History and resort profile of the charming Trapp Family Lodge in picturesque Stowe, VT

For someone who has fond memories of ski vacations in Austria (or just dreams of them), a stay at the Trapp Family Lodge is a welcome expedition. Of course it doesn't hurt if you are also a fan of the Family Von Trapp and its venerated musical matriarch, Maria Von Trapp. As most music lovers know, Maria's biography was the inspiration for the film The Sound of Music. Less known is the wonderful Trapp Family Lodge, which she and her family established in the Green Mountains of Vermont after emigrating to the United States.

While touring the United States with The Trapp Family Singers, Maria Von Trapp discovered the tiny village of Stowe, VT. This picturesque mountain hamlet reminded Maria of her native Austria, and so she and the family decided to take their one thousand dollars in savings and purchase an old farmhouse on 600 acres.

Once settled in Stowe, the Von Trapps started a family music camp in 1947. With the camp's increasing popularity, guests to the camp began to request overnight lodging. Just a few years later, the first addition was made to the original lodge to accommodate the growing number of guests. From these humble beginnings the Trapp Family Lodge has grown into the world-class family resort we know today. The 2,700-acre resort with breathtaking mountain views and 100 km of cross-country ski trails provides accommodations in the Austrian-style main lodge with 96 rooms and suites, as well as 100 guesthouses (available as time shares).

Roaming the photo galleries along the halls of the lodge, you can bask in the history of this talented and legendary family. A screening of the documentary The Real Maria von Trapp is on the activities schedule every day, as well as many family-friendly feature films (including, of course, The Sound of Music).

Each day at the Trapp Family Lodge holds an array of memorable family moments and sumptuous meals. When evening comes, the housekeeping staff turns down the comfy duvet covers, garnishing them with a chocolate heart and a full agenda of the next day's choice of activities. Among these activities are a variety of fun things to do for the kids with the Mountain Kids Club.