski celebration draws over 1,000 racers and hundreds of spectators for themed costumes, sugary snow, and après-ski fun. Equal parts competition and party, it’s a playful sendoff to ski season.
• Stowe Hot Air Balloon Festival (June): Hosted at the von Trapp Family Lodge, this family-friendly weekend fills the skies with colorful balloons alongside live music, food vendors, local beer, and open mountain views.
• Vermont’s Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival (September): Spectators gather with blankets and lawn chairs to watch homemade trebuchets launch pumpkins through the air. Record throws reaching an impressive 861 feet!
• Harvest Festival (October): Held at the base of Mount Mansfield, this fall celebration welcomes the season with food, drinks, and free live music, set against a backdrop of peak foliage and crisp mountain air.

Meet the Locals

Stowe’s sense of community has long been shaped by a history free of battles and grand conflicts. Past locals once noted that the town’s story was defined not by wars or skirmishes, but by disagreements so small, and so gently handled, that they were quietly resolved and soon forgotten. That peaceful spirit still lives on in Stowe today.

Residents lead with kindness and an unhurried openness, creating a sense of calm that’s felt the moment you arrive. Hospitality here is second nature. Locals are quick to recommend a favorite maple product, point you toward a beloved artist, or share why each season carries its own kind of magic. There’s a quiet pride in calling Stowe home, and an everyday warmth woven into these streets. One that makes visitors feel less like outsiders and more like guests, exactly as the town has always intended.

The Last Word

There’s a reason Stowe has drawn people here for centuries. Long before it was a destination, it was a place shaped by the land, the seasons, and a community that learned to live gently among them. Today, that same rhythm remains in village streets, mountain trails, and moments that ask nothing more than your attention. Stay long enough, and somewhere between the hills and the hush of town, you’ll find yourself LOST IN Stowe, Vermont.