5 things to do in Stowe on your rest day

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“It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy….Let’s go exploring!” – Bill Watterson

As much as we would like to spend all our time on the mountain, sometimes you just need a break. Luckily, the area surrounding the mountain that is Stowe, Vermont has lots of great options. These are my top 5 picks for things to do on your rest day.

Visit coffee roaster

Fifteen minutes from Stowe is the town of Waterbury. If you are going to use your day to do a full-on tour of the area, I recommend you start here. To get you off to a good start pop in to the Vermont Artisan Coffee and Tea Roaster. This certified organic roaster roasts coffee in a sustainable way for retail establishments, food service markets, and Vermont customers. They also offer coffee roasting workshops.

Settle in to their modern coffee bar where you can view the roasting process through a bank of glass. My favorite part, ok I have two favorites, but what I always appreciate is a variety of non-dairy cream options. Not just almond milk, but Oatmilk! My favorite! You can also purchase coffee by the pound either as whole bean or they will ground it for you right there.

On a fun side note, my other favorite thing about this place was the washroom had a heated toilet seat! A heated toilet seat!! I mean it was shocking at first but man it was nice. Who knew?!

Glassblowing demonstration

Just past the coffee roaster on the same side of the road is a glassblowing shop. If you are lucky you will also get to watch a demonstration of them creating one of these magical items. Unfortunately, we arrived while they were on lunch and once we got to the cider bar there was no going back.

However, there is an entire wall of windows with bar stools where you can sit and watch the entire glassblowing process.

Cider and Brewery Tour

Vermont has the highest amount of craft breweries per capita of any state in the country. That’s a lot of craft beer. Not only that but they also have some great cider, distilleries and wineries. If you want to make it more of any adventure make sure to pick up a brewery passport and get your stamp at every brewery you visit.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

It all started in 1974 by the descendants of Vermont’s first governor, who started out as farmers at the base of the Cold Hollow Mountains. They began making cider for friends and family before expanding their vision. Experience the history as you stop in to the cider mill for a cider tasting (I recommend getting a flight). Once you are all warmed up on cider you can walk across the parking lot to their gift shop.

This gift shop has everything, including a place to watch them make cider while tasting some from the tank next to the viewing windows (non-alcoholic). The mill uses a traditional rack and cloth press that was built in the 1920s. While there make sure to try their famous cider donuts and pick up some maple syrup and a gift for your dog sitter.

Idletyme Brewing Co.

Originally built as a blacksmith shop in 1830, the place has been a cider mill, a hostel, Idletyme Camp and the famous Shed Restaurant. Separated into a bar and it’s accompanying restaurant you can sit down for a beer and watch the brewing magic happen.

While enjoying a brew and their happy hour wings, the brewer, with the help of a young tourist, removed the grains. Preparing for the next step in the brewing process. The entire bar was pungent with the scent of cooking malt. Then he added the hops. That fresh, citrusy scent infusing the air making you think of green things. It is by far the best way to enjoy a beer.

 

Von Trapp Brewery

The famous Von Trapp family, the inspiration for the Sound of Music, can also brew some pretty fine beer. Settling on top of a mountain, the Von Trapp lodge is a huge expanse of resort not only displaying the incredible family history but maintaining that feeling. Make sure to visit the lodge during your tour before settling in at the newly built brewery.

The lodge offers a tea and biscuit “happy hour” and for arriving guests there is an information session where they describe the various livestock kept on the property, where things are, and the fascinating history. The lodge is still run by members of the Von Trapp family and when you are there you can almost imagine that the hills are alive with the sound of music.

The brewery, built in the last couple years is this large open space with the brew tanks and a bar. Nothing else. But really you don’t need anything else. And the beer is good. My choice, the Dunkel. Try a flight or two, try them all. Then head over to their gift shop and pick up your own six-pack.

The Alchemist

This family run brewery is where the hops are at. One of the most famous Vermont beers, Heady Topper, is worth it’s weight in gold. The Alchemist prides itself on small batches, made every week, unpasteurized and unfiltered, it’s something you will not find anywhere else. They also limit you to 4 4-packs of the IPA Heady Topper, it’s just that special.

The Stowe brewery is fairly new and the second of its kind, with the original brewery in Waterbury. With artistically crazy brew vats and free samples of 3 of their IPAs on tap you feel a bit like you’re on psychedelics. It’s a fun place to be.

Snowshoe or cross-country ski

If you haven’t abused your body enough on the mountain, there are plenty of opportunities to go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. One of the most well-known areas to go through being Smuggler’s Notch, AKA The Notch. Stowe Mountain and Smuggler’s Notch are both part of the same mountain, which in the summer you can drive on a short road between them. In the winter that road is closed to vehicles but open to other outdoor activities.

Food tasting tour

Stowe has a lot of great restaurants with a great beer list and specialty food items you just can’t pass up. You can dive into some pub food at Doc Ponds, order a wood fired pizza at the Bench, tacos at Tres Amigos, or (and I highly recommend this) the Sac de bon bon at the Whip. There are so many options you could eat somewhere different every night of your stay.

Honorable mention

One highly recommended activity is dog sledding, something I was set on doing. The company is well respected and from my research does an excellent job with the care of their dogs. My limiting factor? Cost. It’s so very expensive, especially if you are already paying for a hotel, lift tickets, food, and of course beer, this just becomes impossible for regular folks like me. But if you have the chance and the extra cash, I would do it.

For a small mountain town, Stowe has a lot to offer. Great for couples and families, with so much more to do than just ski it really has something for everyone. And once you have finished your tour, the mountain is waiting.