A place of dramatic scenery, quiet mountain hamlets and bustling resort areas, Lamoille County is part traditional Vermont and part contemporary recreational mecca. Pivotal to this reputation is Stowe, a town of white steeples and clapboard houses tucked in the mountain foothills. Often billed as the Ski Capital of the East, Stowe for more than a century has been a magnet for recreational tourists, lured by the imposing peaks of the Green Mountains, which traverse the county north to south.

While it is not the state's biggest ski area, Stowe and the surrounding region are probably Vermont's premier year-round resort destination. Tourism and recreation are the county's economic mainstay, supporting about 10,000 beds, more than 100 lodges and inns, and nearly 100 restaurants. Visitors are attracted by the temperate climate and the varied landscape, which make it idyllic for a wide variety of recreational activities. Warm-weather pursuits include hiking, biking, in-line skating, and fishing. When the first snows begin to fill the fabled mountain pass of Smugglers Notch, then it's time for alpine and Nordic skis, snowboards and snow shoes. More than that, the region makes sure its visitors are royally entertained with a slate of winter events, from simple pleasures like sipping hot cocoa in a local inn by a crackling fire, to the excitement and fun of the annual Stowe Winter Carnival.

Outside the immediate resort area, Johnson is an important population center and the site of Johnson State College. To the south, Morristown and its village of Morrisville are bustling communities with beautiful historic districts, a reminder that the railroad made the area an important commercial center in late 19th century. Stowe is the county's busiest town and major shopping area. It has a friendly and pretty village with a variety of stores and dozens of restaurants against the stunning backdrop of the state's highest peak, Mount Mansfield.

These amenities make the area attractive to thousands of visitors year round. Equally inspiring for many is the breathtaking beauty of the county's almost 25,000 acres of state park and natural areas. From the sandy beaches of Lake Elmore and the shady trails on Mount Mansfield, to the misty cascades and grotto-like pools of the Moss Glen Falls, Lamoille County is a rich tapestry of bucolic beauty.