I'm about to suggest places that are a little afield (within about 2 hours of stowe), but they are places my family has traditionally enjoyed. If you're a big fan of Christmas and you or your wife like candles, the Yankee Candle flagship store is in deerfield, Mass, just down the road from a cool butterfly place called "Magic Wings" where you can go walk among probably 50 different kinds of butterflies. There's also Brattleboro, which is a crunchie hippy city nestled against the Connecticut river, but it's kinda neat; never been to a "city" like it. Off of Brattleboro there's Rt 30 which has got some quaint places to check out, like the Newfane Store (great food there) and a glass blower in townshend who's sometimes open for demonstrations. The Vermont Country Store in Rockinham, VT is also a fun stop- it's a little touristy, but they usually have neat things in an old-timey atmosphere to look at. There's Positive Pie (another great pizza joint) in Montpelier, and Hill Farmstead brewery in Greensboro Bend. There's also Fiddlehead Brewery in Shelburne, and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company just up the road. Cabot has a Creamery store nearby to Stowe, as well.
Usually interesting things are never too far apart, but Vermont usually means driving to the next location you're probably most interested in. In mid october, you stand a great chance of hitting leaf peeping season, and I will tell you I never get tired of watching the mountains come alive with color. The drives are often worth it, and it's a beautiful state to check out. You'll notice that there are no billboards anywhere to be found, which really makes things look greener, but unfortunately it can make spontaneous stops a little harder.