Foliage season may define Vermont, and Noah Kahan made “stick season” a household phrase, but there’s another time of year that deserves your attention: sugar season.
Running from late February through April, this is when local sugarhouses boil maple sap into syrup. It’s also mud season: a quieter, in-between period when ski resorts begin to close and higher-elevation hikes are still buried in snow or ice.
That might not sound like peak travel timing, but it’s secretly a great season to visit Stowe, Vermont. This popular tourist destination is calmer, more affordable, and just warm enough to enjoy being outside. Here’s how to have the perfect spring weekend in Stowe.
Friday
If you’re driving up from the south, make a stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury. The 30-minute factory tour is worth it if you can snag tickets in advance, but even without one, it makes for a fun detour. There’s a scoop shop that serves flavors you won’t find in grocery stores, and the Flavor Graveyard, where you can pay your respects at headstones of retired pints. (RIP S’mores.)
Keep the sugar high going by visiting a local sugarhouse. During sugar season, many offer casual tours and tastings, where you can sample fresh syrup and see the process in action. The Trapp Family Lodge offers a Maple Sugar Tour, an easy 1-mile walk around the property where you learn about the production and harvesting process and enjoy a sweet treat at the end.
Once you’ve arrived in Stowe, check into The Lodge at Spruce Peak, a luxury resort at the base of the mountain. With traditional hotel guestrooms, suites, and even penthouses to rent, there’s an accommodation option for every group size. Work off some of that sugar at the hotel’s outdoor heated swimming pool, which you can access via a swim-out tunnel so you never have to brave the cold. There are two oversized hot tubs as well, where you can soak and watch the sunset. Read our full review of The Lodge at Spruce Peak here.
After, head to Bench for an aperitif. This popular bar and restaurant has one of the best tap lists in a state that takes its beer seriously. For dinner, Harrison’s is one of the best restaurants in Stowe (but make a reservation well in advance, since the secret is definitely out.)
Saturday
There’s fresh coffee and then there’s The Roastery, where you can watch coffee beans being roasted right in front of you. Choose from the extensive pour-over coffee menu, which is pretty reasonably priced with most brews costing just $4, and pair it with one of their delicious biscuit breakfast sandwiches.
Once you’re adequately caffeinated and carboloaded, it’s time to experience the joy of mud season, which offers milder weather, no bugs, and quieter trails. You’ll want to stick to lower elevation options, where the snow and ice have melted, and be sure to be mindful of trail closures. (The Green Mountain Club maintains an updated guide for easy reference.)
Moss Glen Falls is at its peak this time of year. The short trail begins on a mud-free boardwalk before a quick climb up a set of stairs, leading to a rewarding view of one of Vermont’s tallest waterfalls. Plunging 85 feet, the falls are especially powerful thanks to the spring snowmelt. A short drive away, the Sunset Rock trail offers another easy walk along a typically mud-free fire road, ending with sweeping views of Mount Mansfield.
Now that you’ve worked up another appetite, head back to Spruce Peak for lunch at the WhistlePig Pavilion. Order a tasting flight to sample one of Vermont’s most famous exports, WhistlePig whiskey, and pair it with a plate of raclette, where a wheel of cheese is melted over an open fire and poured over accompaniments like meat, potatoes, or vegetables.
Keep your personal tasting tour going with a stop at The Alchemist Brewery, home of the iconic Heady Topper. The brewery often hosts free live music on weekends, making it a fun place to relax with a beer.
In the evening, embrace the Vermont outdoor aesthetic and go to Ranch Camp for dinner, a surprisingly good restaurant inside of a bike store. Get the crunch wrap and thank us later.
Sunday
Roll out of bed and right into breakfast at Alpine Hall in Spruce Peak, where the weekend buffet offers endlessly indulgent options (with plenty of virtuous fare if you’re in a healthy mood.)
For the afternoon, invest in a day pass to Spruce Peak’s stunning spa, which grants you access to the full facility, including a eucalyptus steam room, dry sauna, cold rain shower, hot tub, and a relaxation room with panoramic views of the mountains. It’s the perfect relaxing note to end your weekend on before you go back to real life.
On the way out of town, stop at the Red Barn Ice Cream Shop for a maple creemee. Vermont’s version of soft-serve is richer and denser than regular soft serve, and it’s sweetened with real maple instead of artificial flavors.
Where to Stay
The Lodge at Spruce Peak sits at the base of Spruce Peak mountain, offering beautiful views of the slopes. The resort has its own charming village, with shops, restaurants, and even an ice skating rink all in a little pedestrianized center.
The one-bedroom lodge suites are spacious, with 950 square feet and an outdoor terrace. There’s a full kitchen in case you’d rather get cozy by the fireplace instead of going out, an in-unit washer and dryer (which will come in very handy during mud season), and a separate bedroom with a comfortable king-sized bed.
