Stowe & Waterbury Day Trip: Ben & Jerry’s, Cider Mill, Trapp Lodge

Vermont flavors and mountain views in Stowe and Waterbury

You’ll taste fresh Ben & Jerry’s ice cream right at the source, sip cider straight from Cold Hollow’s press (don’t skip the hot donuts), and wander the grounds where the von Trapps landed after fleeing Austria. Scenic drives wind through mountains and past waterfalls before ending in Stowe village — where everything slows down just enough to notice it.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Burlington or nearby areas, private transportation with an experienced guide behind the wheel all day long, entry fees for Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour (with samples!), plus plenty of time at Cold Hollow Cider Mill and stops at both Trapp Family Lodge and Stowe village before returning in the evening.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Waterbury, Stowe, and scenic drives

• Tour Ben & Jerry’s Factory
• Explore Ben & Jerry’s gift shop
• Visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill
• Sample cider and hot cider donut
• Visit Trapp Family Lodge
• Drive through Smugglers’ Notch State Park
• Explore downtown Stowe village

The Experience

We rolled out of Burlington just after breakfast, our guide Dave already cracking jokes about “second breakfast” at Ben & Jerry’s. The drive to Waterbury went by in a blur of green hills and that early Vermont mist that kind of hangs around until the sun gets serious. At the factory, I’ll admit — I was way too excited for free samples. The tour itself is short but sweet (literally), and watching all those tubs of ice cream whizz by behind glass made me want to stick my hand in, just once. We tried a new flavor I’d never heard of — something with caramel swirls? Still thinking about it. The gift shop is a dangerous place if you like tie-dye or pints you can’t find back home.

Next stop: Cold Hollow Cider Mill. You can smell apples before you even open the van door — that warm, almost spicy scent. Inside it’s busy but friendly, with people hovering near the sample jugs like they’re waiting for a bus. Dave told us to try the hot cider donuts while they were still steaming, and he wasn’t wrong. I got sugar on my jacket but honestly didn’t care. There’s maple syrup everywhere (Vermont law?), plus jams and things I can’t pronounce. Some local woman behind the counter winked when I asked if they ever get tired of cider — she just laughed.

The Trapp Family Lodge surprised me more than I expected. I guess I thought it would be touristy, but it’s peaceful up there — wide lawns, mountain air that smells clean in a way city air never does. There’s this sign out front about sharing “a little Austria, a lot of Vermont,” which made me smile for some reason. Dave told us stories about the von Trapps escaping Austria and settling here because it reminded them of home; looking out over those hills, I could sort of see it.

We wound up through Smugglers’ Notch after lunch — narrow road twisting between cliffs so close you feel like you might scrape paint off the van. If you’re lucky with weather (we were), sunlight slices through the trees in these weird golden stripes. At one point we stopped near Moss Glen Falls; water tumbling over rocks so loud you have to shout to be heard. By then everyone was quieter anyway, maybe just soaking it all in or digesting too many donuts.

Stowe village was our last stretch — small shops with creaky floors, local art everywhere, people waving from porches like they know every face that passes by. There’s a ski museum if that’s your thing; I wandered into a bakery instead and bought something sticky for later on the ride home. It felt like we’d packed in so much but somehow never rushed — maybe that’s just Vermont time.

Top questions

How long is the Stowe & Waterbury day trip?

The tour lasts about 7 hours from pickup to drop-off.

Is hotel pickup included on this Vermont tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included for your convenience.

Do we get to try ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s?

Yes, free samples are part of the factory tour experience.

What food is available at Cold Hollow Cider Mill?

You can sample fresh apple cider and buy hot cider donuts plus other local products.

Can we visit Moss Glen Falls on this tour?

The itinerary includes a stop near Moss Glen Falls during your scenic drive.

Is Smugglers’ Notch always accessible?

No, Smugglers’ Notch closes in winter; alternate stops are provided then.

Are admission tickets included?

Your ticket for Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour is included in the price.

How much walking is required?

A moderate amount of walking is involved throughout the day.