Quick Escape: Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, Vermont
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!
In mid-December, Lisa and I took a road trip with Jake and our dog, Theo, to northern Vermont. First stop was the 
Last time I stayed at the 
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 
Thankfully, coronavirus cases and deaths have plateaued and are hopefully now on the downslope in Massachusetts. Obviously, our health and safety are still the No. 1 priority, but slowly, we’re starting to see an interest in possible travels this summer and fall. Lisa and I, and are our son, Jake, have been holed up in our house like the rest of you for a good two months now. So we understand your need to dream about a new locale that’s anywhere but the backyard. But having gotten a number of you home safely from abroad in late February in early March, we want to be damn sure that the places we send you in 2020 have a good degree of social distancing, are regional, and, if not regional, can be found after one relatively quick flight. This is not a good time to be connecting in an airport. We also have to be concerned with individual state regulations. For example, Maine wants to quarantine all out-of-state visitors for 14 days upon arrival. This is currently on the books through August, which would restrict all hotel stays.
Vermont Bike Tour, 6 Days, Highlights
“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 
Arriving at Lake Willoughby from the south, the dark blue waters come into view, dwarfed by faces of rock that stand directly across from each other—Mount Hor and Mount Pisgah. Here, cliffs plummet precipitously over 1,000 feet to the glacial waters below. The scenery becomes even more enchanting as you snake your way to the 2,751-foot summit of Pisgah. The trail starts easily on switchbacks. Halfway up, take a slight detour to the left to stand atop Pulpit Rock. This small, semi-circular ledge juts out of Mount Pisgah like a box seat at a Broadway play. The arduous trail proceeds upward in a spiral fashion. On a clear day, you should be able to spot the spine of the Green Mountains and that distinctive peak seen across much of Vermont, Camel’s Hump. Who needs to visit nearby St. Johnsbury’s Athenaeum and view Albert Bierstadt’s famous painting, Domes of Yosemite, when you can see such natural beauty come to life less than an hour north?