Activity #1: Skiing.  Of course.  Everyone knows skiing is king of winter activities in Stowe with its famous front-four runs, the addition of the Spruce mountain, the complete renovation of its gondola ride, and nearly $10M investment in new ski making equipment.  Stowe continues to claim the title of the Ski Capital of the East.  Did you also know….

• Stowe is blessed by superior natural terrain; Mt. Mansfield is the tallest mountain in Vermont.
• Skiing was first introduced to Stowe by Swedish families in 1913 that used barrel staves strapped to their boots.
• Stowe’s first designated ski trail was cut by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933.
• In 1935 Stowe formed the first ski patrol in the US.
• The Captain and Baroness Von Trapp opened the first Nordic ski center in the US in 1968.

Activity #2: Dining.   In addition to Stone Hill Inn’s dietary-friendly breakfasts, we are blessed with nearly 50 restaurants in Stowe.  Including these three of our favorite casual dining options:  Idletyme Brewing Company (with ownership by Laura and Michael of Michael’s on the Hill), Doc Ponds (with ownership from the folks at the Hen of the Wood), and The Bench.  We’ve had excellent meals at all three, but gravitate towards Idletyme.  These add to the three other restaurants, besides Michael’s and Hen of the Wood, that Stone Hill Inn guests most often frequent:  Harrisons, Bistro at Ten Acres, and Gracies.

Activity #3: Dog Sledding. There aren’t too many places in the U.S. where you can still go dog sledding for fun.  Jim Blair at Eden Mills, VT arguably offer the best sled dog tours in the country.  His concern for his Alaskan Huskies sets the standard for the care and health of sled dogs.  He owns over a 140 acres and has ten miles of trails which he grooms each day. Jim has been working with six different generations of dogs at his Eden Mills headquarters.  His treatment of his and the overall experience at Eden Dogsledding is why we like working with Jim and his Unchained Gang.

Activity #4: Tobogganing. Yes, and it’s right here at our Stowe bed and breakfast.  And it’s free!  You just have to walk back up the hill and pull the toboggan.  But what a rush as you sail down the hill carefully avoiding the bushes and trees, gliding onto the meadow towards the Stone Hill Inn sign and the Mountain Road.  Nobody ever gets close to hitting the Mountain Road (Rt. 108) – only George and his niece, Greta, have been able to come close to the Stone Hill Inn sign.

Activity #5: Backcountry Exploring.  What kind of activity is that?  Ahhhh, you’ll love it!  Increasingly we find that our guests are looking for more than just exercise, they’re want a new experience.  Sure, you’ve done some Nordic skiing or snowshoeing a few times, but what if you could find quiet trails that few Stowe visitors know exist, where you and your guide are likely to be the only ones around?  See gorgeous landscapes, learn about the history of Stowe, and enjoy a much better chance to see local wildlife in these remote locations. Welcome to Stowe’s backcountry.  Our expert guide will take you there, tell and show you the history, and customize your tour to your comfort – difficulty, pace, and length of time.  Consider:

1. Backcountry Snowshoeing for Everyone This guided, one to two hour tour, set to your own pace, visits historic sites of when Stowe first got started – the Mill Trail, the Turner Mill blacksmith shop, Dr. Margueite Lichtenthaeler’s historic cabin and if your game, explore the majestic Bingham Falls gorge or explore the birthplace of skiing in Stowe. No experience is necessary. Of course, equipment is provided.
2. Backcountry Snowshoe Adventure This guided tour can consume up to three hours in the morning or afternoon — you determine how much challenge you want. You don’t need a lot of snowshoe experience, just a desire to see the parts of Stowe that few people ever see and learn about its history. Equipment is provided, so if you’re only in reasonable shape this will be a healthy and rewarding experience.
3. Beginning Backcountry Skiing Beginner? Not used to backcountry, cross country skiing? Not sure what kind of wax to use or whether skinning is appropriate? Don’t know what skinning is? This two hour clinic/tour will quickly make you an expert. Spend a few minutes up front to learn the latest Nordic ski technologies, how to plan a backcountry ski adventure, and get tips on skiing techniques. Then off to the backcountry where you the pace; your guide will do the rest. Some skiing experience (Alpine or Nordic) would be helpful. (Equipment not provided.)
4. Backcountry Nordic Skiing Encounter For those that have done an ample amount of skiing (either Nordic or Alpine) get ready for a spectacular day of vistas – Sky top Ridge, Steeple, Tear Drop and the Underhill Trail. Set your own pace and decide if you want high country, low elevation or both! This cross country skiing adventure that can be as challenging as you want – choose between half day (2-3 hours) and full day (4-6 hours).

Create your own Winter Romantic Getaway!

Snow is here; time to enjoy Stowe’s winter playground!  Have fun at what Stowe does best — snowshoeing, great food, sleigh riding, and a luxury room to which you can retreat and get warm in a double Jacuzzi tub next to a fireplace at the Stone Hill Inn! Stowe at Its Best!!!!

Snowshoe.  Perhaps for the first time?  A bit rusty?  No matter – there is a snowshoeing adventure for everyone!  Your expert backcountry guide – a native of this area who knows the most scenic trails – lets you decide where you want to go, how much ground you want to cover, and whether you want 1 or up to 2 hours of snowshoeing. Tours are scheduled during the late morning and early afternoon so that you can soak up the beauty and smell the fresh pine of unspoiled Vermont. Snowshoeing adventures must be booked directly with Umiak: Umiak.com

Sleigh ride. Just the two of you wrapped in several blankets while the up-front driver takes you into the Vermont woods along the west branch of the Little River in a horse-drawn sleigh for a beautiful 30-minute ride. Perfect for romantic Stowe getaways!

Dining. What is rapidly becoming Stowe’s best casual restaurant – Ideltyme Brewing Company – will welcome you with a menu and staff selected by their new owner Michael Kloeti – the owner and chef of the celebrated, fine dining restaurant, Michael’s on the Hill.

Relax. On your last day, add an extra 60-minutes for a late checkout.  Take a couple of trips on the Stone Hill toboggan, a short trip on our snowshoes, a walk in Weissner Woods, or maybe one last plunge in your fireside Jacuzzi.

We look forward to hosting you at our Stowe bed and breakfast.

“Ready, hike.”

Football?

No. Dog sledding.

Know much about dog sledding?  Neither did I.

Wanna go?  It sounds like fun but, if you are like me, you would first be concerned about the dogs.  You wonder about the discipline that must be applied to these creatures to get them to pull several hundred pounds in the numbing cold for hours.  Perhaps you have seen pictures of dogs chained to their outside dog house when they aren’t running (very common), or you’re just concerned about the amount of time that they must remain outside – particularly in the winter!

Not at Eden Dog Sledding in Eden Mills, Vermont.  Jim Blair, in addition to being owner, musher, and a national and international sled dog racing champion, is recognized as a do-it-my-way innovator when it comes to the care and training of these Alaskan Huskies.  Jim calls them the Unchained Gang because he has learned that letting teams of dogs live and play together (in enclosed areas) is good for their health, their disposition and makes them fun with the guests.  It takes time to learn which dogs like to be with which, but Jim thinks it’s well worth the effort.

Preparation for your ride.  Guests spend their first hour with Jim learning about the Alaskan Husky breed, the principles of the Unchained Gang, and why he believes in them.  Also during this hour, you will meet each dog personally and then hitch them to your sled.

Barking dogs — they want to go!  They’re calling Jim to get on the trail.  Off you go!  You spend your next hour folded together under a thick blanket in one of Jim’s sleds.  Jim has over 100 gorgeous acres and more than 10 miles of trails. (He grooms them every day; summer and winter.)  Snow is flying, dogs are barking, you can smell the freshness of unspoiled Vermont all around you!  If you love natural beauty and vistas, you’re having a stunning experience!

Once you have returned you help Jim feed the dogs and unhitch them.  Later you feed them treats.   Inside the large cabin, Jim’s sister has a cup of hot chocolate and baked goods for you.  You note that there are several couches near the fireplace.   All the seats are taken by the parents of the dogs that just took you on your ride.  They don’t control the trails anymore; they control the couches!  Your team of dogs passes through on their way to one of the fenced areas where they can play.  Jim comments on the typical comments he hears from past guests:  “I’ll never forget this.”  “I love the dogs!”  “The dogs couldn’t have been more affectionate.”  “They seem never to tire and love the whole experience.”  We hear the same comments when they come back to Stone Hill!

The dogs aren’t really tired.

This has just been a warm-up run for most Alaskan Huskies.  “When it comes down to sheer capacity for prolonged exercise,” says Ken Hinchcliff, an Australian veterinary physiologist who’s done more research on sled dogs than any other scientist, “there is no other animal, including humans, that comes close to competing.”  (Feb 15, 2010; Outside magazine).  Peak sled dogs have a VO2 max of 200 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute.  (VO2 is a measure of oxygen consumption that reflects aerobic physical fitness and sustained endurance.)  Bicyclist Lance Armstrong (Tour de France winner) maxed at about 85.  Peak sled dogs when running as part of a team can run sub-four-minute miles for 60 or 70 miles.  (Perhaps not every sled dog, but even the “ordinary” dogs have exceptional endurance by human standards!  When in peak condition the best of the sled dogs can increase the size of their heart by 50%)

Sled dogs are much more efficient than we are.  “On the level of genes and regulatory proteins, we’re surprisingly close [to sled dogs].”  Research completed by Hinchcliff and others reveals that – “sled dogs aren’t’ just extreme in their aerobic capacity; they possess a variety of souped-up systems.”  Sled dog muscle cells contain about 70 percent more energy-producing mitochondria than human cells.   Secondly, sled dogs don’t sweat; they dissipate heat through paws, noses, and tongues.  “Our human system of evaporative cooling may cool us off, but it costs us water, electrolytes, sugars, and proteins.  Sled dogs conserve theirs by relying on a cool environment. “Lastly, human muscle relies on the burning of glucose (stored glycogen in muscles), but it burns HOT, so it is only good for short spurts.  Sled dogs burn fats that contain twice the caloric density vs carbohydrates and fats burn much “cooler,” so dogs can sustain muscle use for a much longer period of time.   Sled dogs, when training for big races, are often fed a diet that contains up to 60% fats.

“In other words, the human strategy for using energy becomes unsustainable much more quickly.  Even at slower paces, as in a marathon, we use up the muscles’ stores of glycogen in about three hours.  After a day’s rest, we’re still depleted.  Sled dogs just keep ongoing. “

Jim has been working with six different generations of dogs at his Eden Mills headquarters.  His concern for the dogs and the quality of the overall experience at Eden Dogsledding is why we like working with the Unchained Gang.

More than a romantic getaway, your Vermont honeymoon is the start of your new life together! Stowe’s charming, natural beauty is the perfect setting to create your first memories as a couple! Whether relaxing by the fire, sharing a farm-to-table meal, or hitting the slopes, Stowe has so much to offer for Winter Honeymoons.

Stowe Top 5 Activities for Winter Vermont Honeymoons

1. Hot air balloon ride with champagne at Above Reality Ballooning.  Jeff is a wonderful and very responsible Captain.  He’s also a Justice of the Peace and does weddings in the balloon! Balloons go during winter and summer.
2. Make a wish while standing next to Bingham Falls.  Winter transforms the series of five different falls into ice sculptures created by thick layers of ice that disguise the rocks that shape the falls.  Everything becomes white.  Thick Ice shapes form; mist is always rising.  Lovely, albeit slippery.  Watch where you walk!  Bring your camera.
3. Dog sledding at Edens. You get to know each dog, actually harness them, and with tails wagging and excited barks you’ll sense how anxious they are to get started! Two of you with blankets in a warm sled with your guide/musher to ferry you through the spectacular  snow country of northern Vermont!
4. Take a sleigh ride over the hills and through the woods.  Just a few minutes from Stone Hill is a comfortable horse-drawn sleigh with thick blankets and an experienced driver.  While only  a 30 minute voyage, you will feel transported to a different time and certainly to a significantly different place in comparison with the eastern cities from which you likely hail. Giddy up!
5. Share our Crème Brulee French toast made especially for you in the shape of a heart.  Crème Brulee French toast is the most requested of the sweet breakfast items that we serve. Using a porcelain, heart-shaped dish, we create this delight the night before; let cool in the refrigerator; heat it when you arrive for breakfast, and serve with warmed Vermont Maple syrup!

Why’s it called Honeymoon?

“Honeymoon”– where does the expression come from?  It appears that nobody is absolutely sure, however the Merriam-Webster dictionary reports the etymology is from “the idea that the first month of marriage is the sweetest” (1546). Of course it is a very special time when your focus is simply having fun together, and your days are filled with tenderness and pleasure for each other. Truly, a celebration of life.

Want to read even more about Vermont Honeymoons?