Family Summer Fun - Stowe and the surrounding area is a perfect vacation destination for families!

Stowe and the surrounding area is a perfect vacation destination for families! Year-round activities, attractions and small pleasures offer healthy and refreshing opportunities for families to relax and enjoy each other – a time out for busy routines and schedules.

We have highlighted just a few of the favorite things for families to enjoy while visiting the Inn and Stowe.

In Stowe Village
Bike, hike or rollerblade on the award-winning, scenic Stowe Recreation Path – a paved, relatively flat 5.3 mile path that winds through meadows and crosses the West Branch river (with 11 arched wooden bridges). Five shops on or near the Rec Path offer bicycle and rollerblade rentals, children’s bicycle seats, trailers and "trailabike", one wheel half-bikes that attach to an adult’s bicycle. Children can help pedal or let their parents do the work! Pack a snack or picnic, visit a local eatery or shop en route – enjoy perfect photo opportunities!

Enjoy a round of miniature golf at the Stowe Golf Park – a professionally designed, 18-hole putting course which strives to simulate a real golf environment and experience. Snack bar offered as well. Fun for all abilities!

Play, play, play! Leathers public playground is just a few blocks from the Inn, offering all of the usual toys and a palatial, wooden-turreted climbing structure. Local children helped design and raise $10,000 toward the construction of the playground – with Christopher Reeve as their first donor!

Sometimes the small things in life are the most enjoyable – the local kids will tell you that there is no better place to visit in Stowe Village than Lackey’s Variety Store – offering everything from candy and treats from the ice cream freezer to novelty toys and coloring books!

Other great shops in the area are the Stowe Mercantile & Bear Pond Books (located in the Inn’s Depot Building), the Yellow Turtle (children’s specialty clothing and accessories), the Toy Store, and Shaw’s General Store in the Village. Also, kids and adults love the old-time atmosphere of the Depot Street Malt Shoppe, located just across from the Inn – if you haven’t had an egg cream, root bear float or banana sundae in a while, this is your chance!

The whole family will enjoy just kicking back and relaxing at the Inn’s refreshing outdoor pool (open year-round), health club with large Jacuzzi and sauna, and game room (offering table hockey, pool and arcade games). Also a highlight of the day – complimentary afternoon cookies, lemonade and tea, served from 4:00-5:00 daily in the Inn’s living room.

If the rain falls – or just for a fun change of pace – we have many suggestions to keep the whole family happy! The Painting Place is a great way for kids and adults to unleash their creativity by painting their own pottery. What could be better than a hand-made souvenir from Stowe!

Within an hour of Stowe
Tour at the famous Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory (your family visit just wouldn’t be complete without this stop!), where you will enjoy a free sample at the end! There is a small charge for the 30 minute tour. Graze at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, a working cider mill that hosts 200,000 visitors a year. En route, be sure to stop at the Cabot Cheese Annex/Lake Champlain Chocolates, where you’ll savor delectable samples of award-winning cheeses. Learn about the state’s most famous product at the Morse Maple Sugar Farm (located in Montpelier, just a 30 minute drive from Stowe).

Visit a working farm in the Stowe area – such a joy for children of all ages to experience Vermont’s traditions and rural heritage.

Venture to the Burlington area (about a 45 minute drive from Stowe) for a fun-filled day of exploration. We highly recommend visiting the Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Museum and Vermont Teddy Bear Factory (offering tours and a retail shop) in Shelburne, the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington and the waterfront park area. Visit ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, a lake aquarium and science center offering exhibits, activities and events. Scenic boat tours with breathtaking views of the Adirondack and Green Mountains are offered on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. For great buys on name brand children’s clothing, visit the Essex Outlet Fair in Essex (just outside of Burlington).

Also a leisurely 30-minute drive from Stowe is Montpelier, the state’s capital (the smallest in the country!). The Vermont Historical Society, Hubbard Park, Morse Sugar Farm, unique shops and the impressive Rock of Ages Granite Quarry offer a nice day trip.

Pizza Put, about a 45 minute drive from Stowe in South Burlington, offers indoor miniature golf, arcade games & more.

Horseback Riding & Wagon Rides
Enjoy a gentle meander or an outdoor adventure on horseback! Many local establishments offer horseback rides for all abilities – from gentle treks through trails and meadows to more extensive adventures. Wagon rides are also offered at the famous Trapp Family Lodge – the fee is $5.00 per person. Please contact us for further information – advance reservations are always recommended for horseback riding.

Canoeing & Kayaking
Canoe or kayak on the beautiful Green River Reservoir or on serene Lake Elmore. Umiak Outfitters of Stowe offers canoe, single/double kayak rentals, lessons, tours and special kids instructional programs.

Hiking
Hiking in the area offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the outdoors – from easy rambles for all ages and ability to more challenging day hikes on the Vermont’s famous "Long Trail" – our staff will help point you in the right direction. Or, visit the Green Mountain Club’s "Marvin Gameroff Hiking Center" (named in honor of the Inn’s late owner), located south of the Inn on Route 100 in Waterbury Center for guide books and further information. Hiking trails typically dry out in mid-June, opening up a world of terrain for exploring on foot.

Biking
Mountain Biking – for families who would like to explore the many dirt roads, trails and back-country terrain of Stowe, we suggest visiting the Mountain Sports & Bike Shop for rentals, gear and maps of suggested rides, based on experience and ability.

Special Events in Stowe
Many special events are offered this season that will fill family albums with memories for a lifetime, including some great old fashioned country fairs. Here are some highlights:

Stowe’s Fourth of July Celebration
Circus Smirkus
Lamoille County Field Days

Please check our calendar of events for a full listing!

At the Stowe Mountain Resort
Amble down majestic Spruce Peak on an Alpine Slide! Located at the Stowe Mountain Resort, this 2,300-foot slide is the only one in Northern Vermont. It is exhilarating for the whole family (smaller children may accompany an adult on a sled). Open daily from late June-early September and weekends through mid-October.

Enjoy fantastic views and enjoy a smooth ride on the Stowe Gondola! From the Gondola, access hiking trails or stop for a "peak" lunch experience at the Cliff House Restaurant (open seasonally). Open daily from mid-June through mid-October.

Take a drive trip up the historic Auto toll road, which zigs and zags its way to the summit ride of majestic Mt. Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak). You’ll savor stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. Bicycles and motorcycles are not permitted. Open from mid-May through mid-October (weather permitting).

A Summer Mountain Adventure awaits the kids at the Stowe Mountain Resort! Offering full days of fun and exploration at Spruce Peak, with activities ranging from arts & crafts, games, scavenger hunts, cooking, gondola rides, use of the skate park, tennis, golf and more! The emphasis is on small group fun, individual attention, learning, environmental exploration and pure FUN! Available for children ages 6-12, Monday-Friday from 9:00AM-3:00PM. Weekly sessions run from July to August. Please call 1-800-253-4754 for more information.

Summer Family Fun in Stowe