Where to stay, spa, and eat in Stowe, VT

Why It's Good:

Stowe's ski lifts are set to open for the first time this weekend (November 17) so expect plenty of fresh—albeit man-made—powder. And with a street full of quaint shops and art galleries, a world-class spa, and numerous fine restaurants, there's plenty for the skiing averse to rave about—even in the off-season.

Why It's Green:

It’s not just the mountains that are green in Vermont: Foodies with a craving for locally produced and organic cuisine will drool over the area's bountiful offerings at Norma's Restaurant; spa addicts can steep themselves in organic and locally-grown herbs at the Topnotch Spa; and guests at The Green Mountain Inn can sleep easy knowing the hotel is working to reduce its global footprint through recycling, composting, and energy efficiency.

Where To Get It:

For more information on Norma's Restaurant, click here; for more information on the Topnotch Spa, click here; for more information on the Green Mountain Inn, click here.

Shop, Spa, and Find Sustenance in Quaint Stowe, VT

As a recently converted local-food enthusiast (thank you, Michael Pollan), I may have found my dining heaven: It's difficult to visit a restaurant in Stowe, Vermont, and not find local items on the menu, which I first discovered during lunch at Norma's Restaurant. The cozy bistro with views of Mount Mansfield (Vermont's highest peak) is tucked into a corner of the rustic Topnotch Resort and Spa. The Misty Knoll organic turkey panini with Vermont chèvre, pesto, and roasted red peppers tasted as fresh as the Vermont air—probably because the free-range turkey was raised about an hour away.

After lunch, I indulged in the Mount Mansfield Saucha treatment at the Topnotch Spa, a signature, two-hour, three-part pampering session that started with a full-body scrub using finely ground sea salt and organic lavender buds. Then I was wrapped in warm, damp linens that had been soaked in a tea made from Vermont-harvested flowers and herbs (think spearmint to purify, balsam needles to decongest, and arnica flowers to relieve pain). The treatment was capped off with a head-to-toe rub down, during which I completely blissed out.

After a tiring day of eating and spa-ing, it was time for bed. At the Green Mountain Inn, in the center of Stowe Village's shop-lined Main Street, you can soak your well-fed self in an oversized tub or read by the fireplace in the Deluxe rooms. The inn, which turns 175 next year, is the first hotel in Stowe to establish green policies including composting, using green cleaning products, and installing energy-efficient lighting in its over 100 guest rooms. That there's a plan in place to keep Vermont green and clean is comforting to this local wannabe. —Megan O'Connell