Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Middlebury, Vermont
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
For a typical New England experience, visit Middlebury, a quaint, friendly town nestled in beautiful Addison County, Vermont. With a population of only 8,000 local residents, life in Middlebury is largely centered around its well-respected university, Middlebury College, founded in 1800. The town itself was founded just a few years earlier, in 1761, when people settled there after the Revolutionary War.
Seasonal tourists descend on Middlebury every fall to view the magnificent foliage display and ski and hike in the Green Mountain National Forest. While in town, you may enjoy exploring local attractions such as the handmade soap factory, Vermont Folklife Center, Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, and John Strong Mansion. If you come through Middlebury during the summer, make sure to attend the Addison County Fair and Field Days and the Vermont Brick Blast.
Middlebury college offers other sources of entertainment, including sporting events, a Performing Arts Center with live performances and concerts, and the Museum of Art. Each summer the college hosts the greatly anticipated Bread Loaf Writer's Conference, which attracts 200 authors for 11 days of intensive literary exchange.
The area provides charming opportunities for small-town shopping, with antiques, clothing, art, and Vermont food products for sale in local shops. Along the countryside roads, visitors may want to drop into galleries, art studios and farm stands to buy local wares or watch demonstrations of fine handcrafts.
Dining in Middlebury is a typical New England experience, with only a few small cozy restaurants to choose from, featuring mostly home-cooked style food.
Though there are several lodging options, we suggest the Middlebury Inn, located in the center of town on Court Square. Open since 1827, the 70-room inn offers comfortable rooms, fine dining at Morgan's Tavern, and meeting and banquet space to accommodate weddings and other events. The hotel has historical charm, with its antique elevator, old fashioned fireplace and hospitable atmosphere.
Middlebury is located off Route 7 in Vermont between Burlington and Rutland, and is most easily accessible by car.