GETTING THERE: Stowe is less than 40 miles northeast of Burlington, Vt. Independence Air offers six flights daily between Dulles and Burlington. Unrestricted fares start at $70 each way, or $160 round trip, with occasional fare sales dropping to $59 one way. United and US Airways, the only other airlines that serve Burlington nonstop, frequently match these fares. Last-minute Web specials can run as low as $103 round trip. Car rentals in the Burlington airport start at $25 a day economy, and with Vermont's effective plowing, you shouldn't need an SUV.
WHERE TO STAY: The Golden Eagle Resort (511 Mountain Rd., 800-626-1010, www.goldeneagleresort.com) offers comfortable motel-style accommodations with an indoor pool and extensive recreational facilities. Doubles start at $99 per night. The Green Mountain Inn (18 Main St., 800-253-7302, www.gminn.com), a charmer on the National Register of Historic Places, offers doubles with lift tickets from $216 per person for a two-night stay; room only starts at $129.
The upscale Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa (1746 Mountain Rd., 800-253-2232, www.stoweflake.com) features luxury accommodations and a full-service spa; doubles start at $160; for ski and stay, rates start at $265 per night for two (two-night minimum). "Sound of Music" aficionados will gravitate to the Trapp Family Lodge (42 Trapp Hill Rd., 800-826-7000, www.trappfamily.com), an Austrian-themed resort started by the iconic family. Room rates start at $198 double.
WHERE TO EAT: The Dutch Pancake Cafe and Pub in the Grey Fox Inn (990 Mountain Rd.) features a delicious and decadent European version of a pancake with varieties that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Prices from $5 to $15. McCarthy's Restaurant (2043 Mountain Rd.) is a bustling breakfast spot where you'd be hard-pressed to spend more than $10. The Shed (1859 Mountain Rd.) is a classic ski-town eatery with its own microbrews and a burger, steak and seafood menu; entrees from $7 to $20. The Whip, in the Green Mountain Inn, serves American classics in a handsome wood-paneled dining room. Entrees range from $10 to $25 and include several veggie-friendly options.
LIFT TICKETS: Full-day lift tickets are $65 for adults ($67 on holidays). Multi-day passes offer discounts off the daily rate.
INFORMATION: Stowe Mountain Resort, 800-253-4754, www.stowe.com. Town of Stowe, 877-GOSTOWE, www.gostowe.com.
-- Ben Abramson
