Veer downtown, stopping in at Stowe Bee Bakery & Cafe for the gigantic popovers made with homemade butter. (And go early — they usually sell out quickly.)

Then visit Umiak Outdoor Outfitters, where you can choose your own adventure. The company offers dog sledding with Alaskan Huskies during the day or Siberian Huskies in the evening, as well as snowshoeing and tubing tours. For the more independently minded, rent snowshoes and head out where the locals go. Airbnb superhost Heather Snyder recommends Smugglers’ Notch State Park or Wiessner Woods. “It’s pretty magical when the snow is fresh and sparkling in the light through the trees,” she says. “It changes the acoustics and makes everything quiet. You can’t help feeling more peaceful afterwards.”

Dog sledding

Finish off the idyllic small-town winter weekend by browsing the historic shops on and around Main Street. Weave through country stores like Shaw’s General Store and Stowe Mercantile, as well as Green Mountain Fine Art Gallery, inside a Federal-style building, and Northwood Gallery, featuring the state’s artisans. Be sure to pop into Laughing Moon Chocolates, which offers daily chocolate dipping demonstrations (with samples) at 2 p.m. in its open kitchen — and leave town with a homemade hot chocolate in hand.

" 4. Umiak Outdoor Outfitters, Stowe, VT

Umiak is a full-service outfitter offering retail sales, boat demos, kayaks, paddling and safety instruction, river trips, tours, and more. They have an ACA certified staff and you can test paddle anything in their backyard pond before you buy.  With river trips run on the Lamoille and Winooski Rivers, four-mile and eight-mile trips with guided, self-guided or custom options available, and whitewater lessons, Umiak has everything you need to stay on the water."

- Jeremy Perkins

"STOWE, Vt. -- "High performance" is not a term I usually associate with the most childish of winter sports, but Joe Henry, Umiak Outdoor Outfitters retail manager, was ready to disabuse me of my preconceptions about sledding. In fact, Umiak sells - and more typically, rents - three radically different high-performance sleds.

"They're adult toys," Henry said. Just like kids' sleds, the new-wave equipment gets you from the top of the hill to the bottom, but the ride is a whole lot more memorable. That two of the three products come from Vermont companies should be no surprise."

- David Lyon

"...Finally was a 25-minute full-body massage with sage oil; at my request, the therapist paid extra attention to my ski-swollen feet.  On the way back to the waiting room, she gave me a small vial of the sage oil.

Unfortunately, I had to climb back into my ski pants all too soon, because we were going moonlight snow-shoeing through the woods.  Well, it would have been by moonlight, had the clouds not been so thick, so we relied on headlamps as we were led by Umiak Outdoor Outfitters’ Max, another young and friendly character, who regaled us with the story of his nightly adventure in “skinning”.  Max arises at 2 am, drives to whichever slope he chooses, hikes for an hour up the mountain on skis wrapped in seal skins, which he then removes and skis one run down the mountain.  Then he goes home for a nap before heading to work.

So certainly we were in capable hands as we trudged on aluminum snow-shoes through woods whose bears Max assured us were in hibernation.  There was so little snow that I probably would have done just as well in my boots, but the shoes felt surprisingly natural, and it was fun to try them as I stepped through patches of crunchy snow and matted grass, warm in my ski pants and parka.  After about 20 or 30 minutes, we arrived at an old sugar house, a small cabin where maple sap is boiled into syrup.  As we sipped white wine, Max filled the stove with wood and built a fire, lit a couple of lanterns, and spread meats and cheeses and crackers and condiments on paper plates over a plastic tablecloth.  The highlight of all this for me was the Cold Hollow Cider Mill honey mustard, which brought a sweet tang to the savory pepperoni coins."

- Leslie Carbone

After a few hours relaxing at the Inn from our day of skiing, we headed out for an evening dog sledding tour right in Stowe! Umiak Outdoor Outfitters offers several dog sledding options but we decided to start with the 20 minute evening tour run out of Stowe and offered two evenings a week during the winter months.

The snow was still falling and I have to admit that I am not an experienced snow driver. With my cousin’s four-wheel drive and very cautious and slow turns, we pulled up at the Stoweflake Resort and Spa, where we were to meet our dog sledding guide. With a few minutes to spare, we kept warm by the fireplace inside the Stoweflake Resort and Spa. I took the liberty to peek in at their Spa which looked so relaxing and lovely, but that would have to be for the next trip as it was time to meet the Siberian Huskies eager to pull our sled with an age-old form of transportation.

As I cozied up with my daughter in the comfortable touring sled, we set off with our guide on a 20-minute trek. The dogs were much smaller than I expected but with a team of ten, they were more than able to get us going. Our experienced musher used specific sounds and cues to her team of Siberian Huskies, as she let them know where to turn and speed up.

There was a peaceful silence as the snow fell. Only the sound of the sled pulling through the snow gave off a subtle crunching noise. The darkness was eerie at first as I thought back to those signs of bear or moose crossings we saw driving into Vermont. Although I cannot be certain we were not being watched by wild animals from a distance, the dogs were a reassuring comfort to have nearby.

Umiak’s website was right, “This affordable introduction to Stowe sled dog rides is a wonderful way to end a day of skiing!” Reservations are necessary so plan ahead to ensure your spot!

- Caroline Maffry

With colder temperatures and crystal snowflakes blanketing the Green Mountains, Stowe’s winter landscape is primed for adventure, offering endless opportunities to explore, play and connect with nature in the heart of Vermont. Beyond traditional alpine skiing and snowboarding, Stowe has a plethora of outdoor recreational activities suitable for all adventurers who want to experience and embrace the colder elements.

Bring to life the adventure of dogsledding with Eden Ethical Dogsledding or Umiak Outdoor Outfitters. By taking part in a dogsledding excursion you can witness incredible views, amazing trails through forests and open pastures, and partake in the thrilling activity which has been a staple adventure throughout history.

Sledding down wintry hills and feeling the chill of the fresh mountain air is a classic winter activity. Snowtubing with Umiak Outdoor Outfitters is one way to combine two amazing winter activities into one fun-filled tour. Start by snowshoeing through wooded winter trails, then capture panoramic mountain lake views. From there, end your tour with a snowtubing adventure. This tour is a wonderful family activity, providing you with stunning winter views and an experience of Stowe’s forested winter wonderland.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost delves into the theme of choice and individuality, highlighting how the decisions we make significantly shape our lives. It underscores the importance of creating our own path and the profound effects our choices have on our personal identity and fate. These choices can range from monumental life changes to everyday decisions, like planning vacation activities. In Vermont’s stunning and expansive backcountry, there are endless opportunities to carve out one’s unique journey.

In the winter months, the town of Stowe is famous for its alpine skiing, drawing enthusiasts from all over to its pristine slopes and well-maintained trails. However, beyond the well-trodden paths of the ski resort, Stowe offers a multitude of lesser-known winter activities that showcase the area’s natural beauty and charm.

Stowe is known for many popular attractions. The iconic red Gondola cabins at Stowe Mountain Resort are widely recognized and associated with the destination. Quintessential Vermont covered bridges are a scenic stop in every season. Beyond the well-trodden paths and famous landmarks, Stowe offers a wealth of unique activities that can make your visit truly unforgettable. Whether you’re looking to dive deeper into the local culture, experience nature in a new way, or simply find a fresh adventure off the beaten path, these hidden gems will add a special touch to your Stowe itinerary. From exhilarating outdoor experiences to charming local spots, here are some must-try activities that will show you a different side of this beloved Vermont destination.

Vermont Day-cations: 10 Trips to Explore Vermont's Waterways

In summer, Vermonters measure their water in different ways — the number of cannonballs they make into a neighborhood pool, say, or the miles they travel to a distant campsite on a lake with loons. The yearly totals may not be as impressive, but for families, the numbers add up to lifelong bonding.

These 10 trips will help you find refreshment together at various depths. You can dip your toes into an Essex wading pool, tube down a Brattleboro river or canoe to your campsite for an overnight stay at the Green River Reservoir.

Waterbury Reservoir, Waterbury

Vermont may have had its fill of floods this year, but fans of the 830-acre Waterbury Reservoir should be grateful for the threat of overflow, as it was a flood-control project that created this watery playground in the 1930s. A glassy surface and easy access from the Stowe area — there are two state parks here — now make it a favorite among waterskiers, wakeboarders, and stand-up paddleboarders. There are also plenty of swimming beaches for wading and splashing. The place is no secret, but even in the height of summer, it's far more placid than it was when 2000 Civilian Conservation Corps workers built it.

Best for: Waterskiing, wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming

Details: Umiak Outdoor Outfitters rents paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes at Waterbury Center State Park.
Little River State Park has camping.

Erin accepts a challenge from the folks at Umiak Outdoor Outfitters to try river kayaking. Umiak has storefront locations in Richmond and Stowe, and outpost locations at North Beach and the Waterbury Reservoir.

Click Here to Watch " Darin' Erin " Video

- Erin Cofiell

"During the winter months, most people come to Stowe to tackle skiing or snowboarding on the highest mountain in Vermont. But there is so, so much more to this little resort town, and when you realize how much there is to do off this mountain in VT we think you'll fall in love with this magical place all over again. You won't run out of things to do in Stowe, so let's take a look at some other things to do that will make this trip an epic winter vacation spot.

3. Get ready for some horizontal adventures with Umiak!

There are all sorts of tours including dog sledding, snowshoeing, sledding, fat biking,  and even brewery tours."

- Kristin Grimes

"This online search brought me to my journey’s end when I encountered the symbiotic business relationship that Ben and Jerry’s has with a very well stocked local guide and outfitter called Umiak Outfitters. With this enhanced knowledge, it all finally came together, as I discovered that the Ben and Jerry’s Snowshoe Tours are brought to outdoor enthusiasts by Umiak who is on a mission to..."

- Chad Smith

"If there’s a distinct serenity to picking up a paddle and setting off for the natural wonder of a pristine waterway, Vermont is a paddler’s paradise, with most areas also rich with options for camping. Make it a day on Lake Champlain followed by an evening of fine dining at Burlington’s renowned Hen of the Wood. Or choose a weeklong excursion along the Connecticut River and fend for yourself during your extended cohabitation with the Vermont scenery and its residents.

“The wildlife on our mountain lakes, as well as on our streams, is quite prevalent,” Steve Brownlee, owner of Stowe-based Umiak Outdoor Outfitters, said. “Our guests usually see some form of wildlife on every adventure.”

Umiak offers rentals and tours from its outposts in Stowe, the Waterbury Reservoir, and at North Beach on the Burlington waterfront of Lake Champlain ($25-$45, depending on the length of rental ) see www.umiak.com for a list of options and booking information). Additionally, Vermont State Parks offer kayaks, canoes, rowboats, pedal boats, and stand-up paddleboards at dozens of locations across the state ($7-$12 per hour, $40-$50 for a full day, see www.vtstateparks.com/boating.html for a list of availability).

So, whether floating across the expanse of a lake or letting the current of a river be your tour guide, these locations are prime for paddling in the Green Mountain State..."

- Eric Wilbur

The winter in Stowe is not just about skiing.  Many fun activities occur throughout the season and Umiak Outdoor Outfitters has a huge selection of fun, family-friendly and challenging sports to choose from.  If you can walk or hike in the summer, you can snowshoe in the winter, with just a few more layers of clothing.  Don’t want to hike…try a dogsled tour or even a sledding tour with the kids.  Whatever your passion, you’ll find something to delight you.

Umiak Outdoor Outfitters

Moonlight Cabin Snowshoe Tours ~ Fondue Snowshoe Tour ~ Top of the Notch Performance Sled Tour ~ Ben & Jerry’s Snowshoe & Ice Cream Too!

DogSled Tours ~ Sledding Tours ~ Ski Clinics & Tours

The Green Mountain Inn, located less than a mile from Umiak Outdoor Outfitters, is the perfect place to stay during your Snowshoe Tours in Stowe.  Enjoy a leisurely soak in our outdoor, heated pool or cozy up to the fire while you enjoy a warm drink and cookies.  Reserve your stay now and enjoy a wonderful winter getaway in Stowe.

"We arranged most of our activities through Umiak Outdoor Outfitters. Their partner brands offer everything from dog sledding to tubing and brewery tours. Our first day, a private tour guide took the four of us snowmobiling around backcountry trails. ( through Snowmobile Vermont, located in the same building as Umiak ) The next day, we snowshoed up the mountain and sledded down! We're not talking your basic saucer sleds, these were some sleek sports sleds (say that 5x fast).

It was super cool. A bit of a workout... but really fun.

After sledding, we took the gondola up to the top of Stowe Mountain. We were a little late in the day, so the restaurant was closed, but the trees were covered in a perfect layer of fresh snow, so it was like walking through a Winter Wonderland! What you can't tell in the pictures is I'm basically standing on the edge of a steep cliff. It was the ultimate #DoItForTheGram."

- Aaron Wester

"The thing about Stowe, Vermont, is that it’s far from everything and close to nothing … if you’re counting strip malls and shopping centers as something. And that’s just the way its handful of residents and droves of tourists prefer it.

Set smack in the middle of the Green Mountain state, Stowe is a mountain village that closely mirrors the Bavarian Alps in topography and in architectural style. To the west are Lake Champlain and Burlington and due east is the New Hampshire border. Hands-down one of the most visited ski resort towns in the Northeast, it’s only been in the last 10 or 15 years that Stowe was thought of as a summer destination.

Sheri Baraw Smith, 48, grew up in her family’s business, the Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, and remembers the stillness of summer back in the ’70s. “When I was a kid there was almost no tourism in the summer; winter was the busy season,” says Smith, who is now vice president of the resort. “It still is, but things have changed, and there’s something going on here pretty much year-round.”

...

Check out any tourism website for Stowe and you’ll see colorful montages of hikers, paddle-boarders, cyclists, swimmers, and of course, skiers. The abundance of protected land means endless hiking, biking, and paddle-boating options in the summer. The town’s five-and-a-half-mile recreation path is bordered by a river, making biking or walking a picturesque endeavor. Meanwhile, the nearby Waterbury Reservoir is a magnet for the watersport crowd, as are the Lamoille and Winooski rivers.

Do this: Umiak Outdoor Outfitters ; Paddle sport rentals and tours of all kinds along the scenic Lamoille and Winooski rivers."

- Stacey Morris

"At an outdoor outfitting company in Stowe called Umiak, we hired a nighttime guide, who taught us how to handle the ski poles correctly and use the snowshoes’ risers to walk up hills more effectively. (He also gave me a lesson in how to go downhill without looking like a dubstep dancer.)

Midway through the tour, we stopped in at an old sugarhouse for hot cider and local Cabot cheddar cheese with pepperoni. Aboriginal deer-hide snowshoes were mounted on the wall, a reminder that this tradition dates back to long before Europeans arrived in the New World. In earlier times, snowshoes weren’t for recreation—they were a vital means of transportation in an era when there were no roads. Using them today not only connects us to the land, but to a sense of its past, as well..."

- Adam Leith Gollner

"With mountains, storybook villages, covered bridges, and numerous scenic drives, Vermont is a terrific fall honeymoon destination. The foliage typically reaches its peak during the first week of October, when bright colors of gold, orange, and red permeate the landscape.

Starting in Wilmington, make your way up Route 100, which slices right through the heart of the Green Mountains. Take your time as you stop along the way at farm stands, general stores, and scenic lookouts.

Finish your honeymoon by hunkering down in picturesque Stowe, offering top-notch restaurants, B&Bs, resorts, shopping, and -- of course -- many outdoor activities. Add some adventure to your trip by planning out a few hiking, kayaking, or biking excursions. Umiak Outdoor Outfitters rents canoes and kayaks and leads guided tours, including a trip that ends with a visit to a local winery.

When to Go: Late September to early October

Must-Do: Stop at The Warren Store along historic Main St. in Warren for a feast of fall flavors. This wonderful country shop features a wine shop, deli, bakery, and gifts section."

- Adam Warner

"Umiak Outdoor Outfitters is a retail store and tour company. The retail division sells everything necessary for outdoor adventures in New England, including new and used boats, skis, snowshoes, clothing, sleds, car racks, and crampons. It offers tours year-round, whether you would like to go kayaking in the summer or sledding in the winter.

Kayak tours of the Winooski River give visitors an opportunity to see wildlife up close, as the shores and water are home to deer, otters, moose, great blue heron, and kingfishers. The Lamoille River canoeing tour is ideal for beginners, with its slow-moving waters. Craft brewery tours are offered, and in the winter, guides take out groups to snowshoe, ski cross-country, or to have a spectacular ride on a dogsled."

"If you’re looking for an outdoor kit, you need only make one stop in Stowe: Umiak Outdoor Outfitters. This small, unassuming shop is a hub for winter sports enthusiasts, offering virtually any type of rental including snowshoes (rentals around $20/day), skis, extreme sleds ($5-20/day), and more. And, if you don’t know how to use it, the staff is more than happy to provide a primer so you don’t kill yourself!

There’s no shortage of outdoor adventure options in Stowe. I’d recommend grabbing a pair of snowshoes and a trail map from Umiak. Nearby Wiessner Woods is an excellent choice for your first outdoor fix in town, with a small network of relatively short paths, all perfect for a quick, “we’re only here for the weekend” jaunt. There’s no hunting and motorized recreation is off-limits, so it’s an ideal spot for grabbing some peace and quiet and communing with nature.

From there, head to Marshall Hill at Stowe Elementary School for some extreme sledding. Once a beginner’s ski slope, it’s since been converted into a badass sledding hill with a nearly 100-foot drop. Beware: this slope is not for the timid! Bonus: the nearby playground at the school is a nice spot for the kids (or childlike grown-ups) to relax between sled runs."

- Mike Richard

With big rains this spring, the rivers around New England are still running high.  Now’s the time to plan a paddling trip—by canoe, kayak or even SUP. Most of these trips can be done as single or multi-day adventures. Check ahead about campsite availability, what portages may be necessary and the river conditions. While it’s hard to limit paddling trips to just 10, all of these are accessible for new paddlers and most have nearby campsites. Here are our picks for great trips, south to north plus three epic journeys. Trips that require no portages or whitewater sections are rated easy. Don’t have a boat? Many of the outfitters mentioned can help with rentals, guided trips, shuttles or buying your own boat.

5. Waterbury Reservoir (Easy)

Perhaps the easiest and most accessible paddling is on the Waterbury Reservoir. Campsites, cabins and kayak and canoe rentals are available at the state-run Little River State Park at the south end of the reservoir. Or you can rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard from Umiak’s put in off Route 100 in Waterbury Center. While the shoreline of the 850-acre reservoir is largely undeveloped and forested, the waters can get busy with motorboats and waterskiing during the day. The north end, 6.5 miles from the southern terminus, has a speed limit of 5 mph and a no-wake zone. Come sunset, head to one of the 27 remote campsites maintained by Vermont State Parks along the shore for some solitude and a chance to listen to some of the nesting loons.

"In choosing a boat trip, though, I was far from alone. Since spring, my Instagram had filled with images of my friends’ shiny new canoes and kayaks. There’s a logic to it: A watercraft is a way to get outside while staying away from others. Boats offer natural social distancing, often with a stiff breeze to boot. To see if the trend extended beyond my own circle, I called Steve Brownlee, the owner of Umiak Outdoor Outfitters, a Stowe, Vt., shop that caters to paddlers.

“We sold a year’s worth of boats in a single week,” he told me, sounding incredulous. Interest outpaced anything he had seen in 45 years in the business. “It’s the biggest canoe resurgence since the movie ‘Deliverance’ came out,” he said. (While film buffs recall the 1972 white-water thriller for violence and a dueling banjo, paddle-sports lore enshrines it as the inspiration for a generation of river enthusiasts.)

It’s not just Vermont. U.S. sales of all paddle-sports equipment, including kayaks, canoes, rafts and paddleboards, were up 56 percent in June from the same time in 2019, according to the NPD Group, a market research company. The number of people getting out in canoes and kayaks increased more than 30 percent in April to June over the previous year. The Outdoor Industry Association, which tracks those participation rates, noted first-time participants account for two-thirds of the surge."

- Jen Rose Smith

"I also asked about the happy pups I saw behind the Stoweflake. Unfortunately, my agenda was maxed with no room for more, but after hearing about Eric’s exhilarating recap of his dog-sled ride with Umiak Outdoor Outfitters I made a mental note to add that to my future to-do list. Their mushers and teams of Siberian Huskies offer twenty-minute rides from Stoweflake."