How To Plan A Family Getaway in Stowe Vermont Guide

If you or your kids don’t mind road-tripping to New England’s top mountain destination, consider planning a family vacation in Stowe, Vermont! In this post, I will share everything you need to know before packing bags.

Table of Contents

Vermont Family Vacation Guide

Little About Stowe, Vermont

Stowe is a town in northern Vermont (northeastern USA). Mount Mansfield overlooks it. Whether skiing, mountain biking, horse riding, or exploring hiking trails, Stowe is a perfect destination for both adults and kids!

It is worth mentioning that the outdoors is a great “place” to be during the pandemic. Although safety rules still apply, following the 6-foot-distance rule in nature is much easier.

This stunning mountain town is roughly 5+ hours’ driving distance from New York City. If you have kids, depending on where you are driving from, it may be a little challenging for them to sit still in one place. Make sure you stop for snack times and a little stretch here and there.

Vermont Family Vacation Resort

If you want a family-friendly resort in Stowe, I highly recommend the Lodge at Spruce Peaks, located by Mount Mansfield. It is a beautiful resort offering a variety of room options for a safe family getaway.

Lady looking at the resort. Spruce peaks, vermont

Our main goal was to find a clean, safe place. The Spruce Peaks Lodge did not disappoint us! During our seven-day stay, we were delighted with the overall hospitality, attentiveness, and cleanliness of the place. It is a lovely place if you are looking for family resorts in Vermont.

The resort offers various seasonal activities for the whole family, including access to the pool, a highly rated spa, yoga sessions, gondola rides, outdoor movie nights, the family activity forest, and many more. Depending on when you are visiting, check here for more seasonal and scheduled activities.

lady by the poolside at Spruce Peaks Lodge

mother and son playing a ball in the pool at spruce family lodge

Where To Eat During Your Vermont Family Vacation

Breakfast

Our package at the Spruce Peaks Lodge included breakfast (Make sure to inquire about it upon booking your room), which was beyond delicious. Who does not love the countryside breakfast overlooking the mountains?! Bring it on, please. For this reason, we did not even bother looking for other places for breakfast. In addition, they had a fantastic kid’s menu. Our son loved their pancakes and oatmeal combo. He was having a blast trying both dishes at the same time.

Lunch and dinner

Unlike breakfast, lunch and dinner options were not as exciting. The menu was not as rich in options, and portions were too small for hungry adventurers. It is worth noting that due to COVID-19, only one restaurant was still open to accommodate guests. After trying different dishes at the resort, we decided to look for additional options nearby. Consider ordering a take-out from Piecasso for budget-friendly options, or visit the Trapp Family Lodge for an exceptional dining experience. (Discussed Below)

Outside The Resort Activities

Trapp Family Lodge

If you are in Stowe or passing by nearby, the Trapp Family Lodge is worth checking out. This Austrian-inspired place has an incredibly relaxing aura and offers a variety of things to do for the whole family!

You can check out the resort’s hiking and biking trails and tour the beautiful gardens here. In addition, you may attend their “History of The Property” tour. Also, consider scheduling sleigh and carriage rides around the property to earn some happy faces from kids.

If you have only a few hours to spare like us, treat yourself to an outdoor lunch or dinner with a mountain view! This property is beyond beautiful with its outdoor porch, fruit trees, and natural landscape.

Trapp Family Lodge outdoor patio. Stowe, Vermont

lady holding a wine glass at Trapp Family Lodge. Stowe, Vermont

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory

Did you hear ice cream? Yes, and not only the scoop but the whole factory! If you are near Stowe, have a scoop or two. So yummy!

In addition to delicious treats, Ben & Jerry’s offers factory tours. However, during our visit, these tours were closed to the public due to COVID-19. Check their website for company updates.

Despite limited activities, we had a great time stopping by. We refreshed ourselves with a scoop of ice cream in their outdoor seating. We also tried to get Matthew to try ice cream for the first time, but he wasn’t a fan. Unlike him, Mommy and Daddy had a blast. Don’t trust a one-year-old with taste buds, so visit this place when you are around.

Family in Ben & Jerry's Factory. Stowe, Vermont

Ben & Jerry's ice cream in Stowe, Vermont

mom and son in Ben & Jerry's Factory. Stove, Vermont

lady with ben & Jerry's ice cream in front of the truck covered with cow animations

Strolling Into Downtown & City Recreational Path

When we go to the mountains, we want to escape city life, but we still like to explore the local towns.

You can find small, unique shops, galleries, restaurants, and some lodging establishments here. If you are traveling with kids, check out the Stowe recreational path. It is hard to miss. Take your bikes (or rent them!) and strollers, and add more nature to your Vermont family vacation.

mom and baby walking on Recreational path in Vermont

Bingham Falls

Traveling to the mountains without exploring the mountain trails would not feel the same. While we love hiking and reaching the tops of the hills, we are adjusting to exploring toddler-friendly trails instead. Therefore, we decided to walk the Bingham Falls trail.

The best thing about this trail is that it is only a 10-15 minute drive from our resort. Hiking this trail is considered easy; however, if you carry a baby, be ready to break some sweat.

I recommend wearing proper shoes and taking mosquito spray with you. Depending on the weather, the trail can be very slippery.

Besides these necessities, the trail went by quickly, and we ended up by the waterfall that created the small swimming pool spot. There was a tiny space for everyone to spread. If you want to dive in and swim, we recommend going there early in the day.

Billings Farm and Museum

Before I describe this place, I want to point out that it is not located in Stowe but in Woodstock, Vermont.

If driving for over one hour doesn’t bother you when reaching the destination, we highly recommend visiting this working farm and museum!

This is a place for the whole family to explore. You can see the farm animals, pastures, and barns. Due to COVID-19, some barns were closed to the public during our visit, but we could still show Matthew some of his favorite farm animals. Cows, sheep, baby goats, and horses. He was excited and wanted to get close to every gate to interact with the animals.

The farm also offers indoor exhibitions on its history and a one-mile-long walking trail open to the public.

Gardens at Billings Farm and Museum. Stowe, Vermont

Mom holding a baby at the farm in vermont

goats eating grass at Billings Farm Museum

Knowing the farm had a beautiful landscape, we brought our picnic basket for lunch. It rained a lot at one point during lunchtime, and we had very little time to finish our food, but we had a great day and will return next time we are near Stowe or Woodstock.