Four Seasons &
Lots To Enjoy
Things To Do In
Montpelier
This overview of activities and sights in
Montpelier was created by resident Don Lyons for the Montpelier
Travel Information Council. Some of the suggestions here duplicate
parts of the Central Vermont Points
of Interest which should be viewed as a supplement to
these activities.
1. The Vermont
State House is an architectural treasure and a lively
hands-on museum of the state's political and military history.
That bright glittering dome is painted with genuine gold-based
paint. M-F, 8-4 year-round; summer (July 7-Oct. 18) Sat. 11-3.
Closed Sun. Call for guided or group tour schedules. (802) 828-2228.
Free.
2. Colorful Vermont history is on display
at the Vermont Historical
Society Museum. Lively exhibits, gift shop, library,
photographs, and even Vermont's last catamount. Tu-F, 9-4:30;
Sat. museum only 9-4; Sun. museum only, noon-4. (802) 828-2291.
Small admission fee.
3. Historic
Walking Tours explore a cityscape teeming with architectural
gems -- churches, private homes, and office buildings; some dating
back to the early 1800s. Tour brochures available at Vermont
Historical Society Gift Shop on State Street.
4. Ascend the 50-foot stone tower in Hubbard Park for
a spectacular and romantic view from the highest point in the
city. Daylight hours. Free.
5. Run, hike, or walk through Hubbard Park's
180 acres of hills and dales on well-groomed trails. Picnic at
the many tables and shelters nicely distributed through the park.
Free.
6. Browse the many traditional and unique
shops in the easy-walking downtown district.
7. Watch breads, pastries, and fine foods
under student preparation at the New England Culinary Institute's
Main Street locations.
8. Rest your weary feet and feed your eager
mind in a deep leather chair in the Kellogg-Hubbard Library's
reading room. Hundreds of magazines and selected newspapers,
plus thousands of books to choose from. M-Th noon-8 (to 9 pm
winter/spring); 9:30-5:30 F-Sat. (to 1 pm on Sat in summer).
Closed Sun. & holidays. Free.
9. Visit City Hall lobby and the "hall
of history" to view old photographs of downtown Montpelier,
including photos from the Flood of 1927; a contemporary arts
exhibit and collection of curious artifacts. See world War II
mementos from battle cruiser USS Montpelier on second
floor. M-F, 8-5. Free.
10. Stop by Montpelier's famous Farmers
Market. Sample the produce of numerous organic gardeners
and farmers...and plenty of herbs, flowers, and baked goods.
Sat. 9-2, May-Oct.
11. A rainy day off-the-beaten track treat
is the Vermont State Law Library, State St., where budding
historians can view microfilm from an extensive collection of
Vermont newspapers dating back to 1760. Find out what happened
in Vermont on your birth date. M-F, 8-4:30. Free.
12. The Vermont Agriculture Dept. always
has an interesting display of Vermont products in their even
more interesting historic red sandstone building. State St.,
M-F, 8-4:30. Free.
13. Take a tour of Montpelier's four college
campuses: New
England Culinary Institute, Woodbury College, Norwich University, and Vermont
College Union
Institue & University.
14. Tour Montpelier's dozens of quirky and
quaint neighborhoods during the yard sale season. Follow signs
April to October.
15. Hop on the shuttle bus at any downtown
Montpelier stop and ride the circuit. Make sure to make it up
to the National Life Insurance Co. building for spectacular views
of the city and mountains.
16. Visit the Governor! Or at least
the long hallway outside the Governor's Office where an exhibit
of Vermont artists can always be viewed, in the Pavilion Building,
State St., M-F, 8-4:30. Free.
17. For youngsters and would-be youngsters,
shoot some hoops, throw some frisbees, baseballs, or play hacky-sack,
volleyball and swim, at Montpelier Recreation Field, Elm
St.
18. Tennis under the sun or stars at
public courts at the local high school and Recreation Field,
where you can also picnic or stroll nature trails.
19. Lost Nation Theater, Vermont's
Capital Theater at City Hall Arts Center. (802) 229-0492.
20. Visit the Artisans Hand on Main
Street to see the work of printmakers, quilters, potters, weavers
and many other types of hand crafted items.
21. The T.
W. Wood Art Gallery, founded in 1895, features both historic
Vermont art and innovative contemporary art in a breathtaking
building and setting on the Vermont College campus of Norwich University,
College St.Tu-Sun, noon-4. (802) 828-8743. Small admission fee.
22. If golf is your weakness there's
the Montpelier Elks Country Club, a nine-hole course built
in 1903. April 15-Nov. 15. Modest greens fee. (802) 223-7457.
For warm-up there's a golf driving range across the road from
the Rte. 2 entrance to the course.
23. Need to get your bearing straight? Stop
by the new information booth on State St. or the colorful
kiosk at City Hall for more information on local activities.
24. See art films and old favorites at the
Savoy Theater, Main St. and first-run releases at the
multi-screens Capitol Theater, State St.
25. Visit the beautifully landscaped Green
Mount Cemetery to view the exquisite carvings and statuary
in local granite by local artisans. Lower State St., daylight
hours.
26. Grab
your bikes, or rent 'em locally and pedal the flat streets,
rolling hills, and nearby back roads and trails.
27. Fish the Dog! The Dog River, that is.
A scenic and clean trout stream that borders in Montpelier, plus
other nearby streams.
28. Canoe the Winooski River along
its scenic path from the Lower State St. river entry to the first
falls in Middlesex, 7 miles downstream.
29. Get out your camera and take memorable
photos at many prime locations in, around, and overlooking the
city.
30. Explore the wonders of the Vermont
Institute of Natural Science's nature walks, exhibits and
displays, Rte 12N. 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Nature
Trails open anytime. (802) 229-6206. Free.
31. Listen to summer evening concerts
on the State House lawn, where toddlers bounce and dance to the
beat of the city band. Wed. 7 pm. Free.
32. Hunt the nearby hills in autumn (shotgun
only in the city limits).
33. Enjoy varied entertainment at Vermont
Legislature Farmers' Nights at the State House. Wed. 7 pm,
Jan.-Apr. Free.
34. During winter enjoy sledding, cross-country
skiing, snow shoeing all Free in Hubbard Park or take
in the ice skating at the local indoor rink.
35. Spring is the sweet season when you can
watch the "boiling down" of turning maple sap into
delicious maple syrup, usually beginning in mid-February often
into April at nearby sugarhouses. Free.
36. If your stomach craves Italian, vegetarian,
Mexican, American traditional, Chinese, seafood, continental,
fast food, or deli, you can stop the pangs at one or more of
our 30-plus restaurants and eateries.
37. Join Montpelier's First Night festivities
the afternoon and evening of December 31 where an alcohol-Free
celebration salutes the new year, complete with fireworks.
38. Looking for more? The Montpelier arts,
entertainment, and sports scene is prolific. Pick up a copy of
the daily Times-Argus or the weekly world newspapers and check
out the calendar of events.
39. Ski internationally renowned Stowe and
Sugarbush resorts from Thanksgiving to Easter and longer, then
return and relax at our multi-choice accommodations. Both areas
within 40 minutes.
40. Meet local folks and interesting visitors
and enjoy real home cooking at church-sponsored chicken pie
suppers. Sept.-Nov.
41. Find a special gift for that special person
in your life at pre-holidays church bazaars. Nov.-Dec.
42. Watch white-tail deer graze and feed in
meadows at the outskirts of the city in early morning hours and
at dusk. Spring-autumn.
43. Autumn foliage around Montpelier
seems extra special. Leaves begin to change in mid-September.
Red leaves show first on soft maples, before the gold and orange
hues of other hardwood trees. Our peak foliage is between Oct.
3-15, though predicting when it will be best is a very inexact
science. The State House with its golden dome set against a backdrop
of green softwoods and accented with surrounding colorful foliage,
makes it the most photographed scene in all of Vermont.
44. Youths compete for prizes and dubious
honors at the annual, nationally acclaimed Rotten Sneakers
Contest. For youths 18 and under. March. (802) 223-5141.
Free.
45. Come fly a kite. Join us at the
annual Kite Flying contest in May, sponsored by the Recreation
Department. (802) 223-5141. Free.
46. Don't miss the Onion River Arts Council
Street Dance in June. (802) 229-9408.
47. Kids from second grade through age 12
can join counselor-guided activities in the Recreation Dept.
Summer Day Camps. (802) 223-5141.
48. Let the kids have fun while learning boating
safety, swimming, soccer and basketball in summer recreation
programs for all. (802) 223-5141.
49. The annual Easter Egg Hunt, held
in Hubbard Park on the Saturday before, is Free to kids
12 years and under. (802) 223-5141. Free.
50. Take in the big splash at the Recreation
Department's Water Carnival in late June at the local
pool. (802) 223-5141.
51. Music to enjoy summer by at the Vermont
Philharmonic Concert in July. Sponsored by the Onion River
Arts Council. (802) 229-9408.
52. A must under the Big Top for kids and
parents is the ORAC Summer Family Circus in August. (802)
229-9408.
53. If you're looking for a back-up pair,
the annual Recreation Department Ski-Skate sale might
be just the answer. Early December. (802) 223-5141.
54. For a season schedule of winter performing
arts at the City Hall theater, contact the Onion River Arts Council,
41 Elm St. (802) 229-9408.
And just outside of Montpelier....
Central Vermont
Points of Interest and...
The annual Vermont Quilt Festival is
held in Northfield. 10 mi.
Washington County Field Days are staged in East Montpelier. 6 mi. at Parker Field
on Route 2. Admission includes unlimited midway rides. Parking
is Free. A discount to seniors is offered on Sunday. For
more information: Email edcin@plainfield.bypass.com
802-229-4851 or the call 802-229-1716. Additional people are
always welcome and needed to help pull field days together!
More summer theater out in the country is
in store for those who wend their way to the Unadilla Theater
in East Calais, about 17 miles out.
Russian choir music
and folk dancing at the mid-July Slavic Festival by the Russian
School at Norwich
University. (802) 485-2165.
Formal retreat parades by Norwich University cadets. Th. 4:20 PM
in fall and spring (weather permitting). (802) 485-2135.
 Montpelier, Vermont
Situated in a beautiful valley on the Winooski
and North Branch Rivers, Montpelier is at the crossroads of North
Central Vermont with immediate access off Interstate 89. Approximate
distances from key points are: New York City, 300 miles; Boston,
180 miles; Concord, NH, 125 miles; Montreal, 130 miles; Burlington,
38 miles; Albany, 155 miles; Hartford, 198 miles.
Population 1996 (est): 8,400 Elevation (City Hall): 523
feet Chartered
in 1781.
© Copyright Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce
© 2003, All rights reserved.
CV Chamber / P.O. Box 336 / Barre, Vermont 05641
1-877-887-3678
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