Stowe, Woodstock & the White Mountains

Destination 01

Stowe

9 places

Vermont's classic ski town; 2 nights for Mount Mansfield, the village and the Trapp Family Lodge.

• Photo: Vermont · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Stowe Mountain Resort

  Ski resort on Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, and Spruce Peak, with a gondola and a skating rink at the Spruce Peak village.

  Tip Stowe is on the Epic Pass; lift tickets are sold online only and cost less bought ahead.

  DoMountain Road$$$$6 hrWeekday mornings
• Photo: Shiva Shenoy · CC BY 2.0

  Stowe Community Church

  White 1863 church whose tall steeple, set against the mountains, is the best-known view of Stowe village.

  Tip The classic photo is from the bend on Route 108 just east of the village.

  SeeStowe VillageFree20 minLate afternoon
• Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Trapp Family Lodge

  Austrian-style lodge built by the von Trapp family of The Sound of Music, with a large cross-country ski and snowshoe trail network.

  Tip Non-guests can buy a Nordic trail pass and rent skis at the Outdoor Center.

  StayTrapp Hill$$$$3 hrLate afternoon

• von Trapp Brewing Bierhall

  The family's Austrian-style lager brewery and beer hall below the lodge, serving schnitzel, sausages and pretzels.

  DrinkTrapp Hill$$1.5 hrAprès-ski

• Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum

  Small museum in Stowe's 1818 former town meeting hall covering Vermont's ski history, from rope tows to Olympians.

  SeeStowe Village$60 min

• Stowe Recreation Path

  Paved 5.3-mile path along the West Branch river from the village toward the mountain, used for walking and snowshoeing in winter.

  Tip Start behind the Community Church and walk as far as you like; it's flat the whole way.

  OutdoorsMountain RoadFree1.5 hrMorning

• Cold Hollow Cider Mill

  Cider mill on the Stowe road, known since 1974 for fresh-pressed cider and cider doughnuts.

  Tip Doughnuts are made all day; go early on weekends before the lines.

  ShopWaterbury Center$30 minMorning

• Ben & Jerry's Factory

  The ice cream maker's original factory, with short tours, a tasting at the end and the 'Flavor Graveyard' on the hill.

  DoWaterbury$60 min

• Green Mountain Inn

  Inn on Stowe's Main Street since 1833, with fireplaces in many rooms and the Whip Bar & Grill downstairs.

  StayStowe Village$$$60 min

Destination 02

Woodstock

9 places

A village green, covered bridges and a working farm; 2 nights, ideally Wassail Weekend.

• Woodstock Green

  Oval village green ringed by Federal-style houses, the heart of Woodstock and the route of the Wassail parade.

  Tip The Wassail parade of horses and riders comes down Elm Street onto the green on the second Saturday of December.

  SeeWoodstock VillageFree30 minAfter dark

• F.H. Gillingham & Sons

  General store on Elm Street run by the same family since 1886, selling Vermont food, hardware and gifts.

  ShopWoodstock Village$$30 min
• Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Middle Covered Bridge

  Town-lattice covered bridge built in 1969 over the Ottauquechee River, a short walk from the green.

  SeeWoodstock VillageFree15 min
• Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY 4.0

  Billings Farm & Museum

  Working Jersey dairy farm and museum with an 1890 farmhouse, decorated for Christmas weekends in December.

  Tip Check the winter calendar; the farm opens weekends and school holidays, with sleigh or wagon rides when there is snow.

  DoWoodstock Village$$2 hrWeekend afternoons

• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

  National historical park on Mount Tom whose forest carriage roads are groomed for skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

  Tip The mansion is closed in winter, but the forest trails are open; ski passes come from the Woodstock Inn's Nordic center.

  OutdoorsMount TomFree2 hrMorning
• Photo: Jared C. Benedict · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Saskadena Six

  Small ski hill north of town, formerly Suicide Six, opened in 1936 near the site of America's first ski tow.

  Tip A good half-day of skiing without the big-resort prices.

  DoSouth Pomfret$$4 hr

• Taftsville Covered Bridge

  1836 covered bridge over the Ottauquechee, one of the oldest in Vermont, on the road east to Quechee.

  SeeTaftsvilleFree15 min
• Photo: SimonPearce · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Simon Pearce

  Glassblowing workshop and restaurant in a brick mill above the Ottauquechee falls in Quechee.

  Tip Watch the glassblowers downstairs before lunch; ask for a table by the windows over the falls.

  EatQuechee$$$1.5 hrLunch

• Woodstock Inn & Resort

  Inn on the green rebuilt by Laurance Rockefeller in 1969, with a big lobby fireplace and its own Nordic center.

  StayWoodstock Village$$$$60 min

Destination 03

White Mountains

9 places

Bretton Woods, Crawford Notch and Jackson village; 2 nights under Mount Washington.

• Photo: Šarūnas Burdulis · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Mount Washington Hotel

  Red-roofed 1902 grand hotel at Bretton Woods, now the Omni Mount Washington Resort, facing the Presidential Range.

  Tip Non-guests can have a drink by the fire in the Cave or on the veranda for the mountain view.

  StayBretton Woods$$$$1.5 hrSunset

• Bretton Woods

  New Hampshire's largest ski area, with long cruising runs facing Mount Washington and a big Nordic center.

  Tip The Bethlehem Express summit has the best view of the Presidentials on a clear morning.

  DoBretton Woods$$$6 hrClear mornings

• Mount Washington Cog Railway

  The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, from 1869; winter trains climb partway up to Waumbek Station.

  Tip Winter trips don't reach the summit; dress for wind at the turnaround.

  DoMarshfield Base Station$$$2 hr
• Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Crawford Notch State Park

  Steep mountain pass carrying US-302 between granite walls, with frozen waterfalls and snowshoe trails in winter.

  Tip Pull off at the top of the notch by the Gateway for the view down the valley.

  OutdoorsCrawford NotchFree60 minMidday

• Santa's Village

  Christmas-themed park in Jefferson, open since 1953, with reindeer, rides and a holiday season of lights.

  Tip Holiday dates are limited to select days from late November to December; check the calendar and buy tickets ahead.

  DoJefferson$$4 hrAfter dark

• Wildcat Mountain

  Ski area in Pinkham Notch with direct views across to Mount Washington and Tuckerman Ravine.

  Tip On the Epic Pass, like Stowe.

  DoPinkham Notch$$$5 hrClear mornings
• Photo: Tony Hisgett · CC BY 2.0

  Honeymoon Bridge

  Red 1876 covered bridge over the Ellis River that serves as the entrance to Jackson village.

  SeeJacksonFree15 min

• Jackson XC

  Nonprofit cross-country ski center with a large groomed trail network running right through Jackson village.

  Tip Rent skis at the center on Main Street and ski the river trails; the village inns sit along the network.

  DoJackson$$3 hrMorning

• Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing

  Brewpub on the main road into North Conway, serving smoked barbecue with its own beers.

  EatNorth Conway$$75 minDinner