Tag: Trapp Family Lodge

When Vermont finally reopened to Massachusetts residents last May after their long lockdown due to the pandemic, we jumped in the car with our son, Jake, and puppy, Theo, and hit the road. The expansive green grounds of Trapp Family Lodge is the ideal place for a dog to roam. We biked the trails, played Frisbee Golf, and dined on bratwurst, washed down with pilsner at their Bierhall. Then made necessary microbrew pick-ups at the Alchemist and Hill Farmstead and went twice to dog-friendly Wiessner Woods to hike deep in the woods and fill our lungs with the crisp mountain air. It was the perfect quick escape!

With Vermont now allowing vaccinated out-of-state travelers to arrive without quarantine, Lisa, our son, Jake, puppy Theo, and I decided to hit the road for two nights prior to Memorial Day Weekend. First stop was the acclaimed Hill Farmstead Brewery, known for their exceptional pale ale found only at their farm in Greensboro. We pre-ordered the beer, drove two miles down dirt roads without signage to arrive at a 7th-generation farmstead. A woman popped out, plopped the tray in the trunk, and off we went to nearby Willey’s General Store to pick up some Jasper Hill Cheese, also made in Greensboro. Then we drove another hour south to arrive at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.

Once we drove up the hillside and saw the surrounding mountains, you couldn’t help but breathe deeply. Surrounded by fields of green, this is the soothing remedy my mind and body yearn for post-pandemic. They even have dog friendly rooms so Theo could venture on his first road trip. We spent the days playing Frisbee golf at a relatively new course carved through the fields and forest at Trapp’s, then hiking at Moss Glen Falls to see the water cascading down. Twice we visited dog-friendly Wiessner Woods to walk deep in the forest and fill our lungs with mountain-crisp oxygen I sorely missed all these months away. At night, we dined on bratwurst and schnitzel, washed down with Trapp’s award-winning pilsner and Kolsch at their bierhall. Then went for a requisite meal at Plate in the village of Stowe, my favorite dining establishment in town and one of the few places I know where you can find a Heady Topper on the drink menu. Of course, we stocked up on Heady Topper and Focal Banger at The Alchemist before leaving. Our fridge is now happily filled with craft beer and artisanal cheese. And yes, that Edward and Citra Single Hop IPA found at Hill Farmstead was well worth the detour to get there.

Interested in a pet-friendly room at Trapp Family Lodge? Please let ActiveTravels know and we’ll find you a room!

“Vermont is open,” said Nate Formalarie from the Vermont Department of Tourism on a zoom call last week with representatives from all the Vermont ski areas. “You just have to adhere to the state guidelines,” Nate adds, which for most of us is either a 14-day self-quarantine before arrival in the state or 7 days of self-quarantine and a negative COVID test. You then have to go online and reserve a lift ticket and possible parking reservation at the ski area you want to visit. Once on mountain, I can think of few places I’d rather be during a pandemic than a Vermont ski area. You’re already wearing a mask because it’s cold outside and you’re freely gliding around the mountain outside with few crowds, except down at the base which will be limited. Expect food trucks, fire pits, and much more. Sugarbush will provide private cabanas at the base which have to be reserved in advance. Smugglers’ Notch Resort is offering private ski lessons for the entire family. The classic cross-country skiing retreat, Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, is featuring backcountry Nordic tours. Jay Peak in northern Vermont usually caters to Canadians, but since borders are still closed, the mountain will have far less traffic this year. Stowe, Okemo, and Mt. Snow are all part of Vail Resorts, which is offering package deals on their Epic Pass like the Northeast Value Pass, which gives you access to 18 ski area in the Northeast and priority reservations. Please contact ActiveTravels if you need help with lodging suggestions!