Going to Vermont in the fall has always been a DREAM! The leaves are truly indescribable there and all the quaint towns make me feel like I am in a Gilmore Girls episode. We were able to make that a reality this year & I am already planning my return. I wanted to share my travel guide with you in hopes one day you can visit as well!
I was so excited to go up to Vermont with the Linc Active team to shoot my collection and their fall line launch. (I cannot wait for you guys to see the collection- it is so good and I hope you love it as much as me!) Not only were Jamie & I able to go up to Vermont to apart of the shoot, we actually gave away a trip to one winner and a guest of her choosing. Kaitlynn and Maddie were flown up to Vermont to meet us and the Linc Active team, explore Vermont, and be apart of the fall shoot! Honestly they were the nicest women and it was so fun to get to know them.
Along with shooting in Vermont, Jamie and I had a couple of days to just explore, eat, drink ALL the apple cider, and literally gawk over the foliage. I wanted to put together some of the places we ate, where we stayed, and some exploring things we did.
I hope this travel guide helps if you ever get the chance to go to Stowe. If you are ever able, I would HIGHLY recommend it. Stowe is such a cute town and coming from the South, it is a completely different change of scenery. One thing I wish we had more time for is to explore Woodstock , Vt. We drove through there for a couple of hours but did not have the time to get out and really embrace it. It has the most beautiful architecture and you can tell it his rich with history.
Places to Stay
Airbnb we stayed at- This was the perfect place for us and the Linc Active team. It was 5 bedroom and 5 bath, and there was a total of 5 of us, so it worked out perfect. The location of this airbnb was 100% worth it in my opinion. It was right off main street in Stowe and across the street from the prettiest white church with a stunning steeple. The best part however, is that it is right above a coffee shop. Can you say real life Gilmore Girls?! Literally the smell of coffee wafted up to our room every morning & it was like a dream come true. If you have a large group and need an updated modern place to stay- I HIGHLY recommend.
Field Guide Lodge- Kaitlynn & Maddie stayed here and loved it as well! It is conveniently located 5 min from town without being in the crowded area. They had a bar at the lodge and a restaurant that served food (they said breakfast was incredible!). The lodge has a lot of common space, fire pits , and games available. This would be a great place to stay and is a sought after lodging destination.
Trapp Family Lodge- This is a place we went to visit and read about! The Sound of Music was filmed here, and the lodge has all the charm of Austria. It is such a unique place with a lot of history & a huge property to explore and hike. The decor is not the most updated , but it plays into the quaint ski lodge that it is. I could definitely curl up by the fire drinking coffee watching the snow fall here.
Places to Eat
For any restaurant in Stowe I would highly recommend a reservation. It is definitely a tourist driven city so all places book up fast! Two times we were not able to get a table , but the bars served a full menu. We ate at the bar and it was just as delicious.
Black Cap Coffee– Our airbnb was above this coffee shop & we grabbed a coffee or apple cider every morning. They had a great pumpkin special drink and a bunch of other specialty coffees. The breakfast items were also delicious, we all loved the maple sausage, egg, and cheese english muffin. there was not a single thing we didn’t like- and the apple cider is something I am STILL thinking about.
Sushi Yoshi- We went here as a group for hibachi the first night, because they were able to get us in on short notice. It was good, pretty much your run of the line hibachi menu. Definitely a great place for larger groups or if you cant get a reservation anywhere.
Butler’s Pantry- This place was SO GOOD. I am a breakfast girl and this did not disappoint. We split the blueberry pancakes and biscuits and gravy and they were divine. The sausage was maple and the maple syrup for the pancakes was mouth watering. This is a must do breakfast place for sure. However it fills up fast and stays full. We got there at 8:15 am, they open at 8 am, and there was already a 30 min wait! We ended up eating at the bar and meeting the nicest man named George. All that being said, they only do walk up and get in line, no reservations.
Hillside Pizza- Jamie and I stumbled upon this pizza place on the way up to vermont. She got a Autumn pizza that was so good! It had butternut squash, chicken , and sage on it. This is normally never something I would order but she got it and we both were obsessed. We had to stop on the way back to the airport on our way home it was THAT GOOD.
The Whip- This was another place I would highly recommend. We were not able to make reservations ahead of time , so we walked in and got one day of , but for 8:30pm. However, this will come as no surprise that we were starved by 6:30. We ended up sitting at the bar where they were serving a full menu and watched the Arkansas game and then the Braves game. We split two appetizers and the calamari was some of the best I have ever had! For our main courses we split the burger and mahi mahi. Truly one of the best dinners and eating at the bar and meeting some locals ended up being the best time.
Cork- This restaurant is very small , but they were able to squeeze us in. It was a eclectic menu with a great variety of wines from all over the world. Jamie and I split ( this was the them for the weekend) the salmon salad and the pimento cheese burger. Both items were delicious and with the location to main street, I would for sure recommend this place.
Activities to Do
Pinnacle Mountain Hike- The views after you finally get to the top are literally unmatched. You have 360 degree views of all the Vermont foliage, and it is something like I have never seen before. HOWEVER, google did not prepare us for the climb ahead. In my travel guide, I am going to keep it real. It is about 2.5 miles round trip but the hike to the top is 100% straight up hill , rocks, and mud. Luckily, we were able to find some hiking sticks and Jamie is convinced they were sent from the Lord. As long as you are prepared for the hike mentally and physically, it is well worth it in my opinion.
Bingham Falls- This is a much less strenuous hike and still had beautiful views. You hiked down to a water fall and with the foliage it was a picture perfect scene.
Cold Hollow Cedar Mill- The sweetest apple orchard with some of the yummiest apple cider donuts. I would recommend getting here early and having breakfast! Lunch time had a delicious menu, but also brought the busses in full of tourists. Across the road from the cedar mill is the cold hollow hard cider restaurant. Here you are able to order food and get hard cider flights, which we would highly recommend.
Ben & Jerry Factory- Unfortunately we did not have time to go here, but a lot of people recommend this! You can book tickets Tues-Sat and get a tour of the factory- which I am sure included some delicious ice cream!
Gold Brook Covered Bridge- The sweetest covered bridge that was so pretty to take pictures at. I do not think you can get more picturesque than the bridge with the changing leaves surrounding it.
I hope you enjoyed following along with my travel guide to Stowe, Vermont. If you ever are able to travel North for the fall foliage I hope you do! Make sure to use this travel guide as a reference for all your travels to Stowe. Check out my travel guide to Charleston, SC if you are ever in that area.
XOXO,
Mary Margaret
