Come one, Come all to the 40th Annual Stowe Winter Carnival!  This event is so much fun that it had to be stretched over an entire week for all to enjoy! Events begin on Saturday January 18th including opening night dance parties at the Matterhorn and Piecasso and a Rockin' Barn Dance on Sunday night. Monday will feature the Snow Golf Tournament where people will dress in costume for eleven wacky holes of Snow Golf.  Other major events are Warren Miller Movie Night on the big screen featuring his premier ski movie 'Ticket to Ride'. This movie shows extreme skiing at its finest. On Friday, watch ice carvers create intricate works of art throughout the day in anticipation of Saturday's nationally sanctioned Ice Carving Competition.  A big favorite for me is the Snow Volleyball Tournament... 01/17/2014

Stowe Vermont - Home Sales Reports The Stowe Vermont Single Family Residence market has seen the following:  1.  Increase of about 3% in Average Sale Price (2012-2013) - CHART 2000 through 2013 2.  Slight Decrease of about 3% in Median Sale Price (2012-2013) - CHART 2000 - 2013 3.  Significant Increase of about 10% of Number of Homes Sold (2012-2013) - CHART 2000 - 2013 4.  Decrease of about 6% in Inventory of Homes on the Market (2012-2013) - CHART 2005 - 2013: Basically, it appears that the Stowe, VT market is at the beginning of turning into a Sellers' Market.  I believe the current market still favors buyers, but there are signs of a change favoring sellers in the next few years.         01/07/2014

As many of you know, I am absolutley in love with Stowe, Vermont. Stowe is such a fairytale place to live. From its quaint quintessential Vermont downtown flavor with it's great restaurants, art galleries and shops to the stunning landscape. Stowe has beautiful mountains and waterfalls and is just such a wonderful place to call home. I hope you enjoy the pictures I took this morning while walking my dog, Sadie.         10/26/2013

I took my dog, Sadie, for a walk this morning and this was our pleasant view - the first snowfall of the season on the trails at Stowe. This ski lift is about 300 feet from my house - I am so lucky! Can't wait for the first official ski day which is usually Thanksgiving Day. Make your plans now to come visit beautiful Stowe, Vermont for ski season! This 'bunny slope' chair lift will get you to the trails that access the main mountain area. There is nothing better than living slopeside and not having to drive the car to ski. Skiing home for lunch is always nice too :) Another inch or two of snow and it will be perfect for sledding. How convenient to have a sledding hill just outside your door.  I really do love to play in the snow!  Sadie got to enjoy a little of it this morning.   10/26/2013

Stowe Vermont - 3rd Quarter 2013 - Market Report Homes Sold I finally got my numbers together for the 3rd quarter of Home Sales in the Stowe, Vermont area.  Below is a chart showing sales Statewide, Stowe, Waterbury, Morristown, Hyde Park, Elmore, Johnson and Wolcott VERMONT. STATEWIDE - The number of homes sold significantly increased by 31% while the sale prices have remained flat. STOWE, VT - Number of sales were the same but the median and average sale prices rose significantly - about 25%. WATERBURY, VT - Number of sales about the same but the median and average sales prices dropped - about 22%. MORRISTOWN, VT - Number of sales increased significantly - 275%!  While average sale prices dropped a bit. HYDE PARK, VT - Number of sales remained the same while average sale prices droppe... 10/20/2013

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Animal shelters across America are offering incentives to adopt furry friends.  Help support North Country Animal League by attending their Howl-o-ween Open House on Saturday October 26,2013 from 11 - 2. Staff will be dressed up in costume for this event and will provide tours of the shelter and introduce you to the wonderful dogs and cats waiting for adoption. I adopted my beautiful dog, Sadie, from NCAL in March.  She is an absolute dream - so well mannered, sweet and loving.  Maybe you will find your new best friend at NCAL.  All pets in these photos are available as of October 18, 2013.     Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Deb's Place will be generously providing refreshments and treats. NCAL's annual calendar is now available for purchase.  You may ... 10/18/2013

Stowe Restaurant Week will take place from Sunday October 20th through Saturday October 26, 2013.  Fourteen restaurants will be participating in this third annual event.  Each restaurant will feature a special prix-fixe, multi course menu.  Taste delicious offerings from some of Stowe's fine restaurants at an appetizing price. Stowe has been praised by many top publications such as Gourmet, Bon Appetit and Wine Spectator as offering some of the best restaurants in several categories.  Prix fixe menus will be available for $15, $25 or $35.   Participating restaurants include: $15 Menu The Whip Bar & Grill at the Green Mountain Inn Sushi Yoshi Sunset Grille   $25 Menu     Cactus Cafe Charlie B's Crop Bistro & Brewery Gracie's Pie Casso Sunset Grill   $35 Menu Blue Moom Cafe Charlie B's   ... 10/17/2013

Come out to Helen Day Art Center in Stowe for Go Beer! on Saturday October 26, 2013. The event will feature locally crafted beers carefully paired with delicious localvore food tastings. Local brewers will discuss their bewing techniques.  The event runs from 6:00 - 8:00.  The 'after party' takes place at Vermont Ale House which will feature two additional beer tastings at their restaurant located at 294 Mountain Road, Stowe. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling (802) 253-8358. Proceeds benefit Helen Day Art Center which is located on School Street in Stowe.                                                           Pumpkin Beer with Brown Sugar & Cinnamon! 10/14/2013

Halloween is a fun day for the children of Stowe, Vermont.  Festivities will begin with the elementary school student and staff costume parade at 2:00.  From 4-6:00 there will be several Halloween centered activities for children inside the Stowe Elementary School gym.  Activitires will include a pumpkin art contest, Halloween cookie decorating, games, music and professional photos.  Pizza will be available for the children to eat dinner before taking downtown by storm with trick-or-treating at the village shops.  What a fun day for all! Pumpkins will be illuminated at the Helen Day Art Center and Halloween movies will be displayed through 8:00 on the exterior of the building near the gazebo.  If it rains, all festivities will take place in the elementary school gym. 10/14/2013

The Percy Farm corn maze is an annual crowd pleaser.  The maze is located on Route 108 in Stowe next to the Rec Path parking lot.  This maze is open daily from 11-5 through late October.  It is run by the Percy family whose farm raises 600 dairy cattle.  Some of their milk goes into Cabot cheeses which are found in grocery stores in several states.  There are 2 two month old calves on display at the start of the maze for you to pet, feed and visit with.  The maze takes about one hour to complete and costs $6 for adults and $3 for children.  Fresh, delicious VT maple syrup tapped by the Percy's from Stowe trees is also available for sale.         Your Corn Maze Greeter                                                    A peak inside the corn maze Corn maze and Vermont fall foliage splend... 10/06/2013

Stowe Mountain Bike Club will host the third annual Leaf Blower Fall Classic Bike Ride on Saturday October 12th, 2013.  This will be a beautiful bike ride during the peak of Vermont's fall foliage season on many of Stowe's most exciting and scenic trails.  This ride has groups for all levels from the weekend warrior to sprinters who ride every day. After the ride, there will be a bountiful harvest meal provided by Just Delicious Catering, which includes a local maple glazed ham, butternut squash lasagna, roasted potatoes and salad, as well as hearty homemade desserts. There will be bike related contests and trivia around a bonfire.  What better was to spend a Saturday afternoon is gorgeous Stowe Vermont! Check in begins at 12:00 with rides beginning at 1:30.  Dinner is from 5:00 - 7:00 ... 10/05/2013

Stowe will be hosting its annual Arts & Crafts Festival from October 11th through October 13th, 2013 at the Stowe Events Field located at 80 Weeks Hill Road in Stowe, Vermont.  This event features 200 artists exhibiting a wide range of art, crafts, photography, sculpture, pottery, unique clothing, beautiful hand crafted furniture and more. There will be many specialty food products to enjoy including twelve Vermont beers, specialty cheeses and our world famous Vermont apple cider.  There will be live music throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Hours 10-5. Columbus weekend is the perfect time to enjoy the peak of Stowe's fall foliage season! 10/04/2013

There's few places I'd rather be than San Francisco, but Vermont has it's own charms that focus on the outdoors with hiking, great skiing and small town Americana that makes it my virtual visit entry for this month's Active Rain contest.  And no one captures Stowe Vermont living like Lisa Friedman's blog.  I first read Lisa's blog back in the Spring when she sighted a pair of bear cubs in her backyard, she was more than excited to blog about the experience, but a little disappointed that she'd missed a photo opportunity.  Intrepid Realtor that she is Lisa kept her camera at the ready over the next week and was thrilled to capture the mama bear.  You'll have to head over to her blog for the full story and set of photos and to hear how Lisa treed a bear.  Besides the local wildlife Lisa b... 09/21/2013

Stowe’s British Invasion will take place this weekend! America’s largest British car show will feature between 600 – 1,000 classic cars.  This 23rd annual event always takes place the third weekend in September in beautiful Stowe, Vermont.  This year’s event promises to be spectacular with cars competing in 60 different categories. Some of the models included will be Rolls Royce, Bentley Riley,  Austin-Healy, Singer, Morgan, Sunbeam-Alpine, MG, Triumph, and my personal favorite, Jaguar.   Judging in the Concours d’Elegance competition (fancy parade) will be based on a 100 point system.  Criteria for judging includes mechanical operation, paint, interior, woodwork, undercarriage, chrome, engine and authenticity.  A minimum of 90 points is required for first place, 85 for second place and... 09/16/2013

As we quickly approach the ski season, now is the time to scoop up some great deals on the plenty of Stowe Vermont Ski Real Estate Available.  Stowe is a legendary Vermont ski location sitting atop Mount Mansfield and the current available inventory of properties that would put you nice and close to the slopes could certainly be called a buyer's market!  This probably won't last as we get closer to the season, so take a look now and snap one up before the prices start to climb.  Take a look at this fun video to show you what you're missing if you haven't yet skiied Stowe Resort: 09/03/2013

Sadie and I enjoyed joining around 850 people and probably 20 dogs for the 6th annual Race to the Top of Vermont. Since you've probably read about the race in my two other blog posts, I won't bore you with all the details, except for a few major stats for those who have not read the other posts. The reason they call this 'The Top of Vermont' is because it literally is the top of Vermont at Mt. Mansfield's 4,393 foot peak. The RTTTOF is a 4.3 mile race up the Toll Road Ski Trail which has s 2,560 foot elevation gain with an average 13% grade.  In other words STEEP. The fastest runners complete the race in about 35 minutes.  Sadie and I took about an hour and a half which I am pretty happy with because it was a warm day.  We both enjoyed taking 106 photos while walking the cumulative 8.6 ... 08/26/2013

LAST CALL: Stowe's 6th annual Race to the Top of Vermont takes place tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m.  It will be an exiciting and fun event for all walker, hikers, cyclists and runners.   My dog, Sadie, and I hope to see you on the trail.  As it is a steady 13% grade on the climb with a few steep pitches thrown into the mix, we are hoping to jog 25% of it and walk the rest (at a brisk pace). Sadie is already working on her beauty sleep and resting up for tomorrow's festivities! Or maybe she just wants her belly rubbed! The 6th annual Race to the Top of Vermont will take place on Sunday, August 25th at 9 am. The event is open to runners, hikers and cyclists to climb Mt. Mansfield's 4.3 mile Toll Road Ski Trail with an approximate elevation gain of 2,500 feet. When I first heard about this e... 08/25/2013

It is time to update the Stowe Meadows Food and Dining Guide for Stowe, VT.   From Casual Eats to Vermont's most sought-after Chef-owned digs, Stowe Meadows Lodge recommends our favorites.   The Stowe Area (VT) offers diners wonderful options.  Again this year we're excited to post our favorite Stowe Area, VT dining spots. No hear-say, we've made certain to visit these locations and we've updated our outlook since our Stowe, VT Dining post in 2011.  As you'll find in any resort area, dining and lodging options change, chefs and owners come and go.  Some of our favorites are still on the list while we're excited to mention a few new spots you'll love.      In addition to our personal experiences, we solicited feedback from other "locals" (aka Stowe-area residents), Stowe merchants (who o... 08/11/2013

It FINALLY happened - I FINALLY saw My First Bear in Vermont!!!!!!!  It was around 7:30 last night. My neighbor about a half mile away texted me and said "Be Careful if you are out walking Sadie, I just saw a big black bear".  Most normal people would rush back home and go inside to be safe.  What do I do? I rush back home, ditch the dog, grab the camera and sprinted as fast as I could through the woods looking for 'my bear'. I came upon him with the biggest smile on my face.  I'd finally found My Bear.  But I was too far away for a good photo.  Stealth.  I belly crawled for about a hundred feet keeping close to the treeline hoping that he wouldn't see me and run off (or decide to eat me).  My heart was racing in my chest.  I was shaking from the adrenaline rush. I literally couldn't st... 07/28/2013

The 6th annual Race to the Top of Vermont will take place on Sunday, August 25th at 9 am. The event is open to runners, hikers and cyclists to climb Mt. Mansfield's 4.3 mile Toll Road Ski Trail with an approximate elevation gain of 2,500 feet. When I first heard about this event, I was impressed that people run up this trail as it is very steep in parts. I would think - Wow, how do people do that? Now that I live next door to the trail, I walk it about three times a week with my dog, Sadie. It's all a matter of perspective. The event is hosted by the Catamount Trail Association and proceeds will benefit the Catamount Trail and Vermont Land Trust.  The Catamount Trail is a wonderful trail that spans 300 miles up the length of Vermont. I would like to hike it all some day. Approximately 8... 07/28/2013