Dominated by the eastern slope of Mount Mansfield, Stowe combines rolling farms and large tracts of wilderness with ski resorts and the busy Stowe village center that serves them. Long-billed as the "Ski Capital of the East," Stowe was a bustling summer tourist site in the last century. Nineteenth-century visitors were drawn to the state's highest summit for hiking and camping. In recent years, Stowe has reclaimed its multi-season reputation. Today, summer and autumn visitors -- drawn by events such as the Balloon Festival and the Antique Car Show -- neatly balance the skiers and snowboarders who flock here when the brilliant autumn palette gives way to drifts of snow. Nearly 4,000 people live here, many of them operating restaurants, lodges, dozens of retail businesses and a growing number of other businesses ranging from software to fine arts.
