Stowe, VT is one of my absolute favorite places to visit, especially in the winter! I love skiing and Stowe has the most amazing mountain, and there is something magical and cozy about the town in the winter! Here are a few of my favorite places to stay, eat, and shop in this iconic town.

Where to Stay:

The Lodge at Spruce Peak:
https://www.sprucepeak.com

If you are skiing in Stowe and looking for the full experience, I highly recommend staying on the mountain! It is very luxurious, and you can literally roll out of bed onto the mountain! You don’t have to worry about driving in negative 16-degree weather with all your ski gear. They have a private boot room for guests, and they also have a ski concierge! My favorite aspect of this hotel is the abundant amount of activities, like rock climbing and ice skating, and I can’t forget about the delicious breakfast buffet, spa, and gym!

Edson Hill:
https://edsonhill.com/

Edson Hill is a beautiful, quaint boutique hotel, and it is a very relaxing place to return to after a busy day on the mountain (which happens to be very close). It is a lot smaller than other hotels around Stowe, so it is never too crowded and stressful. It’s very home-like, and you even get an actual key to your room! The breakfast and dinner are so delicious and unique, which makes a perfect start and end to the day. The interior design of the entire hotel is absolutely gorgeous! So much so, that I wish I could duplicate all of it at my house!

Topnotch Resort:
https://www.topnotchresort.com

Topnotch is an awesome hotel which is very similar to the Lodge at Spruce Peak in terms of size and interior. However, this hotel is about a five-minute drive from the mountain. They have a delicious breakfast with a gorgeous view, and their dinner is also very yummy! Topnotch also has a spa, pool, and a gym, which are all amazing!

Trapp Family Lodge:
https://www.trappfamily.com

If you are looking for an authentic and historic hotel, the Trapp Family Lodge is fantastic! The Trapp family settled in Stowe and created a family lodge; however, it sadly burnt down in a fire, but this hotel now replaces it! It is all owned by the actual Von Trapp Family! They have so many different activities, and they even have an outdoors center which provides Nordic skiing. This hotel is so unique as is so authentically Austrian, whether it be food, decor, or activities, you may have trouble remembering if you are in Stowe or Austria!

Where to eat:

The Bench
https://www.benchvt.com

The Bench is probably my favorite restaurant in Stowe! It’s so relaxed, family-friendly, and VERY delicious! We always go here right after the mountain closes for an early dinner in our ski thermals. They are very accommodating with allergies! I love to get a gluten-free/dairy-free pizza with lots of veggies on top! They also have a very delicious salmon dish and unique salads!

The Dining Room at Edson Hill
https://edsonhill.com/casual-fine-dining-stowe-vt/

This restaurant is very fine dining, so it’s definitely a treat, but it is so so delicious! You need to make a reservation here as it is a very small space which gets booked up fast! My favorites from the “small plates” part of the menu are the bar bites and the beet and quinoa salad. My favorite dish from the “big plates” part of the menu is the halibut!

Plate
https://www.platestowe.com

Plate is very similar to The Bench as it’s very relaxed, and it has delicious food! The menu here is inspired by “California-cuisine,” which allows different types of taste buds to converge at one table. They offer many vegetarian options, yet they also offer meat for meat-lovers. The menu frequently changes, which is amazing and not very common in some restaurants! My favorite starter is the hearts of palm vegan “crab cakes,” and my go-to main is the spaghetti squash.

Skinny Pancake
https://skinnypancake.com/location/stowe-mountain-resort/

Every time I go to Stowe, I can never leave without having at least one (gluten free and dairy free) pancake from Skinny Pancake! It is the perfect fuel after skiing on the slopes all day, and whether you are craving sweet or savory, they have something that will satisfy your taste buds. My go-to is the “Veggie Monster” without cheese and on a chickpea flour pancake. My sister’s who don’t have allergies LOVE the choco-monkey, which is Nutella with banana! YUM!

Where to shop:

Pete’s Greens
https://www.petesgreens.com

This place isn’t actually in Stowe, but you will most likely pass it on your way in/out. It is located in Waterbury, VT, and it is like heaven for any healthy foodie! It’s like an mini version of whole foods, but with more local products, and it’s a lot smaller! They have so many healthy options, and they even have some ready-meals that you can eat on the drive home. I like to stop here on my way into Stowe to pick up some essentials that I need for the next few days, like fruits, vegetables, and snacks!

Laughing Moon Chocolates
http://www.laughingmoonchocolates.com

Each time I go to Stowe, I can never leave without stopping at Laughing Moon Chocolates. As you may know, I am obsessed with chocolate, and this adorable shop is a chocolate-lovers dream! They have every type of chocolate you can think of ranging from turtles to fudge, to sugar-free and dairy-free chocolate! A bonus is that you can watch them make the chocolate in the kitchen behind the fudge bar! Yum!

The Country Store on Main
https://www.countrystorevt.com

If you are in need of some kitchen essentials (like an Ina Garten cookbook, Duh!) definitely make a visit to The Country Store on Main. They have every kitchen utensil you will ever need, every book published by Ina Garten, and even bedroom and bathroom essentials. It’s a great shop to visit if you need a gift for a friend or family member, or even just to treat yourself!

Stowe Mercantile
https://www.stowemercantile.com

The Stow Mercantile is a souvenir and gift shop on steroids! They have anything and everything you will ever need, like clothes, souvenirs, homeware, and food. I love going in here to check out all the local baking products, and also to buy a chunk of delicious fudge.

I hope this guide helps you if you ever visit Stowe one day! I highly recommend visiting, and it doesn’t just have to be in the winter! In fact, it’s a very popular summer spot as well! There are definitely a lot more hotels, restaurants, and shops worthy of mention, but sadly I wasn’t able to go to every one. If you have any favorites please share! I would love to know your go-to’s!