Montpelier

Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the United States. It is also the only state capital that does not have a McDonald's restaurant. The local newspaper is the Times-Argus.

Climate

Downtown flooding has become more common in the last few years. While it is not a danger to people, some shops or roads in the downtown area may be closed for a few days in the early spring.

Visitor information

• Capital Region Visitor's Center

  phone: +1 802 828-5981
  address: 134 State St.

By car

A common way to get to Montpelier is by auto. It is located along Interstate 89. It is about 3 hours from Boston and Montreal.

By plane

You can also fly into Burlington, Vermont, which is about a 45-minute drive from Montpelier. Or, if it is a weekday, you can take the bus from Burlington to Montpelier.

By train

• Montpelier stationAmtrak has the Vermonter passenger train with daily service between Washington, D.C., New York and St. Albans, Vermont. Unfortunately there aren't sidewalks for a good portion of the distance between the station and downtown.

By bus

• Greyhound serves downtown Montpelier with buses that connect to Boston, Montreal, and Manchester NH airports. Buses stop in front of city hall at 39 Main St.
• Megabus connects Montpelier with Boston. Buses stop at the Dog River Park & Ride, off of exit 8 on Interstate 89.

• Walking - It is a very small town, so walking is an excellent way to get around from the State House and downtown area. You will find that people park their vehicle downtown and then can walk all of downtown and the State House area. Montpelier is a very compact town. Drivers are very courteous to pedestrians at the frequent cross walks you find in the downtown area.
• Green Mountain Transit bus service covers Montpelier and other area communities. A Capital Shuttle operates seasonally.

• Vermont State House

  phone: +1 802 828-1411
  address: 115 State St
  This golden-domed building is the most notable in the capital and is the meeting-place of the Vermont Legislature. The building is open to the public. Guided tours available late June through October: M-F 10AM-3:30PM, Sa 11AM-2:30PM. Free audio tour wands are available year-round from the Sargent-At-Arms office, off the Main Lobby.

• Vermont History Museum

  phone: +1 802 828-2291
  address: 109 State St
  Pavilion Building.

• T.W. Wood Gallery

  phone: +1 802-262-6035
  address: 46 Barre St

• Montpelier City HallBuilt in 1908/9

• The Morse Farm Sugar Works

  address: 1168 County Rd
  Take a free tour of the sugar house and sample the maple syrup. You can even sample some of the different grades of syrup. It is open year round. March is when the maple sap flows and the syrup is made. Try the sugar on snow, maple sugar drizzled over shaved ice.

• Savoy Theater

  phone: +1 802 229-0598
  address: 26 Main St
  This is a small 130 seat theater for independent, alternative and foreign films. They also host the week-long Green Mountain Film Festival in March each year and have baby-friendly matinees on Monday.

• Farmers Market

  address: State Street
  Produce from numerous organic gardeners and area farms. Flowers, baked goods, breads, herbs and also crafts.

• Lost Nation Theater

  address: City Hall, 39 Main St
  See one of the theater productions or special programs that are available all year long.

• Summer Evening ConcertsDuring the summer every Wednesday night. Free

• Hubbard Park

  phone: +1 802 223-7335
  Hike to the top or drive and climb the 50-foot high tower to see a spectacular view from the highest point in the city.

• Vermont Mountaineers

  phone: +1 802-223-5224
  address: One Ballpark Rd.
  Attend a Vermont Mountaineers baseball game. The Mountaineers are members of "The New England Collegiate Baseball League" (NECBL) and the league has all NCAA baseball players. Early June to early August. Tickets $4.00, Senior, Student or Military $2.00 and Family Ticket Pack $7.00. Good homemade burgers and hot dogs at the game.

• New England Culinary Institute (NECI), +1-877-223-6334 (email:info@neci.edu), has a campus in Montpelier and operates the La Brioche bakery, Main Street Bar & Grill, and the Chef's Table.
• Center for Arts and Learning, 802-595-5252 (email:info@cal-vt.org), is an arts and education center in downtown Montpelier which is committed to enhancing the cultural life of central Vermont through its founding member organizations, as well as embracing individual artists, musicians, and other non-profits in a collaborative and welcoming community.

• La Brioche Bakery & Cafe

  phone: +1 802 229-0443
  address: 89 Main St
  Breads, pastries and cakes. Custom orders available. Open Monday through Friday 6:30AM to 7PM and Saturday 7AM through 5PM. Run by NECI, so the quality will vary as students are learning how to cook.

• Cool Jewels

  phone: +1 802 223-1718
  address: 2 State St
  Beads, rocks, crystals and jewelry. Stop and see the Ultimate Beadbox in the store window.

Book stores

Enjoy shopping the fine book stores in Montpelier, all within close walking distance.

• Bear Pond Books

  phone: +1 802 229-0774
  address: 77 Main St
  New and used books for all ages and interests.

• The Book Garden

  phone: +1 802 223-2824
  address: 50 State St
  Buy used books and new, used and remainder books available.

• Bagitos Bagel and Burrito Cafe

  phone: +1 802-229-9212
  address: 28 Main St.
  Bagitos offers hand rolled and baked fresh-daily bagels with all the trimmings as well as burritos and tacos, great coffee, desserts, beer on tap and a selection of nice wines. Live music many nights of the week 6-8, a lively Irish session every Saturday 2-5 and old time music sessions once a month.

• NECI on Main

  phone: +1 802 229-9202
  address: 118 Main St
  Lunch, dinner Tu-Sa. Fine dining and run by the New England Culinary Institute. Reservations are recommended for Dinner. Quality is extremely variable since the food is prepared by students. If you show up early in first week of the session don't be surprised if you get undercooked sides with burnt main dishes or vice versa.

• Coffee Corner

  phone: +1 802 229-9060
  address: 83 Main St
  Breakfast and Lunch Daily 6:30AM-3PM. Mom and Pop Dinner.

• J Morgans Steakhouse

  phone: +1 802 223-5252
  address: 100 State St
  Open daily 7AM for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The kids will love to watch locomotives traveling throughout the restaurant. They also have a Sunday Brunch. The menu is fairly pricey for Montpelier, and the meals will run right up against the $50 ethics limit since this is a favorite spot for lobbyists to ply their trade when the Legislature is in session.

• Julio's Cantina

  phone: +1 802 229-9348
  address: 54 State St
  On summer days sitting outside, this restaurant offers the best people-watching in all Montpelier. And the food's not bad, either.

• Mad Taco

  phone: +1 802-225-6038
  address: 72 Main St
  A very good Mexican place (especially by Vermont standards) serving cheap lunches and dinners. It has a few seats, but it's mostly a carryout place.

• Positive Pie

  phone: +1 802 229-0453
  address: 22 State St
  This upscale pizza & pasta place features trendy decor and many local microbrews on tap. Some of the best pizza in the state, though service can be very slow by American standards.

• Philamena's

  phone: +1 802-223-5217
  address: 41 Elm St

• Sarducci's

  phone: +1 802 223-0229
  address: 3 Main St
  Authentic Italian cuisine from a wood burning oven serving dinner seven nights a week plus lunch Monday thru Saturday.

• Skinny Pancake

  phone: +1 802 262-2253
  address: 89 Main St
  They feature crepes made into main meals as well as fabulous dessert creations.

• McGillicuddy's Irish Pub

  phone: +1 802 223-2721
  address: 14 Langdon St
  Another local hangout and sports bar. They have individual speakers that you can tune and listen to the game you are watching.

• Charlie-O's

  phone: +1 802 223-6820
  address: 70 Main St
  This is a real locals bar with pool table and a lot of character. No tabs and pay cash. Great place to meet the locals.

• Three Penny Taproom

  phone: +1 802 223-8277
  address: 108 Main St
  This bar features dozens of craft and micro brews from all over the place. Packed with locals.

• Capital Plaza Hotel

  phone: +1 802 223-5252
  address: 100 E State St

• The Inn At Montpelier

  phone: +1 802 223-2727
  address: 147 Main St

• Doyle's Guesthouse

  phone: +1 802 223-3535
  address: 35 School St

• Econo Lodge

  phone: +1 802 223-5258
  address: 101 Northfield St

• Betsy's Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 802 229-0466
  address: 74 E State St

• The Lazy Pear Gallery and Guesthouse

  phone: +1 802 223-7680
  address: 154 Main St
  Fully furnished apartments rented on a monthly basis.

Montpelier is an excellent place to stay and get out to see other area sites.

• Stowe, Vermont Ski Resort Area, with hiking, shops and restaurants.
• Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Take a factory tour.
• Cabot Creamery, in Cabot. See how cheese is made.
• Church Street in Burlington. Great shopping, food and bars.
• Rock of Ages Quarry, in Barre. The Quarry is located just a few miles from Montpelier. Take tours of an active granite quarry over 600 feet (182 m) deep.
• Hope Cemetery in Barre, has tombstones of granite that are works of art and in some cases unique. Examples are a race car, soccer ball, a cube balanced on one corner, a biplane and a husband and wife that are side by side in bed overlooking their tombs.