Morning brings a great swim and breakfast before heading into the pretty little village of Stowe. Shoulder season leaves this quaint ski area mostly vacant and several activities are not yet available. It also means we have the place to ourselves and this we thoroughly enjoy.
One option for this time of year is to hike the cross country trails up at the Von Trapp Lodge, yes, that delightful family who gave us the Sound of Music. As we ascend to their mountain oasis, a sign welcomes us to a "bit of Austria and a lot of Vermont" and we love every part! A delightful employee at the Outdoor Center provides us with a map of the miles of trails, the $10 per person charge seems more than reasonable. The first destination is the little chapel built by the Von Trapp sons after their return from WWII, a pleasant, lovely, stroll with a fair incline to reach. It is very peaceful and we enjoy a moment or two at this stop.
We venture a bit further into the wooded area but not as far as we'd care as the black flies are a bit thick here. The trail back to the lodge is quite beautiful and we savor the views from the outer rim.A trek into the meadow finds an abundance of Scotch Highland cattle making it truly feel like we're in the Alpine mountains. We rest and are entertained for quite a bit, gazing at the gorgeous 360 vistas. This is truly one special place.
Lower paths wind around the gardens just starting to be harvested and the many villas that dot the property, as well. We make our way to the on site brewery where we indulge in a homemade brew and delicious soup and sandwich combo. Dining al fresco completes the magic and a glimpse of a fellow diner we're sure is actor James Woods adds to the fun!
Retracing our steps back to the lodge, we take a peek inside and find the same care has been given. This appears to be quite the perfect little vacation getaway and if ever in the area again, we'd certainly give it a try!
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