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Things to do in Middlebury, Vermont

Things to Do in Middlebury, Vermont

ByMike Andersen Posted on Updated on

The best things to do in Middlebury, Vermont, are watching Otter Creek tumble over the falls downtown, touring the Henry Sheldon Museum and seeing the free Middlebury College Museum of Art. Middlebury is a town of 9,152 people and the shire town of Addison County, set between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain.

The town grew up around mills at the Otter Creek falls, and around 1830 it was the second-largest town in Vermont. Middlebury College was founded in 1800, and its Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference is the oldest surviving conference of its kind in the country.

Top things to do in Middlebury

Otter Creek Falls

Otter Creek drops about 18 feet over the falls right in the middle of downtown, and restaurants line the water on both banks. A short loop of about 0.3 miles around the falls starts at Riverfront Park. Mills once crowded these banks, making cotton, paper, wool and marble.

★ Good to know It’s free and easy to see from the road and the park; spring runoff makes it loudest.

Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History

The Sheldon calls itself the oldest community-based museum in the country and has been open since 1884. It fills an 1829 Federal house built by marble merchants with Vermont furniture, paintings and everyday objects collected by Henry Sheldon. There’s a garden with sculptures by Vermont artists, and its research center holds one of the state’s best archives.

★ Good to know The museum is open late May through the holidays, Wednesday to Saturday, and admission is free for anyone 18 and under.

Middlebury College Museum of Art

The college’s art museum sits in the Mahaney Arts Center on the southeast edge of campus. Its several thousand objects run from ancient Greek vases to contemporary prints, with strong Asian art and photography collections. Admission is free.

★ Good to know Parking behind the Mahaney Arts Center is free, and the museum is closed on Mondays and over the college’s winter break.

UVM Morgan Horse Farm

Colonel Joseph Battell started this farm in 1878, and it has kept the same line of Morgan horses ever since. That makes it the world’s oldest Morgan breeding program. The University of Vermont has run it since 1951, and more than 40 Morgans live there. The Morgan is Vermont’s state animal.

★ Good to know It’s in neighboring Weybridge, a short drive from downtown, and tours run seasonally from spring into late October.

Trail Around Middlebury

The TAM is an 18-mile footpath that loops around the village and links town land, conserved farms and woods. The Middlebury Area Land Trust manages it, and the trail is free and open all year. You can walk a short piece of it or tackle the whole loop.

★ Good to know Hikers who finish every section can earn the land trust’s TAM hiking award.

Town Hall Theater

This theater on Merchants Row hosts plays, musicals, opera and concerts through the year. The Opera Company of Middlebury performs here, and it’s an easy walk from the town green.

★ Good to know Check the theater’s calendar before your trip, since shows change weekly.

Also in town

Downtown has more than ten restaurants, a movie theater and one of Robert Frost’s favorite bookstores, and the Middlebury Farmers Market runs in season. Within about 20 minutes are Branbury State Park’s beach on Lake Dunmore, Middlebury Snowbowl and the Rikert Outdoor Center.

Good to know

When to goLate May through October is best, when the Sheldon and the Morgan Horse Farm are both open. Fall adds foliage, and winter is for skiing at the Snowbowl and Rikert.
How long to stayOne day covers downtown, the falls and both museums; add a second for the horse farm, a hike and Lake Dunmore.
Heads upThe Sheldon Museum closes from early January to late May, and the college art museum closes over winter break. Plan a winter visit around those dates.
Getting hereBurlington International Airport (BTV) is the closest airport with scheduled airline service, about 50 minutes north by car.

FAQ

Is there a waterfall in downtown Middlebury, Vermont?

Yes. Otter Creek drops about 18 feet over Middlebury Falls in the heart of downtown. You can see it free from the road or a short loop from Riverfront Park.

Is the Middlebury College Museum of Art free?

Yes, admission is free. It’s in the Mahaney Arts Center at 72 Porter Field Road, with free parking behind the building.

Can you visit the Morgan Horse Farm near Middlebury?

Yes. The University of Vermont’s Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge offers tours during its season, which runs from spring into late October.

What other Vermont towns pair well with Middlebury?

Vergennes, Vermont’s smallest city, is also in Addison County to the north. See our small towns in Vermont for more.

Where to find them

Plan your trip: for events and current visitor info in Middlebury, see Addison County Chamber of Commerce →

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Where to stay in Middlebury

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VergennesVergennes, VTAbout 13 miles as the crow fliesVermont's first and smallest city, built around Otter Creek Falls.Things to do in Vergennes →WaitsfieldWaitsfield, VTAbout 22 miles as the crow fliesMad River Valley village between Sugarbush and Mad River Glen.Things to do in Waitsfield →MontpelierMontpelier, VTAbout 33 miles as the crow fliesAmerica's least populous state capital, under a gold dome.Things to do in Montpelier →

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