Stowe.

We just got back from a trip to Stowe, Vermont and before I forget all the little details of this past week, I'm taking the time to write them down and reflect. 

   

I feel as though we romanticize family vacations. We hype them up because we need something to look forward to. But spending hours upon hours with two adults, a child and a dog in a small hotel room gets old fast. So does spending hundreds of dollars every day. And while you're out doing tourist things...don't forget to pack an extra pair of clothes for when she falls into the river and cries that her underwear are soaked.

By day 2 Matt was threatening to leave. We had had an awful time mini-golfing and the combination of hours of sun, exhaustion and stimulation were taking a toll on everyone. So by bedtime Ky was just DONE. We actually ended up packing our stuff up in the middle of the night declaring that vacation was over. I'm not sure how much she believed this tactic but it worked and the rest of the trip was pretty smooth sailing. Here are the highlights:


Where we stayed.
We were looking for a dog friendly hotel that was cheap with amenities and close to downtown. The Commodores Inn fit the bill perfectly. Albeit rather dated, the free continental breakfast was a great perk, the staff were super kind to Molly, and the sauna/hot tubs directly across from our room were a fun way to start our day or to wind down before bed. Not to mention the onsite pond!




 

The food.

All of the restaurants we visited were unique and tasty. From the German food at Von Trapp Bierhall seated in a greenhouse with incredible views of the mountains, to the hand-tossed thin crust pizza at Piecasso where our server who had dreadlocks and a lip ring treated Ky with the best service. Doc Ponds was another favorite stop of ours with a modern yet edgy feel to it - Lionel Richie playing in the background and a fireplace setting the ambience.

 

The nature.
On Mondays, the Fly Rod Rod Shop in Stowe provides a 3 hour fishing camp for kids where they teach them how to cast, reel and lure at their onsite stocked pond. It was a perfect way to get some quality time with just the two of us and she happened to love it too - win, win. She even caught 2 rainbow trout!

While she fished, we hiked Moss Glen Falls. 

 

And we eventually convinced her to hike another waterfall hike with us in Smugglers Notch State Park which is honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It gives the White Mountains a run for its money which is saying A LOT. This time it was Bingham Falls.

We spent a few hours at the Waterbury Center State Park and I have never seen a cleaner reservoir to swim in. The water was so warm and look at those mountain views!

 

The beer. 

Vermont has some of the coolest breweries and we visited quite a few of them. From the ever popular Alchemist to the swanky Prohibition Pig. While on our way to Burlington we bought some milk shake beers from Burlington Beer Company and enjoyed them in the park while watching fireworks. And for $9 a flight, I tasted 4 freshly brewed hard ciders at Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Their homemade cider donuts were also to die for. 

 

Idletyme brewery was my personal favorite. Not because of the beer (Matt, the beer snob, actually thought it was subpar), but because of the vibe. Any place that has corn hole, good music, and hula hoops to keep my kid entertained gets at thumbs up in my book.

 

And she made a friend who told her "we're like the same person" before waving bye and then shouted "you're really pretty Kylan!". If only adults could be as complimentary as children are <3.

Ben & Jerry's Factory.

How could you not visit this place while in the area? We didn't do a tour since it's not really our thing but we did get to try some ice cream and take some pictures in front of the bus like typical #tourists.

  

Burlington Fireworks Show.

I've visited Burlington a few times but never for their Independence Day celebration. It did not disappoint. Live music throughout the streets, vendors with fried food and cotton candy, and the most incredible fireworks overlooking Lake Champlain. A stranger even paid for Ky's ice cream as a random act of kindness. It was a perfect end to our trip.

                      

While there was some downtime in the hotel, Ky was watching a Disney show about a 13 year old girl who felt she was "too old" to go to the father/daughter's dance at school. It was a good reminder that this age is fleeting and soon she may feel "too old" to spend the week with us in a small hotel room. So despite the obstacles we may have had with bedtime, it's just a small sacrifice to pay for a week spent with my favorite people exploring a new part of the world. Memories I will never forget. I know Molly sure won't...