Middlebury: Market, Museum and Waterfall

Otter Creek plunges over a waterfall about 20 feet high in the center of Middlebury—a striking natural feature in a town with many different things to explore. Along with the waterfall, a footpath around the village, a historic museum collection and a year-round farmers market are among the features that can shape your stay. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Middlebury, first consider whether you’d like to focus your trip on outdoor activity, cultural history or local produce.

The Waterfall and Trail Around Middlebury

The waterfall is in the center of town and is about 20 feet high. The Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) offers a different scale: the footpath is more than 18 miles long and encircles the village of Middlebury. This gives you two distinct ways to experience nature—a single waterfall in the center of town and a trail that circles the village. If outdoor activity is an important part of your trip, you can use the TAM’s length as a specific point of reference when planning your day. The route length is clearly stated, without implying a particular walking time.

The Henry Sheldon Museum

The Henry Sheldon Museum has welcomed visitors and researchers since 1884. On view is a permanent exhibition of 19th- and 20th-century Vermont furniture, paintings and household objects. The museum itself is housed in a Federal-style house built in 1829 by marble merchants Eben Judd and Lebbeus Harris. This means you can experience the collection in a house with its own documented history. Anyone interested in everyday objects, paintings or furniture will find a different way to explore Middlebury here than during a stay focused on the market or trail.

The Farmers Market Throughout the Year

The Middlebury Farmers Market takes place year-round. It typically has an indoor market from November through April and an outdoor season from May through October. This seasonal schedule helps you plan your market visit around the time of year you’re traveling. Vendors sell local agricultural products, including vegetables, fruit, plants, flowers and CBD. Other offerings include meat, eggs, and goat’s and cow’s milk cheeses. A wide selection of Vermont-made crafts rounds out the offerings. So the market isn’t limited to food: when planning your trip, you can also consider the local crafts on offer as a point of interest in their own right.

Choosing Middlebury as a Destination

You can prioritize the different activities based on your interests without combining them into a single itinerary: the more than 18-mile TAM offers an extended trail option, the museum offers its collection and Federal-style house, and the market features local produce and crafts. The waterfall, meanwhile, is in the center of Middlebury. These themes can help guide your search for a vacation rental by giving you a starting point for deciding which aspect of town you’d like to shape your stay. If you’re traveling with companions who have different interests, these distinct options offer a concrete basis for planning your trip together.

More destinations: Salisbury, Vergennes.

For the full regional travel guide: Addison County.