Located in the north of Vermont, near Burlington and Lake Chamberlain, Stowe Mountain is one of the oldest and most distinguished eastern ski resorts, and provides quality skiing and riding for all levels of abilities. Spread across two peaks – one of which, Mount Mansfield, is Vermont’s highest – Stowe features long, narrow, twisting runs, along with excellent facilities and the highly revered Stowe Winter Carnival.

Stowe is a traditional ski resort town, with its white-steepled church and main street lined with historic buildings in traditional New England style, situated about 15kms from the resort base. Services and facilities are top rate and Stowe has plenty of shops, including ski/sports and rental outlets.

There is some slope-side accommodation, but most visitors stay in Stowe, where there is a good range of hotels, motels and lodges, numbering over 50 establishments; the Trapp Family Lodge is one of the more upmarket places. Stowe has long been famous for its cuisine, including traditional Austrian fare, and après-ski is fairly lively with a few noteworthy pubs near the slopes and plenty more in the town. Childcare is available for children from six weeks to six years.

Stowe Mountain has 56 slopes running over 65kms of varied terrain and a 700-metre vertical. You’ll find superb novice slopes, tree-lined cruising for intermediates and good, but limited, terrain for experts. Twelve lift systems have an hourly uplift capacity for over 12,000 people and supply all pistes, the longest of which is a very respectable six kilometres.

For alternative skiing and snowboarding, Mad River Glen and Sugarbush resorts lie to the south of Stowe Mountain, along route 100. Mad River has some superb expert skiing across varied terrain, but sadly doors are closed to snowboarders; whereas neighbour Sugarbush has good skiing and snowboarding. Burlington, on the eastern shores of beautiful Lake Champlain, offers interesting sightseeing.

The ski season at Stowe Mountain runs from November to April and children younger than six ski for free, while juniors and seniors receive discounts also. The most convenient way to get here is to fly to nearby Burlington and arrange a transfer with your hotel, or take a taxi.