Last Updated: May 2026
Stowe is Vermont at its most postcard-perfect — a classic New England village flanked by Mount Mansfield (the state’s highest peak), threaded with trails and brewery stops, and anchored by one of the most interesting back stories in American hospitality. We came for Ben & Jerry’s and Bingham Falls, and stayed for a deep dive into Smugglers’ Notch, the Von Trapp family, and more Vermont craft beer than was strictly wise.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour
The Ben & Jerry’s factory on Route 100 in Waterbury is Vermont’s most visited tourist attraction, and it earns the crowds. The 30-minute tour takes you through the production floor, walks you through the founding story of two friends from Burlington who built a business on the idea that ice cream should have a social conscience, and ends — this is the important part — with a free scoop in the flavor graveyard, where retired flavors are commemorated with little headstones. We paid our respects to Wavy Gravy and moved on.
Smugglers’ Notch
The narrow mountain pass between Stowe and Jeffersonville has earned its name three times over. In 1807, President Jefferson’s trade embargo with Britain made importing goods illegal, so local farmers used the remote pass to smuggle cattle north into Canada. During the Civil War era, the Notch served as part of the Underground Railroad, sheltering freedom seekers moving north toward Canada and freedom. Then during Prohibition, it became a conduit for Canadian whiskey moving south. The pass itself is genuinely dramatic — Route 108 squeezes between boulder-strewn cliffs so tight that large RVs and trucks cannot pass. We walked it instead.
Hiking Bingham Falls
Bingham Falls is one of those local secrets that isn’t much of a secret anymore — a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole on the West Branch of the Little River, just off Route 108 near Smugglers’ Notch. The short trail drops down through the forest to a series of cascades and pools carved into the bedrock. On a warm June day with the snowmelt still rushing, the water was spectacular. Cold, but spectacular.
Stowe Craft Breweries
Vermont punches well above its weight in craft brewing, and the Stowe area is a perfect illustration. We hit two breweries in the same afternoon.
Rock Art Brewery
Rock Art Brewery in Morrisville is famous for its Vermonster barleywine — an intensely malty, high-gravity ale that became something of a cause célèbre when Hansen Beverage tried to trademark the name “Monster Energy” against it. The small brewery fought back and won, and the story made them something of a craft beer folk hero. The taproom is relaxed and the beer selection is genuinely excellent.
Lost Nation Brewing
Lost Nation Brewing in Morrisville focuses on European lager and ale styles — clean, technically precise, and a deliberate counterpoint to the hazy IPA craze. Their Gose, made with coriander and sea salt, is one of the best in New England. The name is a nod to the remote frontier communities that once dotted northern Vermont.
Trapp Family Lodge
The Trapp Family Lodge is one of those places where the real history is more interesting than the movie. The Von Trapp family of The Sound of Music didn’t just escape Austria — they eventually settled in Stowe, Vermont, where Maria and Georg Von Trapp built a lodge on a hill they felt reminded them of the Austrian Alps. Maria ran it herself, and after Georg’s death continued to build it into a working resort and farm. The family still owns and operates it today. The views from the terrace over the rolling Vermont hills are genuinely beautiful, and yes, it does look a little like Salzburg in the right light.
Lake Champlain Chocolates & Laughing Moon
We paid our dues to Vermont’s two great dessert traditions. Lake Champlain Chocolates has been making craft chocolate in Burlington since 1983. Their Five Star Bars are the standard. Laughing Moon Chocolates in Stowe is a smaller operation with an almost absurd level of craft in each piece — handmade truffles and bonbons that manage to feel decadent even by Vermont standards.
Green Mountain Coffee
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters was born in Waitsfield, Vermont in 1981, built its reputation on fair-trade sourcing and Vermont values, and became the engine behind the K-Cup revolution when it acquired Keurig in 2006. By 2017 it had become a multinational corporation — now trading as Keurig Dr Pepper — but the Vermont origin story still gets told on every bag.
Maplewoods RV Resort
We stayed at Maplewoods RV Resort, a well-maintained park set among maple trees south of Stowe — a comfortable base with good hookups and easy access to everything the area has to offer.
Visitor Information
Ben & Jerry’s Factory
The factory is at 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd (Route 100), Waterbury, VT. Tours run daily; admission charged but samples are included. Visit benjerry.com for tour times and ticketing.
Bingham Falls
The trailhead is on Route 108 approximately 5 miles northwest of Stowe village. Parking is limited — arrive early in summer. The trail to the falls is about 0.3 miles; wear shoes with grip as the rocks near the water are slippery.
Smugglers’ Notch
Route 108 through the Notch is closed in winter and passable only by small vehicles in summer — no RVs, buses, or trucks. Parking areas charge a day-use fee.
Trapp Family Lodge
700 Trapp Hill Rd, Stowe, VT. The grounds are open to visitors; the restaurant and bierhall welcome walk-ins. Visit trappfamily.com.
Rock Art Brewery & Lost Nation Brewing
Rock Art Brewery: 632 Laporte Rd, Morrisville, VT. Lost Nation Brewing: 87 Old Creamery Rd, Morrisville, VT. Both are about 10 miles north of Stowe village; check ahead for hours.
Practical Tips
RV note on Smugglers’ Notch: Do not attempt to drive Route 108 through the Notch in an RV — the road narrows between boulders and low overhangs. Park at the state park entrance and walk or bike through instead.
Ben & Jerry’s lines: Summer weekday mornings are the best time to visit; weekend afternoons can mean a 45-minute wait for the tour.
Bingham Falls swimming: The pools are cold year-round — snowmelt water from Mount Mansfield. Bring a towel and watch footing near the water’s edge.
Stowe recreation path: The 5.3-mile paved path connecting Stowe village to the mountain base area follows the West Branch of the Little River the entire way — one of the finest car-free trails in New England.
