Historic Downtown

Middlebury

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Seen from above, a rural town nestled among trees and a bridge spanning a river.

People sit at tables under canopies outside beside old brick buildings on a warm day.

Historic. Stately. Memorable.

Middlebury, Vermont

Nestled in the rolling hills and idyllic farmlands of Addison County, Otter Creek runs through Middlebury’s literary history, including Robert Frost’s homestead drawing writers and artists. Nearby, Middlebury College and its Snow Bowl ski area offer both outdoor recreation opportunities and a deep dive into history and art. The area also offers standout cycling roads and a trail that wraps around the town.

Top Attractions

Museums, including galleries at Middlebury College, and lakes, trails, and a community-run ski area color in Middlebury life.

Trail Around Middlebury

An 18-mile path encircles the village of Middlebury, linking together several hundred acres.

 Middlebury College Snow Bowl

Short lift lines lead to 1,000 feet of vertical at this community-run college ski hill.

University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm

See Vermont’s state animal, the Morgan horse, up close and learn about how UVM preserves and promotes the breed.

Lake Dunmore

At 105 feet deep, Lake Dunmore offers swimming, fishing, paddling, boating, and camping on its shores at Branbury State Park.

Middlebury College Museum of Art

Art installations, including those by Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color, inspire mindfulness.

 Robert Frost Interpretive Trail

Several of U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Frost’s poems are displayed on trees along the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, a section of which is wheelchair accessible.

Vermont Folklife Center

Interviewing and cultural documentation work together to synthesize a rich slice of Vermont’s past and present.

Middlebury Farmers Market

Live music and the rich smells of fresh bread and coffee light up Exchange Street on Saturday mornings. Craftspeople, growers, and vendors move inside in the winter for a year-round market.

Henry Sheldon Museum

 19th and 20th century Vermont furnishings, paintings, and household artifacts are exhibited alongside revolving art displays.

Rikert Outdoor Center

55 kilometers of varied and scenic trails close to downtown Middlebury, making for a great day outing.

Edgewater Gallery on the Green

Painting and mixed media, photography, sculpture, and jewelry for sale and exhibit downtown.

A small creek winds through woods in the winter and a placard sits in the foreground.

A snowy path winds through the woods in the winter.

Attraction Spotlight

Robert Frost Interpretive Trail

Among Vermont’s most notable poets, Robert Frost spent summer and fall every year at his Ripton home, the Homer Noble Farm. In Shaftsbury, Vt., he wrote his famous “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening.” The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail commemorates the U.S. Poet Laureate’s work and offers inspiration and sweeping views.

Robert Frost Interpretive Trail

An orchestra plays on stage while a movie is projected on a screen behind them.

Event Spotlight

Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival

Annually in August

Supporting, promoting, and exhibiting the work of first- and second-time filmmakers, the festival showcases film from around the world in nearby Leicester.

Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival

View of the colorfully painted Middlebury train station from behind a fence. The building is teal with large pink flowers painted along the side of it.

Itineraries

Take the Train to Middlebury

A car-free vacation to Middlebury includes local baked goods and seasonal dining, immersive art exhibits and displays, and time to explore nature paths.

Train to Middlebury Itinerary