Trapp Family Lodge
Like so many people, I grew up loving The Sound of Music. The story of the von Trapp family, their devotion to one another, their love of music, and their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria made a lasting impression on me. For years I thought about visiting the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, but somehow the opportunity never seemed to present itself.
In the summer of 2025, while traveling home from Quebec, we decided it was finally time. Rather than simply passing through northern Vermont, we made the lodge one of our destinations.
The Trapp Family Lodge is much more than a hotel. After leaving Austria and eventually settling in the United States, the von Trapp family discovered Stowe in the early 1940s. Looking across the Green Mountains, Maria von Trapp remarked that the landscape reminded her of the mountains they had left behind. They purchased a farm overlooking the valley, and over the years it grew into the lodge that welcomes visitors today.
Walking through the property, it was easy to understand what drew them here. The broad meadows, forested hillsides, and mountain views create a peaceful setting that feels very different from the busy pace of everyday life. Standing in the open field and looking toward the surrounding mountains, we found ourselves imagining what it must have been like for the family to discover this place after leaving everything familiar behind.
Although The Sound of Music introduced millions of people to the von Trapp family, the real story extends far beyond the film. They became successful performers in the United States, built a new life through hard work and determination, and created a place that continues to welcome visitors from around the world. Their story is one of resilience, faith, and the courage to begin again.
I am glad we made the stop. Some places stay on our “someday” list for years before we finally visit them. The Trapp Family Lodge had been one of those places for me. Seeing it in person reminded me that some journeys are worth waiting for, especially when they connect us with a story that has been part of our lives for so long.
