Susan’s guidebook
City/town information
Brandon
Lovely downtown with plenty of shopping and restaurant options.
Middlebury is only 20 minutes away. Lots of great places to eat, shop and sightsee.
67 locals recommend
Middlebury
Middlebury is only 20 minutes away. Lots of great places to eat, shop and sightsee.
A larger, more urban town than Middlebury, about 30 minutes south. Bigger grocery stores and some box store chains like TJ Maxx and Walmart, as well as restaurants and bars.
37 locals recommend
Rutland
A larger, more urban town than Middlebury, about 30 minutes south. Bigger grocery stores and some box store chains like TJ Maxx and Walmart, as well as restaurants and bars.
Food scene
Cafe Provence
11 Center StBrandon: Excellent menu, outdoor seating.
Brandon: Local brewery, always updating what's on tap. Cans and growlers to go!
25 locals recommend
Red Clover Ale Co.
43 Center StBrandon: Local brewery, always updating what's on tap. Cans and growlers to go!
River Pub & Grill
18 Center StBrandon: Grab some great food and brew at the same time.
Mae's Place
10 Park StBrandon: Breakfast and lunch diner. Great pancakes!
Great pizza, calzones, salads. Quick, easy tasty pizza. Pick up local brew at Red Clover Ale and you are all set!
13 locals recommend
Brandon House of Pizza
16 Center StGreat pizza, calzones, salads. Quick, easy tasty pizza. Pick up local brew at Red Clover Ale and you are all set!
Brandon: Great bakery, sandwiches and huge collection of wines. Also has local fresh eggs, cheeses and gourmet items.
16 locals recommend
Gourmet Provence
37 Center StBrandon: Great bakery, sandwiches and huge collection of wines. Also has local fresh eggs, cheeses and gourmet items.
Brandon: Grab some tacos and burritos and while at it enjoy some Foley local beers.
12 locals recommend
Foley Taco and Bean
22 Park StreetBrandon: Grab some tacos and burritos and while at it enjoy some Foley local beers.
Middlebury: Great neighborhood tavern, great tap selection and the food is great too! Nice place for groups or families or just sit at the bar and enjoy some of the local beers and spirits.
64 locals recommend
Two Brothers Tavern
86 Main StMiddlebury: Great neighborhood tavern, great tap selection and the food is great too! Nice place for groups or families or just sit at the bar and enjoy some of the local beers and spirits.
Middlebury: Classic family restaurant - menu has all the breakfast, lunch and dinner classics. Great milkshakes too!
18 locals recommend
Rosie's
886 US-7Middlebury: Classic family restaurant - menu has all the breakfast, lunch and dinner classics. Great milkshakes too!
Middlebury: Some of the best pizza and fixins ever. Lots of outdoor seating depending on the weather.
163 locals recommend
American Flatbread
46 Lareau RdMiddlebury: Some of the best pizza and fixins ever. Lots of outdoor seating depending on the weather.
Otter Creek Bakery & Deli
14 College StMiddlebury: Yummy, fresh and something for everyone.
Middlebury: Enjoy a wonderful pot of tea carefully crafted by the knowledgeable staff or buy some teas personally sourced by the proprietor.
7 locals recommend
Stone Leaf Teahouse
111 Maple StMiddlebury: Enjoy a wonderful pot of tea carefully crafted by the knowledgeable staff or buy some teas personally sourced by the proprietor.
Between Brandon and Middlebury: Lovely small pub, cozy with a nice selection of pub food and libations.
9 locals recommend
Waybury Inn
457 E Main StBetween Brandon and Middlebury: Lovely small pub, cozy with a nice selection of pub food and libations.
Wonderful family owned business - Hannah and Greg make the best goat cheese in the world!! They have a farm stand on the property during the summer. Otherwise you can find their products in many local stores, co-ops, etc. Don’t miss this special treat!
Blue Ledge Farm
2001 Old Jerusalem RdWonderful family owned business - Hannah and Greg make the best goat cheese in the world!! They have a farm stand on the property during the summer. Otherwise you can find their products in many local stores, co-ops, etc. Don’t miss this special treat!
Outdoor Recreation
Not far is Brandon Gap for cross county skiing and is a part of the Long Trail. https://catamounttrail.org/bc-zones/bc-zones/brandon-gap-rasta/
10 locals recommend
Brandon Gap
Not far is Brandon Gap for cross county skiing and is a part of the Long Trail. https://catamounttrail.org/bc-zones/bc-zones/brandon-gap-rasta/
Killington
Killington Ski Resort Area is a little more than 30 minutes away.
Five Meadows Farm LLC
900 Pearl StreetBrandon: Treat the kids to a horseback riding lesson!
Mountain View Ranch
502 Easy StNear Rutland: Take the family on a trail ride!
Run by the local college, this ski area has a free magic carpet for kids. Fewer trails and a smaller mountain than Killington, but much more affordable.
63 locals recommend
Middlebury College Snow Bowl
6886 Vermont Rte 125Run by the local college, this ski area has a free magic carpet for kids. Fewer trails and a smaller mountain than Killington, but much more affordable.
Wonderful cross-country skiing, offers lessons and rentals, and fat tire snow bikes as well.
25 locals recommend
Rikert Nordic Center
106 College Cross RdWonderful cross-country skiing, offers lessons and rentals, and fat tire snow bikes as well.
Spectacular property! Restaurant with an incredible view, golf, horseback riding, boating, cross country skiing, sleigh rides… and lodging- this property has it all. A great place to spend a day!
32 locals recommend
Mountain Top Inn & Resort
195 Mountain Top RdSpectacular property! Restaurant with an incredible view, golf, horseback riding, boating, cross country skiing, sleigh rides… and lodging- this property has it all. A great place to spend a day!
Wonderful place to spend the day, Lake Dunmore at Branbury State Park is perfect for families with kids or anyone who enjoys a day at the lake. Swimming, beach, boat rentals, playground and a snack bar with burgers, hot dogs and creemies (Vermont’s soft serve ice cream). Enjoy a day in the sun or a picnic at sunset! Just 10 minutes away.
29 locals recommend
Branbury State Park
3570 Lake Dunmore RdWonderful place to spend the day, Lake Dunmore at Branbury State Park is perfect for families with kids or anyone who enjoys a day at the lake. Swimming, beach, boat rentals, playground and a snack bar with burgers, hot dogs and creemies (Vermont’s soft serve ice cream). Enjoy a day in the sun or a picnic at sunset! Just 10 minutes away.
Grocery Store
Middlebury: Local natural food store. Lots of local items, deli, bakery and good stuff. Need to stock up, this is the place.
46 locals recommend
Middlebury Natural Foods Co-Op
9 Washington StMiddlebury: Local natural food store. Lots of local items, deli, bakery and good stuff. Need to stock up, this is the place.
Brandon: Our nearest grocery store, mostly conventional with some organic and special diet options. Larger Hannaford markets can be found in Middlebury and Rutland.
14 locals recommend
Hannaford Supermarket
71 Supermarket DriveBrandon: Our nearest grocery store, mostly conventional with some organic and special diet options. Larger Hannaford markets can be found in Middlebury and Rutland.
Liquor
Brandon: State liquor store. Carries a selection of local distillaries and beers.
Hot Shots Beverage Center
34 Conant SquareBrandon: State liquor store. Carries a selection of local distillaries and beers.
Medical Services
Porter Medical Center Emergency Department
(802) 388-4701
115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, Vermont 05753
Go down Ferson Road to Route 7. Take a right and follow Route 7 North approximately 40 miles into Middlebury. Follow the roundabout, past the Middlebury Inn (a large brick building on the right) bearing left onto Main Street (look for the blue “H” signs). Follow Main Street through town, over a bridge. At the fork in the road bear left onto South Street. Follow South Street less than a mile to where the Porter Campus and entrances will be visible on your left. Follow signage to the ER.
Porter Medical Center: Emergency Room
115 Porter DrPorter Medical Center Emergency Department
(802) 388-4701
115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, Vermont 05753
Go down Ferson Road to Route 7. Take a right and follow Route 7 North approximately 40 miles into Middlebury. Follow the roundabout, past the Middlebury Inn (a large brick building on the right) bearing left onto Main Street (look for the blue “H” signs). Follow Main Street through town, over a bridge. At the fork in the road bear left onto South Street. Follow South Street less than a mile to where the Porter Campus and entrances will be visible on your left. Follow signage to the ER.
Sightseeing
Our favorite neighbors have a farm stand with maple syrup, handmade jewelry, and flowers and eggs (in season), if you need a little gift to bring home.
Foxglove Farm and Forest
777 Delorm RdOur favorite neighbors have a farm stand with maple syrup, handmade jewelry, and flowers and eggs (in season), if you need a little gift to bring home.