Dog-Friendly Stowe, VT
Alice at Rum Runners’ Hideaway near Stowe, Vermont
For Memorial Weekend 2021, Alice and I went to Stowe, VT with a few of our best friends! Although we had all been to Vermont before, we hadn’t spent time in this particular area before. We found a super-cute AirBnB next to a creek and had a lovely, long weekend in the mountains.
Where We Stayed
This adorable AirBnB was about a 20-minute drive from Stowe. To get to the cabin, you have to drive through Smuggler’s Notch, which is absolutely gorgeous! You’ll wind between mountains on a tree-covered road lined with huge boulders. There are spots for hiking and climbing here, but we didn’t explore these trails ourselves.
The cabin itself is on the side of Mt. Mansfield, the tallest mountain in Vermont! There’s a nice balcony out back where you can hear the babbling of the creek. The home is not very large, but it was plenty of room for three city folks (and two small pups). A fourth person would be tight, but doable. Our host was very helpful and kind, and we would definitely return!
Where We Ate & Drank
We didn’t get to explore as many places as we would have liked because of timing and weather. But we really enjoyed all of these spots! We also did a bit of shopping along Main Street, and the dogs were allowed to go into the shops we wanted to check out.
We went to this brewery-restaurant after our first hike of the trip and we were so pleased to have a drink and relax on their beautiful patio and in the backyard! Although there was a long wait for a table when we arrived early-afternoon, we were able to order from the outdoor bar and snag seats in the large lawn area behind the patio. This lawn is right next to a walking/biking path and a creek too! The food was pretty good, and the wine and beer were great!
We absolutely loved this Mexican restaurant! They have a very large outdoor seating area and some of the best queso I’ve ever had (and I am a queso snob, so this is a rare endorsement)!
This restaurant seems to be a very popular Stowe institution! We really enjoyed our food, beer, and ciders on the very nice patio.
The chai and egg sandwich here were amazing, and the place was adorable. I didn’t try to bring Alice inside with me to order (don’t think dogs would be allowed in), but there were a few chairs out front to sit in if you wanted to eat there.
Good coffee drinks and small breakfast stuff, right in the heart of Stowe! There were spots to sit outside, but it was incredibly crowded so we grabbed our drinks to-go.
Dog-Friendly Activities
Hiking
Stowe Pinnacle - This might be the most beautiful hike I’ve done on the east coast! It’s a 3.7-mile trail that is rated as hard on All Trails, but I would describe it as moderate. It was definitely a challenge, but so so worth it! On the Saturday morning of Memorial Weekend, the trail was packed. There were so many other people and dogs, many off-leash. There’s a stunning view once you reach the peak, but it was so crowded. I’m sure it would be nicer on a weekday, or a less-popular travel weekend.
Bingham Falls - A very short hike, this trail takes you down to a gorgeous waterfall! It was pretty quick and easy, but does involve some large rock steps to get down to the water. We were there on a rainy day, so some of the rocks were quite slick - be careful!
Rum Runner’s Hideaway - Alice and I stumbled upon this gorgeous little lake as we were wandering around Smuggler’s Notch Base Lodge. There was absolutely no one else there! The mountain views are stunning and the water is so clear/blue. You can take the trail on All Trails, or you can follow the signs from Waffle Cabin at Smuggler’s Notch.
Kayaking
Everyone had a great time kayaking at beautiful Waterbury Reservoir - except Alice… It was Alice’s first time kayaking and it was a little chilly, a little wet, and she didn’t have much room in the kayak with me. I think she would have had fun on a warmer day! We rented kayaks from Umiak Outdoor Outfitters. Everyone at Umiak was very friendly and we had a great experience! Small dogs are allowed to join their humans in kayaks. Alice weighs about 17 pounds, Auggie weighs about 40 pounds. It was tight, but we made it work!
