Scenes from downtown Stowe – a Vermont vacation favorite.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
The Green Mountain town of Stowe, Vermont, is a two-for-one winter destination. Known as the “ski capital of the East” thanks to Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, Stowe also boasts a classic early-19th-century New England village that’s perfect for strolling, shopping, dining, and (of course) photo-snapping. At the invitation of Field Guide, Stowe’s newest resort lodge, I was lucky enough to squeeze in a recent holiday-season overnight that let me enjoy a taste of this charming mountain town during one of the most magical times of the year.
EXPLORING DOWNTOWN STOWE
Historic downtown Stowe is postcard-perfect (you’ll find it on our list of the 10 Best Winter Towns in New England), with plenty to see, do, eat, and drink. I had only a few hours to stroll and enjoy all it had to offer, so I did my best!
Here’s a quick look:
Scenes from downtown Stowe — a Vermont vacation favorite. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe iconic 1863 Stowe Community Church has to be one of the most photographed churches in New England. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerA festive entrance! Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker“Helping Vermonters survive in style since 1895” is the motto at Shaw’s General Store. Inside, you’ll find jackets, boots, sweaters, scarves, gloves, hats, and an entire wall of socks. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerHoliday cheer in downtown Stowe! Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerRocking chairs at the Green Mountain Inn on Main Street. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerA pair of festive trees outside the Stowe Theatre Guild. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Old Depot building is home to several businesses today, including Café on Main, Bear Pond Books (featuring a truly impressive Vermont selection), and the Stowe Mercantile country store. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerLocated in the lower level of the Old Depot, Stowe Mercantile is a quintessential old-fashioned New England country store, offering souvenirs, clothing, gifts, seasonal items, housewares, candy, food gifts, toys, gift baskets — everything, really. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Country Store on Main is a fun stop for gifts, housewares, and general browsing. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Stowe Visitor Center has ALL of your Stowe vacation needs covered. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerUber-stylish items for sale at Chalet Life. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerLaughing Moon Chocolates has not only multiple glass cases brimming with tempting sweets but also a viewing area where you can watch the goodies being made. On the day of my visit, they were making buttercream-filled chocolates. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerGiving in to temptation, I succumbed to one, solitary (delicious) dark chocolate sea salt caramel. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Stowe Public House is a great spot for those in search of highly rated and local beers, wines, and ciders — both for sale and for quaffing at the on-site bar. They sell snacks and gifts, too. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerLocated right downtown, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum (open Wednesday through Sunday) offers a look at winter-sports history. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerIt being the first weekend in December, I passed many cars and trucks with Christmas trees on board. This is a sight that never fails to bring a smile to my face. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
FIELD GUIDE
Our digs for the night, Field Guide by Lark Hotels, was the main reason we were in Stowe. I’ve long been a personal fan of the colorful, curated collection of Lark’s boutique hotels, and I couldn’t resist the invitation to check out Lark’s first foray into Vermont. Most recently the Ye Olde England Inn, the hotel (built more than a century ago) was completely renovated and had its grand reopening as Field Guide in the fall of 2015.
Perched high on Mountain Road, just minutes from anything and everything Stowe has to offer (including the famous alpine skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort, a mere 15-minute drive north), Field Guide didn’t disappoint. As with so many other Lark properties, the creative mind of Boston-based interior designer Rachel Reider was on display here in full force — from the silver tree-stump end tables and birch log “walls” in the lobby to the mounted papier-mâché deer heads and whimsical patterned wallpaper. Pops of softness, wood, mossy green, and burnt orange were everywhere. This is a stylish, fun, and relaxed hotel, ideal for folks wanting a bit more than a B&B experience but less than a traditional resort.
The cozy, rambling Field Guide boutique hotel in Stowe, Vermont, offers 30 rooms (including many suites) plus on-site dining. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerDecorated for the holiday season, the Field Guide lobby was even more comfy and cozy, complete with a twinkling wooden Christmas tree. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Our suite for the evening had all of our winter needs covered. Fireplace? Check. Soaker tub? Check. Birds in the bedroom? Check.
In our suite, we found even more bright colors, fun prints, and wood elements. I absolutely loved the whimsical bird wallpaper in the bedroom. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerNo animals were harmed in the creation of this wall decor. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
For dinner that evening, we headed to the inn’s on-site restaurant. At the time it was Picnic Social, helmed by chef Justin Perdue, but a new concept is currently in the works, so stay tuned! The colorful dining space features a large indoor seating area and bar, plus an outdoor dining deck and seasonal fire pit.
One section of the dining room. When we settled into a booth on the left for dinner later that evening, the lights were pleasantly low (ideal for dining, but tough for photos!). On the other side of the wall you’ll find a full bar, a large fireplace, and more seating. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe open outdoor dining deck is understandably popular in the summer months, and ceiling heat lamps help extend the season as the temperatures dip. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerA hand-delivered daily breakfast basket is included in the rate at Field Guide. Ours offered coconut overnight oats, a cinnamon raisin scone, a peanut butter oat cookie, honeydew cubes, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
VERMONT CRAFT BEER
Even if beer isn’t your favorite adult beverage, it’s likely you’ve heard of the thriving Vermont craft beer scene. My husband, a New England craft beer enthusiast, was keen to sample some of the brews that have been crowding his must-try list, plus an old favorite or two. And naturally, this being Stowe, the first old friend was a Heady Topper. Brewed by the Alchemist just down the road, it’s one of the most famous and sought-after beers in the world, and it goes great with meatball pizza at Piecasso (as did my lunch beverage, High & Dry, a deliciously dry cider from Stowe Cider made from 100 percent locally sourced apples).
Note: The Alchemist has a brewery and visitors center in Stowe, but it’s open only Tuesday through Saturday. Our visit was Sunday to Monday, so we weren’t able to check it out. Next time! A meatball pizza at Piecasso was the perfect complement to the esteemed Heady Topper. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Alchemist advises you to drink Heady Topper from the can, but sometimes you just need to get a look at what you’re enjoying! The mini-fridge in our room at Field Guide was the perfect amenity to encourage relaxed, responsible sampling. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Along with Heady Topper, we also managed to find and sample the following “hoppy, hazy IPA’s with a heavy citrus aroma” (my husband’s description) during our brief Vermont visit:
A pint of Grassroots Brewing Legitimacy IPA from Hill Farmstead Brewery. This brew isn’t sold in stores. You have to visit the brewery in Greensboro Bend or find a bar with it on tap, which we did at the Bench, located just across the street from Field Guide. Both come highly recommended. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
All in all, our holiday visit to Stowe turned out to be a mighty pleasant way to spend an overnight. By the time we woke up on Monday morning, there was even several fresh inches of snow on the ground, giving us yet another angle of this quintessential Green Mountain town to appreciate and admire — even if it did force us back on the road sooner than we’d hoped.
Good morning, snowy Stowe! Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
But not before a quick stop at PK Coffee for a latte to go!
Our final stop? PK Coffee for a to-go latte. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Stay beautiful, Stowe. We hope to see you again soon!
HOLIDAY VISIT TO STOWE, VERMONT | FEATURED SPOTS
Bear Pond Books. 38 S. Main St. 802-253-8236; stowebooks.comThe Bench. 492 Mountain Road. 802-253-5100; benchvt.com
Field Guide/Picnic Social. 433 Mountain Road. 802-253-8088; fieldguidestowe.comLaughing Moon Chocolates. 78 S. Main St. 802-253-9591; laughingmoonchocolates.comPiecasso. 1899 Mountain Road. 802-253-4411; piecasso.comPK Coffee. 1880 Mountain Road. 802-760-6151; pkcoffee.comShaw’s General Store. 54 Main St. 802-253-4040; shawsgeneralstore.comStowe Mercantile. 38 S. Main St. 866-454-3482; stowemercantile.comVermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. One S. Main St. 802-253-9911; vtssm.com
Have you ever enjoyed a holiday visit to Stowe, Vermont? Let us know your favorite spots!
My thanks to Stowe, Vermont, for a beautiful visit, and to Field Guide for hosting our stay! This post was first published in 2016 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker
As Digital Editor of New England.com, Aimee writes, manages, and promotes content for NewEngland.com and its social media channels. Before this role, she served as assistant, then associate, editor for Yankee Magazine and YankeeMagazine.com, where she was nominated for a City and Regional Magazine Association award for Best Blog. A lifelong New Englander, Aimee loves history, the New Hampshire seacoast, and a good Massachusetts South Shore bar pizza.
