“The hills are alive with the sound of music…..”

If you just got a mental image of Julie Andrews spinning on a grassy hilltop with her arms outstretched, keep reading.

The 1965 movie “The Sound of Music” was an engaging story about the von Trapp family of Austria. Everyone who has seen the movie knows the tale: endearing nun Maria comes to work for the Captain von Trapp and his children, marries the captain, and then escapes with the family when the Nazis come to Austria. There are two things that are less widely known about the von Trapp story, though: one, it’s a (mostly) true story; and two, the REST of the story is that the family came to America, went on tour with their music, and set up a lodge in Vermont.

And that lodge continues to welcome guests to this day.

The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, is one of those places I wish I’d known about before. The scenery looks amazing, like something from a fairy tale. The accommodations, food and amenities all sound like heaven: The lodge offers massages, skiing, a rock climbing wall, a kids’ program, and lots of other things to do in the beautiful countryside. And of course, there’s the fact that it’s the von Trapp family’s lodge… Is there anything better than vacationing where that famous family made their home? It might be enough to make the average person burst into spontaneous song, or perhaps make clothing out of curtains (okay, maybe not, but you get the idea).

The Trapp Family Lodge website offers a lot of history about the family and what was right (and wrong) about the movie portrayal of the characters. It’s a fascinating read, and that’s just what’s online. Being there in person appears to be a rich immersion in history, tradition, beauty and storytelling as old as the mountains. It’s a bit of a surprise to me that so few people know about the Trapp Family Lodge, actually. How the von Trapps fell off the map is a mystery to me, but now, I can’t wait to plan a trip there myself. Maybe it’s better that it’s a lesser-known destination; more quiet mountainside and peaceful tranquility for those of us who DO decide to visit!