Action & Adventure in Stowe, Vermont
Stowe, Vermont is a pretty magical place, which is why so many people visit. There’s so much more to do beyond skiing at the world famous Stowe Mountain Resort! If you and your friends are always looking for the next fast-paced adventure, you won’t be disappointed with the excitement you can find in and around Stowe VT! Here are a few ideas to help you plan an active and exhilarating visit.
Snowmobile Tours with Snowmobile Vermont
#1 on our list is (of course!) our exhilarating 2 hour backcountry snowmobile tour. Our expert snowmobile tour guides will take you on a 25 mile journey through the Mt. Mansfield State Forest on a variety of terrain. We’ll take you through the woods on groomed trails, show you some great mountain vistas off the beaten path, and give you a chance to “open it up” in a field to satisfy your need for speed! We use the latest Polaris snowmobiles and provide you with boots and helmets at no additional cost. If you don’t have your own warm clothing (ski clothes work perfectly), we have suit rentals available. All snowmobile tours are customized to your ability level and desires.
Zip Line Canopy Tours
Photo courtesy of ArborTrek Canopy Adventures on Instagram
ArborTrek Canopy Adventures gives you a whole new way to “hang out” in the woods! Ride the exhilarating 4,500 feet of zip lines, cross sky bridges high above the forest floor, and rappel from trees on the zip line canopy tour. These 2.5 to 3 hour guided tours are guaranteed to get your heart pumping. Packages available for everyone from beginners to dedicated adrenaline junkies. Located in Jeffersonville, Vermont, about 45 minutes from Stowe Village.
Dog Sledding Tours
A unique way to enjoy the great outdoors with man’s best friend. Enjoy beautiful mountain views and woodland trails while being pulled by a team of huskies who really love their jobs! Day and evening tours are available. Fast paced, doggone fun! Check out the tours offered by Umiak Outdoor Outfitters and Eden Dog Sledding.
Photo courtesy of Umiak Outfitters
The ice skating rink at Spruce Peak Village Center at Stowe Mountain Resort is free to use and open to the public daily from 12-6pm. Skate rentals are available at the Lodge at Spruce Peak, or bring your own skates. A beautiful spot for gliding on the ice. Closed during inclement weather, so call ahead.
Sledding
No winter vacation is complete without the good old fashioned fun of sledding! Umiak Outdoor Outfitters kicks it up a notch with their Performance Sledding Tours. They’ll take you up to Smugglers’ Notch where you can snowshoe up the hill and ride one of their Hammerhead performance sleds back down again. Snowshoes, sleds, snacks and a guide included. Check out this video from Seven Days’ “Stuck in Vermont” series about sledding on the Notch Road in Stowe with “Max Speed,” local Hammerhead sled enthusiast and Steve Luhr, inventor of the Hammerhead:
Sleigh Rides & Horseback Riding
Photo courtesy of Gentle Giants
Take a good old fashioned sleigh ride and experience Vermont the way it used to be.
Enjoy scenic vistas at Trapp Family Lodge or a covered bridge and winding wooded trails with Gentle Giants Sleigh Rides & Carriage Rides.
If you’d rather ride, Lajoie Stables in Jeffersonville is Vermont’s only year-round riding stable. Take a scenic drive to Jeffersonville to experience Vermont’s winter wonderland on horseback! They offer sleigh rides, too!
If it’s seriously cold outside, or you’re just looking for a change of pace in a warmer environment, try these indoor activities:
Indoor Climbing Adventures
Swimming & Fitness
Located just off the Mountain Road in the center of Stowe, The Swimming Hole offers pools and fitness activities including cybex & free weight equipment and cardio equipment including treadmills, arc trainers, spinning bikes, rowing machines and more. They offer the only competition sized, 8-lane, 25 meter pool with diving board in the area.
Bowling
Stowe Bowl is not your typical bowling alley. This is a cut above your average “rent some shoes” experience: a swanky boutique lounge with 8 lanes, gourmet food, craft brews and custom cocktails, and a state of the art audio-visual experience.
As you can see, while Stowe, VT is world famous for skiing, there are a lot of other active pursuits available. We hope this list helps you plan a great vacation – or inspires you to visit the area more than once to enjoy all Stowe, Vermont has to offer.