This region covers much of Addison County and includes Lake Dunmore and Fern Lake, plus the town of Middlebury — home of the college of the same name — and acres of rolling farmland. The region has many things to offer, including artist’s studios, historic sites, galleries, and museums.
Outdoor opportunities are prevalent throughout the Lake Dunmore - Middlebury region. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are available at the Middlebury Snow Bowl. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing centers, such as the Blueberry Hill Inn Ski Center, offer other alternatives for winter outdoor fun. The Green Mountain National Forest sits on the eastern edge of the region, with many choices for hiking, birding, and biking.
Lake Dunmore, which has a surface area of 1,037 acres, offers opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming in the warmer months. Boat rentals are available at Waterhouse's Marina. In Salisbury, Branbury State Park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore at the base of Mt. Moosalamo and has a sandy beach as well as scenic hiking. And Lake Champlain – the state’s largest lake – is just a short drive away from most vacation rentals in this region.
At the geographical heart of the region is Middlebury, a quintessential New England town with interesting shops and great restaurants lining Main Street. Also downtown is the Vermont Folklife Center, committed to studying and educating the public about the cultural traditions of Vermont. Middlebury College’s Center for the Arts offers year-round entertainment, and annual downtown events feature music, arts, and theater productions. The newly renovated Middlebury Town Hall Theater offers musical and theatrical performances with national professionals.
The region is also home to the town of Bristol and the small city of Vergennes. Bristol sits at the gateway to the Green Mountains and has shops and restaurants. Vergennes – which is only one square mile in size – is said to be the nation’s smallest city, and hosts everything from a Saturday morning farmer’s market to band concerts on its picturesque green. A little further south, the town of Proctor features the Vermont Marble Museum.
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State highways lead to the area from both Rutland and Burlington, and it can be accessed from New York State via the new Lake Champlain bridge at Crown Point as well as a ferry from Ticonderoga to Shoreham. The Burlington airport is only 35 miles from the region, and an Amtrak train connecting Montreal and New York City stops in nearby Port Henry, NY.
