Breakfast at Butler’s Pantry - A cozy joint that doesn’t bother with frills. Pancakes the size of your head, local maple syrup that ruins the store-bought stuff forever, and strong coffee to kickstart a cold mountain morning.

Hike or Ski at Stowe Mountain Resort - If it’s winter, you’re skiing some of the best slopes in New England. If it’s summer, you’re hiking trails that twist through green, pine-scented air. Stowe doesn’t do half measures — it’s about getting your ass outside and feeling the mountain.

Lunch at The Bench - Wood-fired everything. Crispy Brussels sprouts, artisan pizza, craft beer from Vermont’s ridiculous beer scene. It’s hearty and honest — fuel for anyone who’s just dragged themselves off the mountain.

Beer at The Alchemist Brewery - Yes, the home of Heady Topper. But it’s more than a cult IPA — this place is a shrine to what Vermont beer has become. The tasting room hums with locals and beer pilgrims, but the vibe is unpretentious.

Morning Coffee at Black Cap Coffee & Bakery - Not just caffeine, but house-baked scones, croissants, and the kind of small-town café where you actually see people you’ll bump into again at the bar later that night.

Vermont Ski & Snowboard Museum - A local treasure. Old gear, stories of madmen strapping wooden planks to their feet, and a history lesson in why Vermonters are as tough as they come. It’s niche, sure, but it’s the soul of the town.

Lunch at Doc Ponds - A gastropub that gets it right. Burgers dripping juice, fried chicken sandwiches that could break your willpower, and a beer list longer than your arm. No tourist fluff — this is where locals come to eat, drink, and argue about powder days.

Evening at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center - For a small town, Stowe punches above its weight in arts. Catch a concert, indie film, or local production. It’s proof that culture isn’t just hiding in the cities.

Breakfast at Harrison’s - Locals love it for comfort food with a touch of polish. A hearty skillet breakfast, eggs from up the road, bacon that tastes like it came from a real pig, not a package.

Explore Moss Glen Falls - Just outside town — a waterfall hike that doesn’t feel like a tourist trap. Trails where you might actually be alone, water crashing over rocks, and that piney, damp air that reminds you nature here isn’t something curated.

Lunch at Plate - Rustic, seasonal, stylish without being pretentious. Think roasted vegetables, local meats, and an attention to detail that speaks more to love of craft than ego.

Dinner at Hen of the Wood (Waterbury) - This is the big one. Wood-fired, seasonal Vermont cooking at its absolute peak. You eat here and suddenly understand why chefs revere this state. A local, candlelit, intimate experience where the food reflects the land.

Morning Pastry at Stowe Bee Bakery & Café - A hidden gem. Croissants, sticky buns, muffins — all baked like someone actually cares. Take one to go and sit outside with mountain air in your lungs.

Stowe Recreation Path - Rent a bike or just walk it. A meandering 5-mile trail through woods, meadows, and small streams. Locals use it as their daily rhythm — running, walking dogs, clearing their heads.

Afternoon Beer at Idletyme Brewing Company - Easygoing, big patio, beer that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Grab a flight and some Vermont cheddar ale soup — the kind of local comfort that feels like a hug.

Dinner at Bistro at Ten Acres - An inn-turned-restaurant where the food is elevated but never stiff. Think braised short ribs, duck, and cocktails done with care. It feels like home — if home had a view of the Green Mountains and a kitchen with actual talent.

Smuggler’s Notch - Narrow, winding, sheer rock walls on either side. Trees cling to cliffs like drunks at last call. Whether you hike the trails or take the drive, this is Vermont at its most cinematic — no filters, just granite and green.

Von Trapp - Imagine if Maria never left the hills. She just started brewing beer in Vermont. Turns out, it works. This isn’t a theme park. It’s hearty schnitzel, bratwurst, pretzels, and lagers brewed with precision. Grab a flight and stare at the Green Mountains pretending you’re in Salzburg.

Stowe in the Summer or Fall- Stowe is not just about romantic ski slopes. In the Summer, or better yet, Fall, you don’t need to chase foliage here. It finds you. During these seasons, even locals stop, look up, and mutter “goddamn.” Roll the windows down, enjoy the scent of leaves and woodsmoke, and views of mountains painted in red and gold.

Hot Air Balloons - If the timing is right, the valley opens beneath you — patchwork farms, rolling Green Mountains, rivers like silver threads. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime view, and it shuts you up in the best way.