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Stowe, Waterbury, and Waitsfield are towns in northern Vermont which have much to offer in terms of scenery, food/ drink, outdoor recreation, and quaint towns. They are much-visited, and for good reason. In fact, when folks come to Burlington, I often recommend a day (or more) visiting these towns (less than an hour away) to get a broader sense of the Vermont they envision when they come to the state.
STOWE
Stowe, VT (pop. 721 in 2022) sits at the base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's tallest mountain (elevation 4,393 ft), and is incredibly popular with tourists year-round (less so in the spring/ mud season). If you are looking for a quaint town, outdoor recreation (skiing, biking, hiking, etc.), good food/drink, great views, covered bridges, and/ or water falls, then a visit to Stowe should be on your bucket list.
Great views are in evidence all around Stowe, even from your car! The town has an Auto Toll Road (open Summer and Fall) which climbs to the summit ridge and is a great option for those wanting views but don't want to hike, walk, or ski for them. Also, just nearby there is a spectacularly beautiful (but narrow) drive through Smugglers’ Notch State Park, which I highly recommend if you are visiting while the road is open (from when the snow melts to when the snow starts). This road is called The Notch Road/ VT route 108.
Outdoor activities in Stowe are plentiful. There is a Recreation Path which follows the West Branch of the Little River through town, offering a flat and paved trail for a scenic walk/ bike ride. There is also a nice waterfall (Moss Glen Falls) which does not require a big hike to enjoy, and oodles of mountain biking trails and hikes varying in difficulty from easy (like the rec. path) to extremely challenging (up Mount Mansfield). In winter, there are many snow-related activities to enjoy -- downhill skiing at the Stowe Resort, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Trapp Family Lodge, as well as other fun activities. And, Stowe Resort also has the Gondola SkyRide which you can take to the summit year-round for wonderful views.
If it's food and drink you're after, Stowe is not going to disappoint. It is home to THREE fine breweries: The Alchemist, Von Trapp Brewery, and Idletyme and good food can be had at both the Von Trapp Bier Hall (located at the brewery) and Ideltyme (conveniently located on the rec. path). For fine dining, I've heard wonderful things about Michael's on The Hill. Hard cider more to your taste? Stowe Cider is a thing, and you can get some noshes there, too.
In town, you'll find a large general store, plenty of cute shops and places to grab a bite to eat, as well as the The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, which exhibits ski gear and artifacts. The tallest church steeple in Vermont is on the Stowe Community Church, and there are several covered bridges around town, including one for pedestrians and a famously haunted one, Emily’s bridge, also known as the Gold Brook Covered Bridge. And, should it rain while in Stowe, there is a small, upscale, and fun bowling alley with yummy food and local brews which is located in a boutique hotel in town, Stowe Bowl; be sure to reserve a lane in advance, though! (There is also mini-golf located at the same hotel, fyi).
While there is no shortage of places to stay in and around Stowe, I'd be remiss not to mention the Trapp Family Lodge, which was built in 1950 and is still run by the family that inspired The Sound of Music. It offers great mountain views as well as trail passes to hike, bike, take a tour, and more.
WATERBURY
Waterbury, VT is a mid-sized town (pop. 5,331 in 2020), best known as a foodie and outdoor recreation destination. It has a walkable village center that has independent local shops, artist galleries, and restaurants that use what’s local to craft inspired menus -- Prohibition Pig and Hen of the Wood are two wonderful examples of those restaurants. Aside from Pro Pig (where you should order the duck fat fries, dry rubbed wings (best I've ever had!), and smoked ribs) and Hen (of the Woods), Waterbury is also home to Ben & Jerry's, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and one of two official Cabot (cheese) Creamery stores (which, in season, gets crowded but offers great tastes). Oh, and it behooves me to share that the Waterbury Historic Train Station (which Amtrak uses today) is home to the single best maple confection I have ever eaten: The Maple Croissant at Black Cap Coffee & Bakery. I promise it is worth the calories.
Interestingly, Waterbury is where Vermont's first state "asylum for the insane" was located (open from 1891 until about 1970, when it became municipal offices). And, although the town is still home to the Waterbury Village Historic District, the village sharing the name of the town officially dissolved as a municipality in 2018, which is why the town green and the buildings around it are pretty sad looking these days.
For outdoor recreation, the Waterbury Reservoir is open (in season) to swimmers and boaters, and there are two mountain biking trail networks, which, along with their proximity to three top-notch ski resorts (Stowe, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen) sets Waterbury apart as a recreation destination.
WAITSFIELD
Waitsfield, VT is a small town (pop. 1,844 in 2020) which, in my opinion, personifies quintessential Vermont. It's got dirt roads, farms, GREAT cheese (Von Trapp Farmstead), GREAT craft beer (Lawson's Finest), two covered bridges, excellent skiing, and arguably the best Creemees and fried chicken in the state (Canteen Creemee). Plus, it's got nice lodging options and a cute, artsy town, too boot. (Sadly, I missed one of the covered bridges on my last visit there -- I'll make the left instead of the right which brings me (practically on auto-pilot) to Von Trapp Farmstead next time. :-)
Stay tuned -- lots more VT 251 to come (slowly but surely).
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