Stowe Many Paths to Nature

By Caitlin Conner, Marketing + Communications Manager

At Stowe, we’re all about getting outside and exploring. But we also know that trying something new can feel intimidating. There can be a lot of buzz around “outdoorsy” activities and all the necessary experience and gear and lingo that comes with activities like hiking, biking, kayaking and camping. This can create a barrier to entry because people may feel they lack knowledge needed to plan outdoor adventures.

But at Stowe, we’re also all about removing any barriers to entry when it comes to getting out and enjoying the outdoors. Whether you climb mountains in your spare time or prefer your outdoor activities to include shade and a lawn chair, we’re here to help you find your own unique path to nature. Maybe your path is paved and involves sipping a craft beer while enjoying the spring flowers in bloom. Maybe your path leads to a dirt trail filled with cool plants for you to photograph. Maybe your path is made of dirt as you harvest vegetables you grew in your backyard to use for dinner. Maybe you are the certified outdoorsy friend who embraces the path less travelled – even if it involves mud, chaotic weather and steep inclines.

No matter what your path to nature looks like, you can find it at Stowe. Read on to discover the wide variety of ways you can begin your next outdoor adventure.

The Backstory Behind “Finding Your Path to Nature”

This idea of finding your path to nature at Stowe is often metaphorical, referring to these different ways that you can get out and enjoy nature, and that there’s no wrong way to find joy in being outside. But as we went through our rebrand last year, we also took it quite literally in the sense that it also refers to the actual types of paths you can find on our property and how walking along these different types of paths changes your experience in nature:

• Concrete – A completely paved, smooth path. Ideal for wheelchairs and strollers – most commonly found in the formal botanical gardens or the sidewalks that run the length of our property. These paths are family-friendly and provide stability and assurance throughout your walk.
• Crushed concrete – A softer, gravel-like path, not quite as sturdy as concrete but still stroller and wheelchair-friendly. Found on most of our trails. You can hike these in most close-toed shoes and will find them a very reliable and safe way to enjoy the outdoors.
• Natural trail – Dirt trails require more concentration. Your shoes will probably get dirty walking on a natural trail and you’ll have to watch your step for rocks and roots. This path often leads to the most exciting adventures.

I thought it would be fun to suggest some outdoor activities that correlate to these types of paths, with concrete providing the gateway for outdoor fun, crushed concrete broadening your horizons and natural trails getting a little more wild.

Paved Path Activities

If you’re most drawn to a paved path, prefer relaxing in nature to strenuous excursions or overall prefer to have an option to dip inside for an AC break, here are some new excursions to try that bring all the fun of a day outside (with less opportunities for sweat, sunburn and bug bites).

Visit The Village at Stowe 

Stop by our community hub for free fun with easy access to restrooms and several indoor spaces, including The Trailhead Store and The Farmhouse Garden Center. Our last blog post with Historic Belmont outlines the full Village experience, but you have several ways you can spend your day, including:

• Sipping beer, wine or coffee on The Trailhead porch
• Shopping for plants, home decor and more at The Farmhouse
• Checking our Events Calendar to see if we’re hosting a Vino in the Village, Beer Tasting or Market soon
• Bring your pup and hang out in the Dog Park

Stroll through The Gardens 

Enjoy a beautiful day in The Gardens at Stowe! Everything is starting to come to a beautiful spring bloom and our Garden Curator provides a “What’s in Bloom?” guide on our homepage and in the Garden Pavilion so you can try to spot all the flowers at their best. Paved paths make for an easy walking experience, plus shaded areas and benches allow for breaks. The Prairie Castle Playground is the perfect place to let the kids run wild while you relax with a drink from the Prairie Canteen. You’ll never be too far from the Garden Pavilion, which can provide a nice break from the elements. You can even stop by Big Leaf Café for lunch and shopping!

Learn, Grow, Create + Build Community 

Interested in the history and background of Daniel Stowe Conservancy? We offer free guided docent tours to visitors and members during the warmer months.

Our monthly Leaves of Literature book club also gives you the chance to connect with other nature-lovers and enjoy conversations about outdoorsy books.

If your appreciation for nature is on the artistic side, consider bringing your art supplies to The Village or Gardens for a peaceful session of painting or drawing. Both are also great spots for personal photography and we even offer monthly photography walks for an even slower, more immersive photography experience in nature. We offer monthly Coffee + Crafts workshops on Sundays to help crafty folks build community and try something new!

For an extra serene experience, consider Forest Bathing. We host these intentional mindfulness practices monthly that allow you to slow down and use all five sense as you reconnect with nature.

You can explore all these events and opportunities here! 

Crushed Concrete Activities

Crushed concrete trails offer expanded paths to explore, allowing you to get a little more up close and personal with the natural world. You’ll still be on a clearly marked path, but might feel ready for more adventure. In the same way, these activities take you slightly off the beaten path…without getting totally lost.

Walk the Pond Loops at The Village 

The Pond Loop trails in front of The Trailhead Store offer a great gateway to our trail system. You can do as many loops as you’d like while staying in sight of The Village (and the delicious drinks at The Trailhead Store). An ideal morning? Start with a hike, then stop at Trailhead to relax in nature with your beverage of choice. Want to venture a little further? The crushed concrete trails continue on each side, allowing you to explore the Stowe Connector Trail, Boulevard and Worrell’s Walk.

Want a hiking warm-up with an experienced educator? Join us on the first Saturday of the month for Guided Walks across Stowe trails.

Expand Your Garden Walk 

Want to experience The Gardens to their full potential? Don’t stop when you reach the end of the formal gardens. Walk past the Conifer Garden (to the left of the Prairie Castle) and you’ll find the entrance to Meadowood Walk, a quick, half-mile loop that takes you close to the lake front! Meadowood Walk also connects to the Adventure Trail, which is a can’t miss Stowe staple if you have kids (or if you’re a kid at heart). The Adventure Trail takes you down a half-mile trail through the woods with stops in five outdoor “rooms” that allow for playful, creative exploration in nature in various themes, like music, water, animal habitats and more.

Natural Trail Activities

You’re ready to get a little lost…and you’re excited about it. Adventure is your middle name and you can’t stop thinking about your next hike. Here are some activities that get you into the heart of Daniel Stowe Conservancy.

Hike the Stowe Connector Trail to the Duke Kimbrell Trail 

Experienced hikers may enjoy starting on Stowe’s crushed concrete Connector Trail that leads you to the natural Duke Kimbrell Trail. This beautiful path winds you down to the lakefront, providing scenic views, shady spaces and more narrow, natural paths. If this is your jam, you might also enjoy a trail run, breaking out your mountain bike or signing up for one Stowe’s four seasonal races.

Volunteer 

Join the Stowe volunteer crew! Our volunteers are at the heart of all we do at Stowe, providing crucial support and work that keeps our nonprofit conservancy thriving. While we have volunteer jobs for all levels, more outdoorsy volunteers would be a great fit to help remove invasive species, work on Garden project with our Horticulture team and contribute important data to our Phenology Citizen Science program. Explore volunteering here.

Keep an Eye on the Calendar 

We offer exciting new opportunities for outdoor fun all the time, like our Splash Dash 5k, our first race with a kayaking component, overnight tent camping and more! Check out our upcoming events here. Our Notes from Nature Newsletter is one of the best ways to stay on top of Stowe events, so make sure you subscribe if you’re not signed up! 

Find Your Path to Nature

At Stowe, we’re here to meet you where you’re at.

Want to connect with local families in a community space or secure a relaxing spot to hang out after work? Visit The Village.

Want to hit the trails and explore one of the area’s only conserved, natural spaces? C’mon over.

Want to spend more time in nature but don’t know where to start? Daniel Stowe Conservancy is the space for you. And everyone.