No matter the time of year, the mountains of Vermont beckon visitors with outdoor activities, peace and serenity and a slower-paced, back-to-basics way of life. After spending a day in the natural surroundings, travelers can return to one of the area's comfortable lodgings, such as the Stowe Mountain Lodge. The six-story, 312-room resort has something for everyone, whether you are taking a romantic getaway, a family vacation or a ski trip with friends.
First snow of the season at Stowe — Photo courtesy of Stowe Mountain Lodge
The alpine-style resort is situated in the “ski capital of the east,” but offers much more than fresh powder and 116 challenging slopes. When there’s snow on the ground, the resort will help connect guests with activities like cross-country skiing, dog sledding tours, snowshoeing or ice fishing. In the summer, spring and fall, golfers can play a few rounds on the 18-hole championship golf course or hone their tennis skills on the court. The area is home to numerous hiking and biking paths, as well as opportunities for fishing, kayaking and swimming. Kids love Spruce Peak, which hosts arts and crafts sessions, music, games and trails to explore, or they can take a thrilling ride down a 2,300 foot alpine slide.
Ice sculpture at Stowe Mountain Lodge — Photo courtesy of Stowe Mountain Lodge
Indoors, the resort features a 21,000 square-foot spa with 19 treatment rooms, a heated pool, salon and full-service treatment center. Wood-burning fireplaces and cozy lounge areas add to the rustic, mountain-lodge ambiance, and several dining venues provide casual dining rooms such as the Great Room Grill. For that special evening out, the four-diamond Solstice serves contemporary American cuisine with entrees like roasted swordfish with saffron and yellow peppers or their signature “lobster pot pie” with fingerling potatoes, corn and fresh lobster from the nearby-neighbor state of Maine. For cocktails, wine and beer, visit Hourglass and try their title ale, a hand-crafted amber beer produced exclusively for Stowe Mountain Lodge.
Living room in a junior suite — Photo courtesy of Stowe Mountain Lodge
No matter how many are in your group, there are several lodging choices at Stowe to match, including guest rooms, suites and one-, two- and three-bedroom cabin rentals. Rooms feature over-sized windows, marble tiles in bathrooms, goose down feather beds, pillows and duvets and iPod hookups. These multi-level cabins were built with native stone and hand-crafted timber, and feature stone-framed fireplaces, heated garages and private decks with ski slopes and mountain trails as the backdrop. Spacious kitchens and luxurious living rooms make it easy to entertain friends and family before taking in one of the many seasonal adventures just outside the front doors.
