In Waitsfield, we love the Mad Taco… a “hole in the wall” type place but with great food and even better beer on tap. The pork belly tacos are sublime.

Middlebury is very nice, just 35 minutes over the Green Mountains on Rt 125 and is the home of Middlebury College. Check out our favorite, Otter Creek Bakery for lunch.

Dartmouth College is an hour away in Hanover, NH and is the quintessential New England college town. Hanover has a very picturesque center and many great places to eat.

University of Vermont and Champlain College are both in Burlington, which is a great place to spend a sunny day walking around town. The Farmhouse Tap and Grill is one of the better restaurants there and is located just off the pedestrian mall known as Church Street Marketplace. It’s fun to park, then spend the day walking around the center.

Woodstock is probably one of the quaintest (and wealthiest) of Vermont towns and there the Simon Pierce glass blowing studio/restaurant just outside of town by the Quechee Gorge. There is also the Worthy Kitchen, a great family place.

Another good option is the Worthy Burger in South Royalton, the home of the Vermont Law School. They serve grass fed beef (and a little veggie food) in a converted rail station, along with one of Vermont’s best beer selections on tap. (There is now the “Worthy Burger, Too” in Waitsfield, as well.)