Sight Seeing and Tours
Vermont Scenic DrivesHot Air Ballooning
Carriage and Wagon Rides
Gliding
Day Trips
Vermont Scenic Drives
Behind the wheel: They don’t come any more popular than Route 100 between Waterbury and Stowe. (Blame the factory tours at Ben & Jerrys and the Cold Hollow Cider Mill.) Continue on, though, over Route 108 (aka the Mountain Road) and on down to Route 15 and you’ll leave the tour buses behind. Snap foliage photos at the Stowe and Smugglers Notch ski resorts, poke around the towns of the Lamoille Valley, and you can be back in Burlington for dinner.
The seasons color spectacle is just around the corner! Send in your best shots of fall foliage. Out and about: Burn off those factory-tour calories with a hike to the Chin, the summit of Mt. Mansfield, for views that stretch from New Hampshire to the Adirondacks. (Note: The road to the Chin and the pass between Stowe and Smuggler’s Notch close in mid- to late-October.) Before you go: Look for twice-weekly foliage updates at VermontVacation.com beginning September 13.
Auto Toll Road
The historic auto Toll Road zigs and zags its way to the summit ridge of Mt. Mansfield where stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains await you.
Hours: 9 am - 4 pm
Daily: May 25 - October 14
Please note: Bicycles and motorcycles are not permitted on the Toll Road.
Hot Air Ballooning
Stoweflake Hot Air Ballooning
1746 Mountain Road, PO Box 369
Stowe, VT 05672
802-253-7355, 800-253-2232
UK: 0500-892-522
fax: 802-253-4419
Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Green Mountain State with a hot air balloon ride in the Spirit of Stoweflake piloted by Stoweflake President and master balloonist, Chuck Baraw. Discover the splendor of a Vermont sunrise and the sublime beauty of sunset as the last rays slowly fade behind Mount Mansfield. Perfect for the ultimate honeymoon escape or any special celebration. Reservations required.
Carriage and Wagon Rides
Gentle Giants at Topnotch
Tel. 802-253-2216
Day rides 11AM till 5PM (weather permitting)
Our Gentle giant Percheron and Belgian Draft horses, the largest weighing 2,200 pounds - will take you back into time. They will pull your choice of three vehicles: a four passenger white wedding carriage with red velvet seats, a romantic surrey carriage with blue velvet seats for couples, and a six passenger wagonette. All three of these have beautiful old fashioned spindled wheels. We will begin our journey through a covered bridge, on a winding wooded trail along an open brook, and then out into a meadow trail with spectacular views of Mt. Mansfield, Vermonts highest peak. We will then begin our way around and back to trails end. You will have experienced a part of Vermonts past, a pleasurable memory that will last forever. Our rides are always a private ride just for you and yours. Of course everyone can feed and pet the horses. Featured and recommended by Yankee Magazine.
Stowe Classic Farm Tractor Hay Rides
Tel. 802-585-9006
Departing from The Rusty Nail Restaurant on the Mountain Road 10:00am thru 4:00pm on the hour Saturdays and Sundays thru October 31st. The 5:00pm time slot is reserved for private Hayrides set up by reservation.
With our antique farm tractor hay ride tour, visitation to our horse ranch and Vermont stories this will likely be your "most memorable" experience visiting Stowe. Our two antique tractor are classic museum quality 1940’s and 50’s John Deere (Green) and International Harvesters (Red). The two hay wagons being used are matching and each have an occupancy of 15 passengers. Our destination is a horse ranch with a field of Clydesdales, and a barn with a 19th century carriage and a 1924 Farm Tractor that starts with a hand crank that still works! We can also schedule specific events by request.
Trapp Family Lodge Horse-drawn Wagon Rides
Tel. 802-253-8511
Experience an old-fashioned, scenic wagon ride over our meadows with our resident team of horses.
Day Rides: Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Mondays 10am-4pm Closed 12pm-1pm. Rides every half hour.
Private Rides: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 3:30pm to 7:30pm by reservation only.
Edson Hill Manor
Available all winter long through snow-laden evergreen forests. Throw Blankets are provided for your comfort. Enjoy a romantic ride with your special loved one.
Stowehof: Sleigh Rides
4 pm to 9 pm Monday through Friday
2 pm to 9 pm Saturday and Sunday
Reservations are made at the Front Desk
Cancellations must be made by 12 noon the day of the ride
Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh becomes a reality at the Stowehof. Capture the spirit and romance of the Victorian era with a moonlit sleigh ride for two or four. Bring family and friends for an afternoon ride to see the beautiful views from our meadows.
Gliding
Stowe Soaring
2305 Laporte Road, Route 100
Morrisville, VT 05661
802-888-7845
800-898-7845
Come soar with us at Stowe Soaring, the premier soaring site in New England, located 6 miles north of Stowe on Route 100. Enjoy an unforgettable experience - a smooth and graceful ride on silent wings. Our highly experienced pilots will give you the ride of a lifetime. If you are adventurous, they will show you beautiful maneuvers and give you a chance to fly. Glider instruction and rental are available for novice and experienced pilots. Open 7 days per week, May through October.
Stowe Farmers Market
Sundays through October, 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mountain Road, Stowe
Locally grown produce, but also meat, cheese, maple syrup, ethnic foods, breads & pastries, preserves, herbal products, pottery, and baskets.
Factory Tours
Ben & Jerry's
866-258-6877 (toll free)
Nov. - May 10am-5pm, June 9am -5pm, July - Late Aug. 9am -8pm, Late Aug. - Oct. 9am -6pm
$2.00, seniors $1.75, kids 12 & younger free
See how gourmet ice cream is made, then tickle your tastebuds with yummy samples - Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream Factory Tour, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 tour experiences in the country. 30-minute tour.
Vermont Teddy Bear Company
Tours last approximately 30 minutes. Factory Tour Admission: Adults: $2.00 Kids (12 and under): FREE
Summer season (June 1st - Oct. 31st)
Factory Tour Hours: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Winter season (Nov. 1st - May 31st)
Factory Tour Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
*prices & times subject to change without notice.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Tel. 802 244-8771
Route 100, Waterbury
Learn how cider is made and enjoy a free sample too! - Established in 1974 in an historic, old Vermont barn, it has become New Englands most famous cider mill and a Vermont specialty foods & crafts store. Take your family to observe cider making and enjoy free samples. Open year-round.
Cabot Visitors Center
Tel. 802 244-6334 or 800 837-4261
See how Cabot Cheddar cheese is made and enjoy generous free tasting of cheese and other dairy products.
Mansion House Maple Syrup
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. during sugaring season (usually March & April)
Visit a working sugar house in nearby Johnson.
Granite Quarry
Experience Rock of Ages! - Tour a granite quarry nearly 600 feet deep. Watch our artisans at the factory. See our video, explore our exhibits and bowl on our outdoor granite lane. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll want to TRY it – our new Cut-In-Stone Activity is a BLAST. Squeeze the trigger and feel the throb of air and abrasive as you cut in stone! Walk away with a great granite gift made by your own hands.
Laughing Moon Chocolates
Depot Street, Stowe
Delicious hand-dipped chocolates. Take a tour Mon. - Fri. 10 - 5 and watch a demonstration of hand-dipping at 2 p.m. See our calendar of events for special activities at Laughing Moon Chocolates.
802 253-9591
Grape Picking
Attend the "Celebration of the Vine" Harvest Festival at Boyden Valley Winery! - Grape picking, grape stomping, live blues music, clowns, face painting, hayrides, games and llamas. Historical farming demonstrations, Green River canoe tours and more at this favorite event! Boyden Valley Winery is part of a fourth-generation farm in the pastoral Lamoille River Valley of Vermont. Come visit anytime for tours and tastings.
Christmas Tree Hunting
Choose and cut your own Christmas Tree! - For over 35 years, Paines has been a holiday tradition for families near and far. We offer pre-cut trees and a choose and cut operation. Wreaths, garland and gifts also available.
Paines Christmas Tree Farm
Stowe Golf Park
Enjoy a round of "golf in miniature" at the Stowe Golf Park - The course has been professionally designed as a miniaturized golf course which strives to simulate a real golf environment and experience. Fun for both the practiced and...not so practiced golfers in your family!
The Painting Place
802 253-7753 Stowe Village Paint your own pottery.
Day Trips
Montreal
Head north to Montreal for the day. It is only a two-hour drive to this world class French-speaking city with a wealth of historic and cultural activities and great shopping. Passport or birth certificate is required for US/Canada border crossing.
Burlington
On the shore of Lake Champlain, this small city with a "college town" atmosphere and unique, lively down-town mall also has the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, the National Museum of the Morgan Horse, and lots of interesting things to do along the shores of Lake Champlain plus ferries and tour or dinner boats on the lake.
Montpelier
800-VERMONT
The countrys smallest state capital may just be the most charming. The historic capital building is open to the public and free. Youll find several nice bookshops and many restaurants including three associated with the New England Culinary Institute.