Below are six fun things to take in this fall in Vermont. Given that it is in the heart of New England, it is the perfect place to meander in October and November for crisp fall day hikes, museums, history, craft fairs and food. Middlebury Vermont is a charming college town, which has a place in TV history with Newhart and in literary history with poet Robert Frost.
There’s also an array of boutiques and bookstores, a surprisingly sophisticated food scene, and access to the Adirondacks. It’s good to have a car, but you’ll spend a lot of time exploring on foot, too. In and around Middlebury, Vermont, you’ll find the following activities:
Middlebury College Museum of Art: Although small, Middlebury College in western Vermont maintains a sterling reputation, and its museum of art is no different. Heavily used by students, the thick-granite facility displays its diverse collection, ranging from Assyrian reliefs to Jasper Johns serigraphs, in four galleries across two floors. Highlights include an Early Renaissance triptych and Gilbert Stuart’s iconic portrait of George Washington. The museum also hosts half a dozen temporary exhibitions each year with equal variety.
Otter Creek Brewing: With the highest number of breweries in the country per capita, Vermont is known for its beer. One of its oldest sits alongside Otter Creek in Middlebury and offers free guided tours of the brewing and bottling process (albeit through large windows). For most, the highlight is the tasting room, which also serves drafts of Wolaver’s organic ale and beer-themed pub fare like IPA chili, copper ale cheddar soup, and the ploughman’s meat and cheese plate.
Robert Frost Interpretive Trail: The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail in western Vermont commemorates the 22 years the poet lived there with a 1.2-mile trail through the woods and fields of Ripton. Throughout the meticulously maintained grounds, mounted plaques of poems like “The Last Mowing” and “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” can be read among the tall pine trees, wild flowers, berry bushes, and wetlands. The hiking level is generally easy and a wooden boardwalk makes the first portion handicap accessible.
Vermont Folklife Center: Located in a state that steadfastly protects its rural image, the Vermont Folklife Center strives to preserve the art and cultural life of the region. Founded in 1984, the center has since collected approximately 4,000 audio recordings, 200 videos, and 15,000 photographs and manuscripts that cover the entire lifespan of the state. At the center downtown Middlebury, visitors and researchers can access the archives, as well as purchase regional crafts like whirligigs, quilts, Native American baskets, and rugs at the Heritage Shop. Numerous education workshops are also held throughout the year in ethnography, oral history, and cultural documentation.
Swift House Inn: Enjoy a fancy meal (think Australian rack of lamb) in a comfortable setting.
Waybury Inn: The 1810 inn has photos of Bob Newhart on display (the exterior appeared on the show) and affordable suites with four-poster beds.
Photo credit: middlebury.edu.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
