So here we were, at a ski resort, in the middle of the summer. ‘What the heck are we going to do,’ we wondered in the weeks leading up to the trip. Turns out, plenty. Stowe Mountain Lodge is more than equipped to handle all your summer activities needs. A sampling of what their is to do:
– Rock climbing wall
– Riding in the gondola to the top of Mt. Mansfield
– Epic hikes
– Fishing
Do not worry, my faithful blog readers, we tried them all so you can spend your time in Stowe only doing the best of the best. Okay, we didn’t do everything, since we don’t fish or mountain bike or golf, but we did everything else!
The summer attractions park is perfect for kids & kids at heart. There’s a rock climbing wall (note: MUCH harder than it looks!), bungee trampolines (perhaps better suited for actual kids), & an inflatable obstacle course (perfect for a competative DINK couple). You can purchase a pass for one for activity, or all of them.
The alpine slide was probably our very favorite activity of the bunch. After a relaxing trip up the mountain on a ski lift (first time ever on a ski lift!), you board a sled (think of your childhood sled, but this time with wheels) & hop onto the track. The cement track looks something like a luge track from the Olympics, minus the ice. After a little instruction, you’re off, zooming down the 2,300′ track at varying speeds – B flew down the mountain, while I went approximately 0.002 mph. We went down a few times, giggling like school children the whole time.
The gondola to the top of Mt. Mansfield is definitely worth the price of admission. During the summer, the gondola is located about .5 miles down the road from the Lodge – it’s an easy walk, or there is lots of parking (in the winter, the gondola is connected to the lodge through a separate gondola/ski lift system). Board the gondola in the enclosed hut & get ready for a relaxing 15 minute ride up. At the top, you have a few options: lunch at the Cliff House restaurant, hiking down the mountain or simply enjoying the view & riding back down.
We walked around a bit at the top & had a nice lunch at Cliff House, before descending back down into the chilly fog.
Note that the weather changes fast on the mountain, so it’s important to be aware of the weather forecast if you’re going to hike back – make sure you have warm enough clothes & plenty of water. On the left is the up, on the right is the down, about an hour later.
The Alpine Concierge at the Lodge was able to recommend a great hike up Spruce Peak to Sterling Pond for us to do on our last day in Stowe. It is worthy of its own post!
Our summer attractions pass & gondola tickets were provided complimentary of Stowe Mountain Lodge; however, all opinions of awesomeness were my own.
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