When we decided to visit Stowe, bouldering was on the agenda. But if I’m being honest, the real draw for me was the ice cream—specifically, Ben & Jerry’s. If you’re going to sell me on a bouldering trip, ice cream was my ultimate travel motivator. Promise me a bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel. Sold. I’m yours forever.
Now, Stowe is an adorable little town with plenty of adventure options. During our stay, we fit in one day of climbing, one day of biking, and one day of hiking. The rest of our time was enjoying our friend’s company, laughing, and indulging in shopping.
- Biking: Lake Champlain
- Bouldering: Smuggler’s Notch
- Hiking: Stowe Pinnacle
- Maple Syrup: Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm
- Brewery: The Alchemist Brewery
- Shopping: Main-street, Waterbury Stowe Road
- Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry’s
Locations on Google Maps. Main transportation: Car (we drove to VT)
Lake Champlain: Bike Rentals – Local Motion (Burlington, VT)
We carpooled to the bike shop, and just around the corner, we found a parking garage that cost about $18 for the whole day.
I first came across the Island Line Trail on my feed and saved it for a future adventure. To my surprise, our friend who helped plan the trip mentioned it, noting that I’d liked it and that it was conveniently close to where we were staying. It is just under an hour away from Stowe. The day before, we called Local Motion to reserve bikes for the six of us. Local motion also has an interactive map that you could use during your trip.
The Island Line Trail is a 26-mile round-trip path that takes you through town, woods, over bridges, and along the water for about three miles into Lake Champlain. The views, with wildflowers in full bloom, were breathtaking. I can only imagine how stunning the trail must be in the fall with the changing of the leaves.
Towards the end of the trail there is a gap, where you need to take a bike ferry run by Local Motion. The ferry costs $5 one way or $10 round trip, with a $50 donation to help keep it running. There’s a QR code to scan for payments.
Somehow, I was the one who ended up with a flat tire. At a pitstop for a bathroom break, I managed to pick up a tack in my tire while riding across the parking lot. Fortunately, Local Motion took care of everything smoothly and delivered a new bike to me within 30 minutes.
After our bike ride, we strolled to the main area in search of food and decided on Vermont Brew Pub, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary as the state’s longest-running brewery. I went for the Lawn Games beer for a fresh, light summer taste, while my friend tried the Fancy Pants Maple Ale—after all, we were in Vermont, so trying something maple was a must. We all enjoyed our meals.
On our way back to the car, we browsed local businesses, outdoor gear stores, a coffee shop, and a few vintage and antique stores. It was a delightful day out.
Smuggler’s Notch: Bouldering
The drive up was quite steep—I wasn’t sure if his car was going to make it, but we managed. The road has tight corners, so you might need to honk to ensure no one is coming in the opposite direction before you pass. There are several parking lots, and we aimed for the one near Smuggler’s Cave, which also has a bathroom facility.
From there, the choice is yours regarding where to walk and which climbs to tackle. The area offers ample climbing opportunities with no approach required—just walk up, drop your gear, and start climbing. We began at the Workout Wall and explored a few other spots where people were projecting. I get the appeal of bouldering here, even though it’s not really my thing.
Stowe Pinnacle: Trailhead Parking Lot
There’s a small parking lot at the trailhead for the Pinnacle Summit hike. If it’s full, you can try parking at Pinnacle Meadows, though this will remove some distance from the hike. We mistakenly passed Pinnacle Vista Point thinking the Pinnacle Summit would offer a better view. Unfortunately, the summit didn’t have the viewpoint we expected, and we actually walked past it before realizing something was off. The hike itself was pleasant, but very challenging. There was a huge change in elevation over a short distance that is quite the workout. Everything was beautifully covered in moss like a fairy-tale-like landscape, but the lack of a vantage point for all the physical effort was a letdown.
In hindsight, I would have stopped at Vista Point instead. It offers a more manageable hike with less drastic elevation changes and is family and dog-friendly. The Vista Point hike is a 3.6-mile loop from the trailhead and about 2.6 miles from Pinnacle Meadows. During our hike, we were also recommended to check out the Sterling Pond Trail, which is back near the parking area where we had bouldered.
Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm: Maple Syrup
This was a fantastic find, and we had a blast here. We attended the free 11am tour on Sunday, which was incredibly informative about the area, maple syrup, and the entire process from tree to syrup. I highly recommend visiting this place. We left with a stash of maple syrup and something called maple snow, which was a delightful treat! Oh, and a brochure to order more syrup when we run out.
The Alchemist Brewery: Beer
We stopped here on our way back home to enjoy a beer and pick up a load of goodies. The brewery has two food trucks that alternate throughout the week, and it’s both family and pet-friendly. We chose not to do the tour ($25, which includes a tour, a commemorative tasting glass, and a can of beer), but I appreciated learning that this family-owned brewery is committed to social and environmental good. They focus on fostering community, inclusivity, and sustainability, which aligns with our values.
Shopping: Stowe Mainstreet, Waterbury Stowe Road
The mainstream has a visitor center, the usual shops and eatery to enjoy. We picked up great maple tea from Stowe Mercantile and enjoyed browsing at Shaw’s General Store.
Along Waterbury Stowe Road there a different pockets to stop off at. We enjoyed a London Fog at Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea. There was a small plaza along the road that had: Cabot Creamery Store, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Tasting Room, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and The Vermont Flannel Co.
Ben and Jerry’s: Ice Cream
I saved the best for last. I highly recommend buying tickets in advance for the factory tour a few days before your trip. We tried to purchase them on the day we wanted to go, but they were sold out. The Waterbury location is open to the public and features a small scoop shop, a retail area, the tour, a playground, and the flavor graveyard. The tour costs $6, lasts about 30 minutes, and includes a small treat at the end.
I’ve always loved ice cream and enjoyed Ben & Jerry’s flavors, but I have a newfound respect for the company now. Their commitment to political activism and social justice makes them stand out even more. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that their ice cream tastes delicious!
So my next question is…? Where are we going next? And is there ice cream involved?!?!
Capsule Customs Travel 