Any ideas for "must-see or do" attractions near Stowe, VT?

Question

Willing to drive to nearby states, if needed (3-5 hr. distance). Any suggestions for tourist hot spots, historical sites, kids activities, MLB ballparks/games? My stay will be about 8 days during the summer months - give or take a day or two for traveling.

Answer 1

No MLB, but there's the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (minor league) that actually might be more fun because you can get closer.

Boston is only a couple of hours - go down 89, then down 93, and you have the Boston Aquarium, Red Sox, etc.

For kids, there's lots of little water parks, etc. Stowe is right near the Ben & Jerry's factory.

Go up to Burlington, spend a good day at the Shelburne Museum - it's south on Rt 7 once you get to Burlington (89 N to Burlington to 189 to Rt 7 south) - it's a 19th century re-creation, with people in character.

I grew up in Vermont, and still live right next door in New Hampshire. For a tour I'd recommend some of the following (but I don't suggest this as the sequence).

If there for foliage, keep in mind that leaves color from the north first, working their way south, as it drops off in the north.

You can't predict when peak foliage will be, but often it's in the area of October 7th to the 14th.

Southern Vermont:
Check out Manchester, go to the Equinox (grand hotel), drive around, enjoy.

Nearby is Stratton - go up Stratton Mountain, check out the Chapel of the Snows, and just the chalets and - if you time it right - you can make it to the Southern Vermont Arts Festival, a juried art show that is great.

Nearby is Weston - a charming old town, go see a play at the Weston playhouse. Maybe you'll hit an antique car show while you're there.

Work your way east - visit Chester, and the Grafton Cheese factory. Try to see the old Stone Village of Chester, if you like stone houses.

Work your way toward central VT, to Killington area. Stop in at the Long Trail microbrewery, have lunch and a beer. Head up to Burlington.

If you like teddy bears, stop in at the Vermont Teddy Bear factory, get a tour and a bear. They might have the cornfield maze open at that time of year (I forget), try to find your way out.

Stop in at UVM's dairy shop and get an ice cream. Go downtown, park, walk up Church Street, listen to the street musicians, head down to the wharf, have dinner on the wharf.

Drive north along Lake Champlain for as much as you're willing until you hit Canada, if you want (it's really not that far).

Head back down and go down I-89, stopping in Waterbury if you want to check out the Ben & Jerry's factory (sorry, never been there myself - it was just being built when I lived there). Go to Stowe - visit the Trapp Family Lodge (remember Maria von Trapp and the von Trapp family from The Sound of Music?). Spend lots of time in Stowe.

Head down 89 to exit 1, get off in Quechee, see the gorge, maybe they have the hot air balloon festival then (I forget), then over to Woodstock which is a quintessentially Vermont town but with better shopping.

And if you've got some extra time left, work your way north and east and take the Kancamangus Highway in New Hampshire over to North Conway, or at least to the Mount Washington Hotel on rt 302. It's a long-winding drive, famous for its views.

Answer 2

Ben & Jerry's factory- awesome place, (in waterbury vt. I believe...not far from stowe at all) You get a tour of the place and how they do everything there and then a free sample. afterward you can check out their little shop and definitely have some ice cream!!


I just went to stowe last Jan 06. i had a fun time...pretty neat stuff!