Trapp Family Lodge Austrian Christmas

DAY 1

The mountains of Vermont are alive with the sounds of the holiday season and the magnificent beauty that one comes to expect from a visit to the Austrian-inspired Trapp Family Lodge. This morning, you depart Central PA and make appropriate meal and rest stops along the way to Stowe, Vermont for an awe-inspiring getaway with stunning mountain views, old world charm and impeccable service. Upon arrival in Stowe, you check in at the Trapp Family Lodge (800-826-7000) for an unforgettable three-night stay. The Trapp Family Lodge amenities include an indoor swimming pool and sauna, a fitness center, on-site restaurant and cocktail lounge, daily afternoon tea and complimentary wireless internet access throughout the property. Guest rooms feature coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board and flat screen television. Dinner tonight is included in the Main Dining Room, with the remainder of the evening to enjoy the delightful surroundings and amenities at the Lodge.

DAY 2

A bountiful breakfast is included at the Lodge before you enjoy an educational and entertaining Trapp history talk beginning with an overview of the family history, actual vs. movie version, a discussion of the property's history and the family's early years in America. A documentary film, The Real Maria, enlightens viewers about Maria von Trapp's memories during her final visit to her former home in Salzburg, Austria. Afterwards, browse their Austrian gift shop and perhaps have one of your purchased souvenirs signed by one of the Trapp family members to keep as a special memento of your stay at the Lodge. Next, you board the motorcoach to spend some free time strolling through the charming Stowe Village where you can enjoy lunch on your own, browse the quaint shops and perhaps take a moment to document your visit with a picture of its "most photographed" church steeple. Next, you take a drive to Cold Hollow Cider Mill for a self-guided tour. This working cider mill offers an engaging, rural experience that is unrushed. Learn how apples, bees, maple trees and Vermont all get along. Wash down a delightful cider donut with some hot cider before you leave. Take time to browse the gift shop to purchase some goodies to take home with you. What is a trip to Vermont without a stop at the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory? Learn about how two childhood friends turned a $5.00 correspondence course about ice cream making into a very sweet business venture that has reached worldwide popularity. While at the factory we will learn about their manufacturing process that produces approximately 350,000 pints of ice cream per day and, of course, taste some delicious samples. Then, return to the Trapp Lodge to enjoy their casual Afternoon Tea followed by dinner at the "Beirhall" overlooking the brewery where they make varieties of Trapp Family craft beers.

DAY 3

Wake to a hearty, country breakfast buffet included this morning at the Lodge. Afterwards, you meet your local guide who leads you on a driving tour of area attractions including the Morse Maple Sugar Farm where you learn about the process of tree to table maple sugaring as you tour the sugar house. Morse Farm boasts 200 years and eight generations of providing that delicious syrup we like to add to our meals. View multimedia displays in a real woodshed theatre, stroll along the natural trail leading to the trees where it all begins, delight in samples of the syrup, jams and jellies, tour the Vermont Farm Life Museum housing whimsical carved folk like characters, and of course visit the gift shop to purchase some Vermont goodies and craft items to share or gift to family and friends. At the conclusion of the visit, you board the motorcoach and travel to Montpelier for a self-guided tour of the Vermont State House. One of the oldest and most well-preserved of our nation's state capitols, its House and Senate chambers are the oldest active legislative halls in the U.S. that have preserved their original interiors. The State House is an architectural gem and a remarkable piece of living history, and as you stroll through its magnificent hallways take notice to the artwork present throughout the building as it is some of the state's most important works of art. Following your walking tour, you will have time for lunch on our own in the State House Café. Your final stop of the tour is at the Cabot Cheese Annex. Here, you will have time to browse the fantastic selection of Cabot products, sample their award-winning cheeses, and purchase many other Vermont specialty foods. Additionally, take time to visit their neighboring shops to buy some Lake Champlain Chocolates, browse the Danforth Pewter store or stop by the new Smugglers' Notch Distillery tasting room. This is a great stop to mark a few holiday gifts off your list for those hard-to-buy-for people. Next, you return to the Trapp Family Lodge to enjoy the casual Afternoon Tea with your fellow passengers and other Trapp Lodge guests. Dinner is included at the lodge followed by the remainder of the evening to relax, unwind within the warmth and beauty of the Austrian-inspired architecture.

DAY 4

A hearty breakfast buffet is included before you check out and begin your journey homeward with joyous memories of your stay at the Von Trapp Lodge and visit to the picturesque mountains of Vermont.

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This tour is Non-refundable 65 days prior to trip departure.

***ALL WOLF'S TOURS - TIMES AND ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner