Middlebury College, one of the most respected liberal arts colleges in the United States, is located in Vermont’s Champlain Valley, approximately a two 1/2 hour drive from Montreal, and 4 hours from both Boston and Hartford. Middlebury is a small school with an enrollment of about 2,500 students who take pride in their school and the beauty of the surrounding countryside. The school curriculum has a strong emphasis on writing and courses that stress cultural awareness. Middlebury is also home to the Bread Loaf School of English, as well as the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, one of the oldest and most prestigious writers' conferences. The setting, with the Green Mountains to the East and the Adirondacks to the West, offers many opportunities for outdoor activities, especially in the winter with many nearby ski areas.

Visitor Information:  Visit Middlebury - meet in the Emma Willard House at 131 South Main Street. Their office is open Monday through Friday from 8:15am - 5:00pm for much of the year.

Transportation: The nearest major airport is Burlington International Airport, 37 miles from the center of Middlebury College. Amtrak stops include Port Henry, NY (25 minute drive from Middlebury), Rutland, VT (45 minute drive), and Essex Junction, VT (one hour drive). Note that the train does not currently stop in Middlebury. Traveling by bus? Greyhound has stops throughout Vermont, including Middlebury, Rutland, White River Junction, and Burlington. 

Stay: The Swift House is a classic Vermont country inn housed in a former governor's mansion, just a short walk from the village center. The historic Middlebury Inn is one of the 5 oldest inns in America, now a full service hotel with 71 rooms. Families also book rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott. Why not make a weekend out of your visit and "vacation like a Vanderbilt" with an overnight stop at the Shelburne Inn, a 45-minute drive away. The Shelburne Inn is a special and beautiful farm and National Historic landmark devoted to environmental education and sustainable farming- read all about it here.

Coffee: On campus Wilson Café opens bright and early at 7:30 am in the Davis Family Library lobby. It also offers baked goods, snacks and made to order bagel breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Other good choices include Otter Creek Bakery and The Daily Grind.

Breakfast: Otter Creek Bakery features a  full array of baked items all made with local ingredients. Middlebury Bagel & Deli serves delicious bagels along with eggs and doughnuts, we hear it’s on par with H&H Bagels in NYC. Close to the Courtyard Marriott, Rosie's Restaurant serves fantastic apple pancakes, biscuits and french toast. 

Lunch: Crossroads Café located on the first floor of the McCullough Student Center is a student-run, non-profit restaurant. Offering a range of healthy, creative options (including sushi) and refreshments this is a good place for a quick bite after your tour. Shafer’s Market and Deli is a family run store and restaurant offering a full array of wood-fired pizza, sandwiches, lunch specials and delicious ice cream sundaes and milkshakes. (It’s also a good breakfast and quick dinner option.) On a beautiful day order some sandwiches at Costello’s Market, located in the Marbleworks, and picnic overlooking the Otter Creek Falls. (Students tell us the Blackened Salmon Sub, De Pasquale’s Favorite, and the Sicilian and the Scarface are their go-to’s.)

Dinner

Casual: Enjoy Vermont inspired comfort fare at Two Brothers Tavern. People appreciate the historic decor and open salad bar at Fire and Ice. Close-by in Bristol, the Bobcat serves contemporary comfort food along with handcrafted beer. The ambiance here is similar to a British pub - cozy, relaxed and warm. Wood-fired pizza and craft beers are the attractions at American Flatbread showcasing organic, seasonal toppings on many of its pies.

A Step Up: Travel to Paris in nearby Vergennes, at French-inspired Black Sheep Bistro highlighting the best of local ingredients. In New Haven, VT, about a 12-minute drive, Tourterelle is a beautiful inn and restaurant owned by Chef Bill, a former sous chef from NYC's Tribeca Grill. The menu fuses classic French cuisine with local Vermont products for a modern twist.

Local Attractions:  On the campus visit the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Poetry fans must walk the 1.2-mile Robert Frost Interpretive Trail. If photographing a covered bridge is on your bucket list, there are two in Middlebury: the Pulp Mill Bridge, a two-way bridge  listed on the National Historic Registry and the Halpin Covered Bridge, just a few miles outside of town.

Fall/Spring: Be adventurous and go camping at Lake Dunmore. If it’s swimming weather, take a dip in Dog Team River. If you're in the mood to taste hard cider, check out the Woodchuck Factory.

Winter: Looking to ski? Look no further than Middlebury College Snowbowl.