Field Guide Lodge

While Stowe is primarily a ski town, the charming Field Guide boutique hotel offers reason to visit year around. Opened in 2015, the hotel takes on a wood-and-stone ski lodge aesthetic and modernizes it with funky design elements like ceramic antlers, bright orange accents, and forest-print wallpaper. Despite the fashionable look, the atmosphere here is extremely casual, throughout its public spaces.

The property's pool is only open seasonally, but its restaurant, Picnic Social, is the true hub of the place. It's draws a good mix of locals and guests, with a fireplace and boardgames encouraging people to linger -- particularly after a day on the slopes. Picnic tables scattered throughout continue the "great outdoors" theme. The on-site fire pit and hot tub are other spots where guests gather, especially as the weather turns colder.

Thanks to a location close to town, Field Guide draws skiers and non-skiers alike. Clientele are also a good mix of couples, friend groups, and families with kids, in part because of the wide range of room options on hand, particularly the cottages that can even add a few dogs into the mix due to the hotel's pet-friendly policy there.

Field Guide sits right on Mountain Road, the main road that connects the town of Stowe with the ski slopes of Mount Mansfield. While it’s a 13-minute drive to the slopes, the hotel is right across the street from a commercial area with restaurants, shops, and galleries -- all of which are within a three-minute walk. Stowe’s Main Street is a nine-minute walk away, and the area is filled with additional restaurants, shops, and galleries. In terms of sightseeing attractions, the hotel is a four-minute drive from the Alchemist brewery, an eight-minute drive from the Trapp Family Lodge (owned by the famed “The Sound of Music” family), and a 16-minute drive from the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury, Vermont. The nearest airport is Morrisville-Stowe State Airport -- a 12-minute drive away -- but it only caters to private planes, chartered flights, and small commercial flights from White Plains, New York. The nearest major airport is Burlington International, which is a 50-minute drive from Field Guide. 

The fun, fashionable look in Field Guide's public spaces is carried into its 30 guest rooms. Throughout, mid-century-style furniture -- Saarinen loungers and coffee tables with hairpin legs -- are paired with cheeky details like cardboard deer busts and wood-print bed runners. Bursts of orange or blue textiles and lively patterns like bird-print wallpaper brighten a rather neutral backdrop of soft grays and white. As the hotel only opened in 2015, the rooms are still in pristine condition with no signs of wear and tear. Amenities are also stellar for a mid-range hotel. Tech-wise, each room is equipped with a Smart TV, an Apple TV, an iPad with local information, and free Wi-Fi. Additional amenities include robes, safes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and irons and ironing boards. Bathrooms are equally stylish with fixtures like circular mirrors and rectangular sinks, and all our equipped with hairdryers and Lather toiletries -- a luxe touch.

While decor and amenities are uniform throughout, Field Guide's rooms vary greatly in size. Within the hotel's main building, there are double occupancy Queen and King Rooms that can feel a bit snug; Deluxe versions here offer a bit more space. Each room has a walk-in shower while Deluxe Rooms and above add on freestanding soaking tubs. 

One- and two-bedroom Suites and Cottage Suites are located in separate buildings that are only accessible by walking outside. These units are much larger and have separate living rooms with sleeper sofas, plus kitchenettes in the cottages. Note that there are no elevators at the hotel, so you might be climbing up one to three flights of stairs to reach your room.

As a small-scale, three-pearl property, Field Guide does not offer the full range of amenities provided by some larger resorts in the area, but what it does offer is of top quality, starting with its dining. The on-site restaurant and bar, Picnic Social, serves shareable plates for dinner, snacks, and weekend brunch. Appropriately, there are bright orange picnic tables to sit at indoors and out, with a fireplace inside. Board games are available, and both adults and children take advantage of them adding to the social atmosphere.  Another big pro are Field Guide's fresh breakfast baskets, which are delivered each morning to rooms. While there are no hot items packed in here, the selection usually includes fruit, baked goods, and some sort of grain like muesli -- all of which are delicious. Free coffee is also on hand in the lounge.

The grounds are small, but there's still enough room to squeeze in a heated seasonal pool (closed during the winter), a year-round hot tub, and a fire pit area where guests can make s'mores. Other features include free Wi-Fi and free parking (one spot per room). There is no formal concierge, but the front desk can help you make arrangements. The hotel is pet-friendly, too -- dogs are welcome in the cottages, although not in other rooms.