Hotel at a Glance: Stowehof Inn & Resort

Movie buffs might recognize the petrified maples that stand at Stowehof Inn & Resort’s entrance or the Green Mountains that surround its 30-acre estate; the inn, which was built in 1949, served as the setting for the 1981 Alan Alda and Carol Burnett film The Four Seasons. But you don’t need experience as a Hollywood location scout to recognize Stowehof’s picturesque setting. Sweeping views stretch from the resort’s small pond to the top of Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s tallest peak), and the interior surrounds guests in dark woods and floor-to-ceiling windows that maintain a close connection with nature.

• Breakfast is included with your stay.
• Read a good book near the communal living room’s fireplace, play cards in a game nook, or shoot pool at the pub.
• Sip cocktails by outdoor pools, or relax in the hot tub or sauna.
• Tee off: Thirty-six holes of golf wait just 5 miles away at Stowe Mountain Resort, where you can also hike a mountain trail or soar on ziplines.
• Other outdoor fun: Play beach volleyball on a sand court or throw nine holes of frisbee golf on the free onsite course. Hiking trails are also available right off the property.

Stowe, Vermont: Quiet Village Flush with Outdoor Adventure

The quaint town of Stowe is nestled in the quiet countryside of northern Vermont. State law bans billboards, ensuring you’ll get unobstructed views of the sugar maples and hemlock that cover the Green Mountains along the roadways. Hiking opportunities abound on mountainside trails that range from steep vertical climbs to flat sprawls. Stop by a local sport shop to rent bikes or motorized mountain goats for exploring the Stowe Recreation Path, a paved 5.3-mile-long avenue that winds along the sparkling West Branch River and through Stowe’s main commercial strip. The strip is lined with independent shops and roadside diners and stands out for its lack of chain franchises. Like the sun’s light or a toddler’s interest in physics, the bustle of downtown evaporates by 10 p.m.

About 12 miles south, the town of Waterbury is home to a Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream factory. Visitors can watch as machinery zips the famous pints from one end of the facility to the other during a factory tour, which ends with a sampling of the flavor of the day.

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