Since experiencing the magic of the mountains out west, I knew that somewhere along my travels I wanted to experience living in a mountain town.
What better way to finish my New England fall tour than by spending some time in Stowe, Vermont?
Yet again, another city and state I knew nothing about other than it being home to Ben and Jerry’s. After looking at all of the cities and towns within the state, I knew that I could have fun in the state's largest city, Burlington, but why not continue with the small town feel? Thus I landed in Stowe.
Stowe, Vermont has a rich history that dates back to its settlement in the late 18th century. Originally part of a land grant from New Hampshire, it was settled in 1794. Initially Stowe was primarily an agricultural community. By the mid-19th century, Stowe began to transform as a popular tourist destination, particularly after the construction of the Stowe Mountain Resort in the 1930s. This along with being the home to the highest peak in Vermont, Mt. Mansfield helped cement Stowe’s reputation for being a top ski destination.
I was off of the coast for the first time in nearly 6 months, but I was back in the mountains and I couldn’t be happier!
Much like my last destination, Stowe is a small town with a population of a little over 5,000 year-round residents.
I was living in a small mountain town the month before Christmas?
Someone call the Hallmark Channel and get me a contract!
But in all seriousness, this is exactly what I had in mind when planning out my last stop of 2024. A quaint town, beautiful views and a historic downtown.
All of my favorite things!
I arrived in the state of Vermont on November first, during the midst of the state's infamous stick season. A phrase I had to google after my landlord mentioned it. Until a month ago, I thought stick season was just the name of a Noah Kahan song.
Wrong.
Stick season is the season in which the trees are sticky. The season that takes place after the fall foliage has fallen to the ground and before the snow begins to fly. While I am sad to have missed the beautiful fall colors this state has, and left right before the ski resort opened for the season, the state was still incredibly beautiful.
November brought temperatures in the 30s and 40s, nothing out of the ordinary for this region during this time of year. By the time that I was packing up my car yet again, I narrowly missed the town's first snowstorm of the season. I was only sad about not being on the ski slopes enjoying the fresh snowfall.
Most of my stays I have some idea about the things that I could do while visiting. Vermont was altogether different, and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. This allowed me to show up and truly just experience the state and all that it had to offer for myself.
I was pleasantly surprised by the mountain views, glacial lakes and quaint New England towns that met me upon my arrival.
After nearly two years of travel, I cannot believe that our country is this beautiful and diverse, even state to state. It really is something to experience.
While I wasn’t able to enjoy the mountains on skis, I was able to get in a few hikes before retiring my hiking boots until next year. My favorite hike that I completed while in Stowe was on the Stowe Pinnacle Trail. After receiving the recommendation from a local, I knew I needed to make the moderately difficult, if your AllTrails, or difficult climb to one of the most photographed viewpoints in all of Vermont.
Don’t let the idea of hiking on the east coast fool you into thinking that your hikes are less significant than those trails that you can hike while out west.
The elevation gain that I experienced while hiking on the east coast was very similar, if not on a steeper grade than most of the hikes I did while out west. Regardless, I was hiking and seeing incredible views.
I did hit an elevation gain PR while completing this hike, and my quads certainly felt it in the days that followed.
It amazes me that my first pair of hiking boots were purchased almost as a joke because I truly didn’t think I would enjoy the hobby as much as I have. Another pair of hiking boots later and nearly 150 miles hiked, it is safe to say I have a new found hobby that brings me joy. I am constantly in awe of the things my body is capable of and the places it is able to take me to.
Like all of my other stops, I had my vehicle with me and I was happy to have it! While the area that I was in was beautiful and had a lot to do, there are a ton of really great day trips within the state of Vermont. Whether you are looking to head to another mountain town, go covered bridge hunting or head into Burlington for a day in the city, there are lots of options for everyone visiting.
Much like Maine, the public transit within the state was lacking but it wasn’t non-existent. Amtrak operates two rail lines out of Vermont, the Vermonter and the Ethan Allen Express that service some stops within the state and the surrounding states. The most popular form of public transit within the state is the local bus. There are local routes that service within specific counties in the state and there are also bus routes that service city to city. While there are transit options, I still think that having your own vehicle would allow you to have the best experience while visiting Vermont.
Accompanying the sadness of leaving the coast also came sadness from leaving the delicious seafood I had become so accustomed to eating. When I first arrived in Vermont, my Uncle asked me what type of cuisine the state is known for and all I could say was that I was not sure. And I am still not so sure, even after living there. I did not find myself going out to eat that often as a lot of the local restaurants were closed for a late fall break and the ones that were open had limited hours.
I do have to say however, that the Cabot cheese products and the maple syrup were abundant. Both of which I was very happy about! Cheese is my favorite food group and to be in a state that is home to the Cabot Creamery, named after a Vermont town Cabot, was like a dream. I saw products from the company that I had never seen before, such as pepper jack macaroni and cheese, caramel and cheddar popcorn and pimento cheese.
Maple syrup is both a local favorite and state staple due to the climate and geography of this state. By the early 20th century, Vermont was the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States. The cold winters and warm springs provide the ideal temperatures for the sugar maple trees. The freeze-thaw cycles are essential for sap production.
During my time in Stowe, I took a day trip to Woodstock to the Sugarbush Farm to learn about the maple syrup production process. The process involves tapping maple trees, collecting a lot of sap and boiling it down to create syrup. It is labor intensive and requires careful attention to detail. The most shocking thing that I learned while on this tour is the sheer amount of sap needed to produce a gallon of syrup. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup.
WOW.
Vermont is still the largest producer of maple syrup in the country, producing over 2.55 million gallons of syrup in 2022.
I know what everyone in my house will be getting for Christmas!
Much like the people I encountered in Maine, the people of Vermont were incredibly kind and welcoming. A recurring theme that I saw throughout the northern part of New England. While I wasn’t around for long enough to make any friends while I was in the area, I was lucky enough to have another great landlord that was more than happy to share her lifelong knowledge and ins and outs of her home state.
Looking back on all of my stops during my New England fall tour, I am happy to say that I chose to stay and end the tour in the Green Mountain State.
I can confidently say that the most unexpected of places turn out to be the very best of places.
New England was an absolute dream and I can without a doubt say that I will be returning.
I finally get the magic behind this incredibly special part of our country.
For now, it's ski you later, Stowe!
