When most people think of Stowe, they immediately picture snow-covered slopes and winter sports. However, a warm-weather visit to The Lodge at Spruce Peak proves that this mountain town is the ultimate getaway any time of year.
I visited The Lodge at Spruce Peak during warm weather and was surprised by how many activities they offered to keep guests entertained throughout the day and evening. I expect a resort like this to have a pool, but the lawn games, arts activities, and guided hikes – to name a few – keep everyone occupied in the best possible way.
I received a complimentary stay at The Lodge at Spruce Peak, but all opinions remain my own.
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A Warm Weather Mountain Paradise
While you may think of Stowe exclusively for skiing, it’s a great place to visit in warmer weather, too. I have kids who attend college in Burlington, and Stowe is near enough for us to use this as a home base when we move them in or out of school.
The Lodge at Spruce Peak is Stowe’s only ski-in, ski-out luxury resort, offering a massive, self-contained village experience right at the base of Mount Mansfield. The resort operates year-round, so don’t skip it during the warmer months or as a base for leaf-peeping.
It functions as both a traditional upscale hotel and a hub for privately owned luxury rentals that are managed directly by the property. This unique setup means you’ll get the consistency, service, and high-end amenities of a world-class resort, paired with the option of spacious, specialized layouts in private mountain residences.
The Lodge at Spruce Peak has so many different activities to keep you busy, no matter what you’re interested in doing. The complex is much larger than I had realized before I arrived, and much as I tried, I know I didn’t get a chance to see and explore anywhere close to everything.
During the winter, the lodge is perfect for skiers and snowboarders who want to walk right out the door and onto the slopes. The village center also features a beautiful ice skating rink and cozy fire pits for warming up after a long day in the snow.
If you visit during the summer, you can easily take the gondola from the Village at Spruce Peak right up Mount Mansfield to hike or enjoy a meal at The Cliff House. It has great views on the way up and down, and it’s much easier than driving and finding parking if you want to explore the trails at the top.
The resort offers an incredible lineup of year-round activities, including a massive heated outdoor pool, a luxurious mountain spa, guided forest bathing, gemstone mining, and multiple on-site dining options. It’s very family-friendly and pet-friendly, with activities for all ages.
Find The Perfect Room
The property’s design and ownership options mean lodging ranges from traditional guestrooms to standalone residences perfect for larger families. Many rooms include kitchenettes where you can make meals in your room, and options for up to three bedrooms, depending on your needs.
The resort is incredibly pet-friendly, but some room types are not, so make sure to check before bringing your puppy on your trip. And like all pet-friendly hotels, they maintain a stock of rooms that are never used by pets for those with allergies.
I stayed in a Ridgeline One Bedroom Suite, which was 950 square feet of luxury. I loved having a dedicated living area to relax in after a long day of walking around, and the views from the suite were just stunning.
You can find my room tour, as well as other tours of the property and other room types on my YouTube channel if you want a better sense of exactly what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised.
Even better, my room type had a washer and dryer in the unit so that I could do laundry during my week-plus trip through Vermont and Rhode Island. This is one of my favorite amenities in any hotel or resort.
Take Advantage of the Activities
I did a 60-minute forest bathing session one afternoon, which is just one of the many activities offered onsite. With a guide who led us through the hike and then a meditation by a stream, it was a perfect grounding experience.
Beyond forest bathing, they have a robust weekly calendar with tons of activities, from hiking options and yoga to kids’ workshops, gemstone mining, and more. Many of them have a cost, ranging from a lower Mansfield hike to tie-dyeing sessions to jewelry making.
The complex also has a variety of complimentary activities you can enjoy, with my personal favorite being the s’mores you can make in the evenings. They also have movie nights and trivia on the Green, a 45-minute java hike, and various crafts, to name just a few.
When you stay in the winter, the activities are totally different. For example, the Green is a wonderful grassy area where I sat one night to listen to live music and watched families play cornhole. Once the weather gets cold, that same spot turns into a picturesque ice skating rink.
Rejuvenating At The Mountain Spa
What’s a luxury mountain lodge without a visit to the spa? I had the opportunity to enjoy the 100-minute Stowe Cider Uber Scrub. I absolutely loved the treatment, and it’s a perfect complement to the Vermont culture.
They start with a cider-scrub that was invigorating as she applied it before I showered it off. Next up was the full body massage, where the therapist did a great job of listening to exactly what my concerns are and adapted the massage to suit me perfectly.
At the end, they gave me a can of local Stowe cider to enjoy in the relaxation room they call the Sanctuary while I looked out over the landscape and tried to retain that bliss as long as I could. If you book an appointment for $125 or more, you get access to the spa facilities for the day, which is a great perk.
Be aware that you must be at least 18 to have a massage, facial, or body treatment and at least 15 to access the Spa Healing Lodge. While I experienced only the massage, they do offer a variety of treatments for whatever you may need, from a simple manicure to a series of cryotherapy appointments.
Relaxing By The Outdoor Heated Pool
The Lodge at Spruce Peak also has a large outdoor heated pool plus two hot tubs with plenty of seating for everyone. There was also a food truck on the far side of the pool deck and a window-service bar, so you didn’t have to leave the water area to get refreshments.
The only challenge I faced was figuring out where to get the towels. This is not a standard procedure, and you need your room key to unlock the towel vending machine and get one, and they are inside and not directly accessible from the pool.
They actually have tracking on the towels, so they know which room took which towel and when it was returned in the collection bin across from the checkout locker. It takes a second to figure out, but it’s a pretty cool system.
Eating My Way Through Spruce Peak
Though many of the rooms have kitchenettes, you’re going to want to try out the various restaurants at The Lodge at Spruce Peak. I was lucky enough to try most of them, and I have some recommendations.
The Tipsy Trout
The Tipsy Trout is a full-service restaurant at the main lodge open from 4pm to 10pm daily and for lunch on Saturdays. They have a late bar open until 1am, though I was long asleep by that point.
Definitely go to their Apres from 4-5pm, where I enjoyed amazing oysters at a special price. I also had a fab lobster roll for dinner at the waiter’s recommendation.
Keep in mind that their menu changes with the seasons, but their raw bar is fabulous year-round. It is the perfect spot for seafood lovers who want a taste of the coast all the way up in the mountains.
Alpine Hall
You can also find Alpine Hall in the main lodge, just next door – with the same check-in deck – to The Tipsy Trout. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, Apres, and dinner every day and is open essentially from 7am to 10pm, with just a short break from 10:30 to 11am.
I enjoyed both breakfast and dinner at Alpine Hall. For dinner, I sat at the bar, which was great for people watching and something many guests do.
At the bartender’s recommendation, I tried an artisanal cocktail that was perfectly balanced and beautifully served. I couldn’t resist the steak frites, with absolutely delicious truffle fries to accompany the very generous portion, and I’m glad I didn’t try.
I got talked into trying the panna cotta for dessert, and it was delicious. I was too full to eat it all, so consider sharing it with your travel companions.
For breakfast, they have a buffet option, but I chose to order the nosedive sandwich. It features a flaky buttermilk biscuit stacked with honey-glazed pork belly or maple chicken sausage, a soft folded egg, melted slopeside cheddar, and breakfast potatoes.
It was as delicious as it sounds. Pair that with a latte, and it’s the perfect way to start the day of exploring and hiking the property.
The Beanery
Another morning, I grabbed a quick breakfast sandwich from The Beanery, and to be honest, that was the only underwhelming thing I experienced during my entire visit. The chai I ordered was great, so I recommend grabbing your drinks here but sticking to Alpine Hall for breakfast.
Alpine Hall does also have complimentary drip coffee available 6:30 to 8:30am, but The Beanery offers the more fancy versions I tend to drink. They’re open daily 7am to 2 or 3pm, depending on the season.
Pico Taco
Pico Taco is located on the Green, and it’s a great spot for a quick meal. They were open for lunch only when I visited (12pm to 5pm), but in the winter, they’re open until 8pm.
I loved the ability to customize my bowl with the salsas available when I picked up my Yucatán-style roasted pork. If you have never had it, Yucatán-style pork is marinated in citrus juices and an achiote paste before being slow-roasted until it falls apart.
This quick-serve spot also offers carne asada, chicken al pastor, baja fish, and mushroom chorizo as protein options for their quesadillas, tacos, and burritos. They have generous portions, which is great to keep your energy up with a busy day.
Zamboni’s Creemee Hut
I have made it my mission to try every creemee at every location I can in and around Vermont to find the best ones. Of course I had to get one from Zamboni’s Creemee Hut, and their small maple creemee was perfect.
I enjoyed it as a nightcap while I wandered through the Green listening to the live music and the families playing games on the lawn. The small is plenty big, and they offer vanilla if you aren’t up for maple, and you can always add toppings to it, too.
I might have indulged further, but only because I have to test out all the things, right? From 7 to 8 pm, you can pick up the fixings for free s’mores by the hut and roast your own marshmallows with supervision at the giant fireplace just behind it.
They ask you to take just one, but that’s all you need, and I appreciated the supervision by the giant open fireplace for safety. Who doesn’t love s’mores?
Other Dining Options I Missed
I didn’t stay long enough to try some of the other options, like The Whistlepig Pavilion, which serves BBQ favorites grilled on a Traeger. I could smell it as I walked by listening to the live band, and I only wished I had more time or another stomach to fit it all in.
I also missed out on The Linehouse, a 21-and-over speakeasy-style destination that’s open only during the winter season – and you know how much I love a good speakeasy. There’s also another bar in the upper lobby only open in winter, so make sure you check out the seasonal offerings for whenever you visit.
Planning Your Next Mountain Getaway
My trip to Stowe was such a treat. I’ve visited Vermont and the surrounding area for years but hadn’t spent time at The Lodge at Spruce Peak before this time, though I had driven past it often.
You don’t need snow to have an incredible time in Vermont, and this is a great base for leaf peeping in Vermont, too. Between the luxurious rooms, the phenomenal dining options right on property, and the endless list of activities, this resort provides a memorable vacation experience.