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Stowe, Vermont is an incredible destination in every season. While fall is especially beautiful with its brilliant foliage and cooler temps, and winter beautiful for its perfect snowfalls, Stowe is wonderful year-round. And for couples, there are countless romantic things to do in Stowe, VT.
Have you heard of Stowe? You might not know why you recognize the name, or what it is famous for, but it’s likely that Stowe is a destination you’ve heard of. We’ve found this to be true, and when we visited Stowe, Vermont in September 2017, we remembered exactly why it’s so well known.
Stowe is a special place to us personally. My first visit to Stowe was way back in 2001, when I traveled to Vermont with my family. It was January, and our goal was to play in the snow. For this Florida-born 14-year-old, it was the first time I’d ever laid eyes on real snow! It was a magical experience, and it set off a chain of events that lead to my family moving to Vermont and settling here. I’ve been a Vermonter on and off for more than a decade now, and I still adore the state with all my heart.
When Nathan first visited me in Vermont in 2012, it was his first visit to the state. Though I lived in Burlington, I knew I had to bring him up to Stowe. Even a quick visit showed him how gorgeous and special the area is.
Fast forward to 2017. We now returned to Stowe as a married couple ready to enjoy a romantic fall foliage getaway. If we didn’t already adore Stowe, this visit served to cement our feelings.
Here’s why, plus everything you need to know about an escape to Stowe.
Where to Stay in Stowe
Stowe is a small, quaint Vermont town of just 4,000 or so permanent residents, whose numbers swell by thousands as tourists come and go. Stowe is used to a high volume of visitors, and the sheer number of hotels, inns, and B&Bs just shows how popular it is. But the very best of these properties stand out among the rest. In Stowe, we recommend that couples stay at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa.
When looking for romantic inns in Vermont, the Stoweflake is a necessary addition to the list. Not only is there an award-winning spa where you can treat yourselves to utter relaxation and luxury, but the rooms are romantic, too. Inviting and comfortable, the spacious guest rooms have everything you need.
And, most importantly, they are cozy as can be. Particularly for a fall or winter visit to Vermont, evenings spent next to a crackling fire are a must. Many of the Stoweflake’s guest rooms are equipped with gas fireplaces, so you can consider that box checked! You could also go for a double soak in your private jacuzzi tub and enjoy the gentle bubbling of the jets.
An important consideration when choosing your hotel is location. There’s so much to do in Stowe and the surrounding area, and the Stoweflake has a prime spot right on the Mountain Road. You can easily walk to restaurants, coffee shops, and even breweries in just a few minutes’ time.
Beer lovers will be happy to note that you can find The Alchemist (home of the famous Heady Topper) super close to the property, and Idletyme Brewing and Stowe Cider just around the corner.
There is also plenty of shopping in the immediate area, and you can find more less than a mile away. The Stowe Recreation Path (great for walking and biking) crosses right in front of the Stoweflake property. You can walk from the hotel to downtown Stowe Village via this path, covering a distance of 1.5 miles. The walk is beautiful and the path is flat, making it a perfect stroll through scenic Stowe. (The Stoweflake can help you find bike rentals if you’d like to cycle the trail).
Photo Courtesy of the Stoweflake
Another aspect that makes the Stoweflake one of the best places to stay in Stowe VT is the food. Charlie B’s is the main dining area, with a laidback vibe like a classic ski lodge. Warm & cozy, sidle up to the bar for a Mapletini and enjoy excellent Vermont cuisine for your meal. Winfield’s Bistro, located right next to Charlie B’s, is open in the mornings for a hearty breakfast.
So, after you’ve booked your stay at the Stoweflake, you can start building the itinerary for your couple’s trip. Yay! Time for romance and adventure.
Here are some of our suggestions:
♥ The Most Romantic Things to Do in Stowe for Couples ♥
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
We think balloons are super romantic! (Does our logo give it away?) And it’s super high on our bucket list. If you’re lucky enough to go, check out these tips for your first hot air balloon ride!)
The best places to fly in a hot air balloon are scenic spots like the Stowe region. As you soar over the Green Mountains, you’ll have a magical experience, shared with your favorite person. The Stoweflake offers rides and hosts the exciting Stowe Balloon Festival every July.
Photo Courtesy of the Stoweflake
Hike to a Cascading Waterfall
Mountainous Stowe is an excellent destination for those who enjoy hiking. There are a range of trails that will suit various levels of experience.
The Long Trail, which traverses Vermont from north to south, runs across Mount Mansfield in Stowe. You can climb to the top of Mansfield via a few different trailheads, two of which are in Smuggler’s Notch. Want awesome views? Stowe Pinnacle might be a good choice, taking approximately 90 minutes to reach the top. Sterling Pond is another great hike, bringing you to an elevated trout pond. In the fall, this will be fringed with yellows and reds. You can continue on the same trail to the summit of Spruce Peak.
But the most romantic hike is surely one with a waterfall at the end. Area waterfalls include Bingham Falls and Moss Glen Falls, both impressive and scenic, and accessible via fairly short hikes. Enjoy the views or go for a dip on a hot summer afternoon.
For more detailed information, check out the Green Mountain Club–a great resource for information on hiking in Stowe.
Indulge in a Spa Day
After a hike, unwind with a massage or other spa treatment. Better yet, book an entire spa day or afternoon for two. The Stoweflake has an insanely awesome spa, with some 35,000 square feet of space and dozens of treatments available. You can easily spend blissful hours here, enjoying the steam rooms, sauna, jacuzzi, mineral baths, and quiet spaces. The highlight of the Stoweflake Spa is their Aqua Solarium, complete with a waterfall pool, which is modeled after the real Bingham Falls in the region. This rock-lined, warm-water pool allows you to sit underneath a 12-foot cascading waterfall which serves as a therapeutic massage for a tired neck and shoulders. Total serenity.
At the Stoweflake, you can book specific couples’ treatments. A side-by-side massage is a romantic choice, or meet in the Aqua Solarium following your individual treatments. Consider an Apres Ski Massage to soothe your tired muscles is or, if you’re after one of the signature treatments the luxuriant Vermont Maple Sugar Body Polish. Spa access is $20/day for hotel guests ($25 on Saturdays) but complimentary on the day of your treatment appointment. Non-hotel guests are welcome at the Stoweflake Spa as well, for a rate of $40 ($50 on Saturdays).
Photo courtesy of The Stoweflake
Go Ice Skating Hand-in-Hand
When Vermont turns cold, the activities are still hot! There’s so much to do in Stowe in the winter. Known as one of the best ski resorts in the States, Stowe is awesome for those who like to hit the slops. Couples can also have fun going ice skating. There’s an indoor rink right in Stowe Village, or, even better, skate outdoors surrounded by an alpine-style village at the Stowe Mountain Resort.
Sample Vermont’s Culinary Delights
Oh my goodness, Vermont has amazing things to eat. While there is plenty to indulge in within Stowe itself, take time during your drive through the area along Route 100 between Waterbury and Stowe. Here you can let your inner foodie go wild.
First, you’ll come across the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. Head inside for a factory tour (breathe in deeply, the whole place smells like heaven), and snag some samples. Ben & Jerry’s is such a Vermont staple, you really shouldn’t miss it.
Next up is the Cabot Farmer’s Store where you’ll find the best cheese ever. Cabot Cheese is known for their phenomenal cheddar. In the store, you can sample this, plus about 20 other flavors. As if that wasn’t enough, the store is stocked with all kinds of Vermont products: wine, beer, cider, jams, jellies, crackers, syrup, and more. Go ahead and buy your fill. When you’re all cheesed out, go next door for some spirit tasting at the Smuggler’s Notch Distillery and chocolate samples at Lake Champlain Chocolates.
Just a few minutes further down the road is the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, an amazing spot that I’ve enjoyed visiting for years. This is a destination for apple lovers. They make the best apple cider and even more amazing apple cider donuts. In recent years, they’ve expanded. Cold Hollow now offers hard cider (you can sample it right on the property) plus a tasty cafe called The Apple Core. And in the same building is tasting offered by Boyden Valley Winery (taste the Maple Creme). Truly, you won’t even need lunch after this culinary road trip.
Finally, have an cuppa at the newly opened European-style coffee bar located at the Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Company. A maple latte is always a delicious choice.
In Stowe itself, head to the breweries and the cidery for more tasting!
Hop On for a Horse & Carriage Ride (Or Sleigh Ride)
Romance is connected to a nostalgia for the past, for simpler times. Put away the electronics and enjoy nature on a horse-drawn carriage ride. In the winter, these become sleighs, ferrying you across a snowy wonderland. Gentle Giants carriage and sleigh rides are located right on Mountain Road, just a few minutes from The Stoweflake, and are open seven days a week throughout the year.
Take in the Views from the Trapp Family Lodge
The von Trapp family (whose story was told–and expanded upon–in the film The Sound of Music) settled in Stowe, Vermont in the 1940s. They opened a guest house to welcome visitors, and the Trapp Family Lodge was born. Today, this is an Austrian-inspired property that has gorgeous views overlooking Stowe. It’s worth a visit to take in the scenery (or do some cross-country skiing in the snowy season), but the property also boasts a brewery and bierhall where you can enjoy lagers, ales, and other European-styled brews and Austrian-inspired food. Toast your darling as you soak in the lovely views and delicious beverages.
Sail Away on a Fall Foliage Boat Ride
If you’re coming to Vermont in for its striking fall foliage, prepare for some slightly crowded roads. VT welcomes many “leaf peepers” each season, and traffic often moves a bit slowly as a result. We have a better way for you to enjoy the vibrant leaves–with a fall foliage boat ride. Local fishing guides and suppliers The Fly Rod Shop offer an innovative fall activity.
Hidden away in the region is a stunning man-made lake known as Waterbury Reservoir. Here is where you’ll experience the foliage at its best. Away from the chaos of the roadways, your scenic boat tour brings you through a peaceful and quiet lake.
In the fall, there are very few people on the reservoir, lending the experience an intimate touch. It feels as though you’re exploring your own private lake. As for romantic things to do in Stowe, VT, this definitely qualifies. (Our guide told us that a few couples have even gotten engaged on the tour!)
Your guide takes you out on the water in a small boat (about 7-8 maximum guest capacity) and brings you on a journey around the lake. It’s a surprisingly large body of water. When fall is at its most brilliant, the views will be remarkable. And with the reflection of the trees off of the calm waters, you’re going to capture amazing photos, too.
On our recent visit to Stowe, we were lucky enough to take one of these boat rides. Unfortunately, the leaves weren’t quite at their peak. This means that there are still a few weeks to head up to Stowe and take the foliage tour! When peak foliage strikes, it’s bound to be awe-inspiring.
For more details on the fall foliage tour, or guided fishing trips with The Fly Rod Shop: Fall Foliage Scenic Boat Charters.
Ride to the Top of Mount Mansfield
You don’t have to hike to catch supreme views. Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak and home to Stowe Mountain Resort) takes visitors to the top via gondola, or cable car. In just a few minutes, you can be at a height of 4,393′ and look out over the valley.
The bright red cars of the gondola stand out against the slopes, which are green in summer, multicolored in the fall, and white in winter. If you’re not skiing down one of Mansfield’s many trails, you can ride the gondola back to the bottom.
Take a Snowshoe or Snowmobile Tour
Winter is quiet, still, and romantic. Adventuring in the wilderness together is a great way to strengthen your bond (followed by some fireside snuggling). There are opportunities throughout Stowe to explore the snowy wilds.
Snowshoeing and snowmobiling are popular, or you can also go for a dog-sledding adventure. These are available right on property at Stoweflake in the winter. What a dream! Dog-sledding is definitely something that’s on our Two Drifters’ bucket list.
Photo courtesy of The Stoweflake
Ski Your Heart Out
Of course, ski enthusiasts will love Stowe for a very specific reason: excellent powder! Whether you ski or snowboard, Stowe Mountain Resort offers some top slopes. It’s been called one of America’s best ski towns with good reason. If you’ve never tried winter sports before, it could also be a great place to take a lesson or two. Why not?
Non-skiers can choose plenty of other winter activities, or even head out for a bit of sledding. Recapture your childhood with some old-fashioned fun. Pro tip: there’s an excellent sledding hill behind the elementary school in the village. Grab a sled at a downtown shop and head over for the fun.
Stroll Through the Village
Stowe has a postcard-perfect downtown. The tiny Main Street is exceedingly charming, with the white-steepled church as its focal point. A romantic Stowe getaway would not be complete without some time spent walking hand-in-hand through the village. Stop into Shaw’s General Store for a foray into the past, Bear Pond Books for reading material, and browse locally owned boutiques, craft, and antique shops galore.
Stowe is clearly one of the most romantic places in Vermont. Beautiful in all seasons, Stowe is one of those towns we’ll keep returning to again and again, and we hope you’ll visit, too. We’re pretty sure you’ll fall in love.
Have you been to Stowe? Tell us what you think of this charming Vermont town!
Essentials:
The Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
- Address: 1746 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 05672
- Phone: (802) 253-7355
Where to Eat & Drink
- 1859 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 05672
Alchemist Beer (try the famous Heady Topper)
- 100 Cottage Club Rd, Stowe, VT 05672
- 17 Town Farm Ln, Stowe, VT 05672
- 144 Main St, Stowe, VT 05672
- 1333 Luce Hill Rd, Stowe, VT 05672
- 18 S Main St, Stowe, VT 05672
We stayed in Stowe as guests of the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa. Our accommodations and select activities were provided courtesy of the Stoweflake. As always, all opinions are our own and reflect our true experience.
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Amy Hartle is the author of Do You Love Me? How To Stop Seeking Reassurance in Relationships, a book on reassurance seeking and relationship anxiety. Both her book and this blog are born of personal experience; Amy shares expert relationship advice from the lessons learned during her own 10+ years with her husband, as well as couples travel tips and romantic getaway recommendations, all gleaned while traveling the world together.