Located in the western part of the state, the college town of Middlebury, VT, serves as the commercial and business center for its region while maintaining plenty of small-town charm. Home to the liberal arts institution Middlebury College (c. 1800), it offers an array of attractions and diversions — including a three-screen movie theater, two historic inns, and great shops and restaurants. Outdoor recreation is readily available, too, as the town is bordered by Otter Creek to the west, Chipman Hill to the north, and the foothills of the Green Mountains to the east. And waterfalls are a centerpiece of the village. So whether it’s a bustling town or a peaceful retreat you’re after, Middlebury serves up plenty of quintessential Vermont experiences.
Guide to Middlebury, Vermont
Middlebury, VT | Things to Do
Middlebury Tasting Trail
If you’re a fan of vineyards and breweries, you’re in for a treat in Middlebury, which has a five-mile “trail” of vineyards, breweries, and distilleries. Start your tour at Lincoln Peak Vineyard, a family farm since 1981 that offers refillable wine growlers, tastings paired with local cheese, vineyard tours, and events. The second stop is the widely popularWoodchuck Cidery, wherevisitors can enjoy tours, tastings, and 20 ciders on tap. Other stops include Stonecutter Spirits, Appalachian Gap Distillery, Otter Creek Brewing Co., andDrop-In Brewing Co.
Local Shops
For every made-in-Vermont item you can imagine, from cheese and coffee to lip balm and home goods, head to Vermont’s Own Products on Main Street. Danforth Pewteron Seymour Street has beautifully crafted metal items including ornaments and jewelry to lamps and vases. Maple Landmark on Exchange Street doesn’t sell syrup, but it does make itswooden toys, games, and gifts from the maple tree; tours of the workshop are offered twice daily during the week. Visit Vermont Soap on Exchange Street to peruse organic, locally made cleansing products (you can even buy soap by the pound) or to tour the Soap Museum.
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Outdoors
Visit the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, home to 40-plus horses that are all decedents of the Colonel Joseph Battell horse registry from 1878, when he saved the breed from extinction; the site also hosts educational events and activities for the public. Hikers and walkers can tour the town on the Trail Around Middlebury, a 16-mile footpath that encircles the village, or easy access to the Long Trail or Green Mountain National Forest trails. Five Lake Champlain Bikeways pass right through Middlebury, and in the wintertime the Rikert Nordic Center offers 26 miles of cross-country skiing trails, while alpine skiing can be had at the Middlebury Snow Bowl. Indulge in some waterway recreation on the many surrounding lakes, rivers, and streams.
Museum
Get your Vermont history fix at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, which claims the title of oldest community-based museum in the country, having welcomed visitors since 1884. Tour the 1829 Judd-Harris House, a preserved depiction of small-town life in the 19th century; peruse the archives at the Stewart-Swift Research Center; and view rotating exhibits at the Walter Cerf Gallery.
Arts
Art lovers shouldn’t miss Middlebury College’sMahaney Center for the Arts, home to local, national, and international artists’ work. The MCA, with its studio theater, dance theater, and recital hall, also hosts events and performances throughout the year. And make sure to visit the Town Hall Theater, whether to view the Jackson Art Gallery or to attend a concert, theatrical production, or class.
Middlebury, VT | Restaurants
Fire & Ice Restaurant
Given that its name was inspired by a Robert Frost poem, you know you’ll be served the best of Vermont cuisine at Fire & Ice. While you enjoy your meal, check out the historic decor, including an original 1921 Hackcraft motorboat, World War I wooden airplane propellers, vintage photos, and antiques. You can also get a full meal or a quick drink at the restaurant’s Big Moose Pub.
American Flatbread
It doesn’t get more homey than a meal at American Flatbread, located in the historic Marble Works District of Middlebury. Here, the all-natural pizza is baked in a primitive wood-fired earthen oven. You can take your meal in the gallery room or outdoor courtyard, each of which seats up to 50 people in a casual setting.
Otter Creek Bakery
Almost everything at this small café and bakery is made in-house, including stocks, sauces, soup, pate, mayo, dressings, and small-batch baked goods. Plus, there’s a full menu of coffee options utilizing locally roasted beans to pair with your meal or breakfast item.
Middlebury, VT | Hotels
Swift House Inn
This full-service country inn encompasses three historic buildings and four acres of lawns and gardens. Plus, it’s a conveniently short walk from the village center. Each of the 20 unique rooms is eco-friendly and outfitted with modern amenities. Feel the luxury with your own private bath and whirlpool tub, wood or gas fireplace, and sitting area. Jessica’s Restaurant is a favorite spot for locals and guests alike.
Middlebury Inn
Settle in at the Middlebury Inn and drink in the view of the town green from the front porch. Just a walk, bike ride, or short drive from a number of Middlebury attractions, the c. 1827 building has 71 elegant guest rooms, plus farm-to-table food and drink available at Morgan’s Tavern.
Waybury Inn
Situated at the base of the Green Mountain National Forest, the Waybury Inn has been a Vermont escape since 1810. Its location is close to a beautiful mountain drive, hiking trails traversed by the likes of Robert Frost, and skiing destinations such as the Rikert Nordic Center and Middlebury Snow Bowl. The inn is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it maintains a bygone-era charm while providing comfortable accommodations and modern food and drink at the pub or recently renovated Pine Room.
Have you ever been to Middlebury, VT?
This post was first published in 2018 and has been updated.
