Few Hours in Life More Agreeable (Middlebury Inn, Vermont)

Welcome to day 9 of 31 Days of Heterotopias: Motels and Hotels, a month of posts about how motels, hotels, and inns function as heterotopias and liminal spaces in society.  (More about heterotopias and liminal spaces.)  Each post will look at these ideas from its own vantage point, which may not obviously connect with the others, and which may mention motels and hotels only peripherally or may focus on them without referencing heterotopia or liminality. I won’t attempt to tie the posts together. They’ll all be listed here, as they are posted.

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“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” ― Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

I mentioned earlier that there are six motels/hotels that we (spouse and I) stay at over and over, in Savannah, Boston, Middlebury VT, Orleans MA, Boothbay ME, and Ogunquit ME, and I profiled the one in Savannah, the Holiday Inn on E. Bay St., in that post.

Today, let’s check out — or check into — The Middlebury Inn, in Middlebury, Vermont, home of Middlebury College.

blurryMollyMiddleburyInnoutsideMiddleburyVT1Nov2015MiddleburyInnentrancesignVT29Nov2013

The Middlebury Inn is actually both an inn, in an historic building with a lovely lobby, quirky old elevator with a staffed operator, and tea service every afternoon, and a motel adjacent, where pets are allowed. We’ve stayed in both sections, the motel when travelling with dogs and the inn when not. I didn’t take photos of the motel, though, except a blurry one of the dog on the carpet. The rooms are not all that different from those in the inn.

GretchenonfloorofMiddleburyInnVT25Nov2010

The lobby is airy, cozy, welcoming.

middleburytgiving2010lobbyandxmastree

lobbyMiddeburyInnhotelMiddleburyVT1Nov2015

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morning coffee

lobbyloungefireplaceXmastreeMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT23Nov2016lobbyloungeXmastreeMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT23Nov2016

Here’s an upstairs corridor in the inn:

2ndfloorhallwayMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT1Nov2015

Some room shots,  in different rooms over three years:

roombatMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT29Nov2013roombathroomandclosetatMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT29Nov2013bedsroomMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT1Nov2015chairfridgeentryclosetdoorroomMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT1Nov2015sofadeskwindowsroomMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT1Nov2015roombedMilldeburyInnMiddleburyVT24Nov2016roombednighttablerefrigeratorMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT27Nov2016roomdresserdeskMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT27Nov2016roomclosetironextrapillowsblanketMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT27Nov2016bathroomtubMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT27Nov2016bathroomMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT27Nov2016roomdeskACheaterwindowMiddleburyInnMiddleburyVT27Nov2016

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As usual, for us and I imagine other travellers, location is key, and the Middlebury Inn is right in the middle of this small college town, across from the town green and Episcopal church,

MiddleburyInnfromgreencloserMiddleburyVT28Nov2013
The Inn from the green
towngreengazebofallfoliageMiddleburyVT2Nov2015
Early November on the green
MiddleburygreenVT1Dec2013
early December on the green
StStephensEpiscopalchurchcarsoutsideMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
St. Stephen’s on a Sunday morning
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storm clouds over St. Stephen’s and the Congregational church
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St. Stephen’s in late November
crabapplesalongsideStStephensontheGreenMiddleburyVT28Nov2013
crabapples and window reflections at St. Stephen’s

… a short walk to the supermarket, to Fire and Ice (our favourite restaurant in town),

FireandIceRestaurantexteriorMiddleburyVT23Nov2016FireandIceMiddleburyVT31Oct2015

AdirondackchairmadeofskisFire&IceMiddleburyVT28Nov2013
Adirondack chairs made of skis on the Fire & Ice porch
marinatedthingsatsaladbarandTomandBackercraftboatFire&Ice27Nov2013
part of the big salad bar at Fire & Ice

… and to the downtown/Otter Falls/Frog Hollow area, with the Edgewater Gallery (we have a few pieces of art in the house from Edgewater),

silverglistenshimmerOtterCreekMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
Otter Creek shimmering
EdgewaterGallerytreeredleavesMiddleburyVT25Nov2016
entrance to original Edgewater Gallery
OtterCreektreesglasswareEdgewaterGalleryMiddleburyVT25Nov2016
glassware inside Edgewater Gallery, looking out at Otter Creek

… more restaurants and coffee shops — Carol’s Hungry Mind Cafe, 51 Main, Storm Cafe, The Diner —

StormCafeatFrogHollowMiddleburyVT30Nov2013
Storm Cafe at Frog Hollow
CarolsHungryMindCafeandothershopsMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
Carol’s Hungry Mind Cafe (red awning) and other shops
DinerTheatrechurchdowntownMiddleburyVT2Nov2015
The Diner (yellow), theatre, Baptist Church, and others

the Vermont Book Shop, a stationers, a small cinema, an old-fashioned Ben Franklin’s 5&10, clothing shops (I buy clothes and Christmas gifts at Sweet Cecily), and other boutiques.

FedExtruckatVermontBookShopMiddleburyVT30Nov2013VermontBookShopMiddleburyVT29Nov2013

BenFranklindrugstoreandMarquismovietheatreMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
Ben Franklin and Marquis cinema

BenFranklinstoresignMiddleburyVT25Nov2016

It’s also walkable to the Marble Works businesses, which includes the Stone Leaf Tea House that we love love love,

bridgetomarbleworksMiddleburyVT30Nov2013
bridge over Otter Creek of Marble Work shops and businesses
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dark sky over Marble Works
sunflowersgonebyMarbleWorksMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
gone-by sunflowers against marble
RoundRobinResaleshipstonebuildingadirondackchairsMarbleWorksMiddleburyVT23Nov2016
Round Robin resale ship in the Marble Works
vineMarbleWorksstonebuildingMiddleburyVT23Nov2016
everything looks great against marble

yellowsunflowerbloomgreystonemarblewallMarbleWorksMiddleburyVT23Nov2016

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Stone Leaf Tea House
partofStoneLeafTeahouseMiddleburyVT30Nov2013
Stone Leaf Tea House
teaandtreatsStoneLeafTeahouseMiddleburyVT30Nov2013
tea and treats at Stone Leaf Tea House
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lemon and green tea cake (Stone Leaf Tea House)
GunpowderteaStoneLeafTeahouseMiddleburyVT23Nov2016
gunpowder tea
teasamplerdarkPuerCherryJasmineStoneLeafTeahouseMiddleburyVT23Nov2016
tea sampler with dark puer, cherry, jasmine (Stone Leaf Tea House)
matchalemoncaketamarialmondsdriedfruitsStoneLeafTeahouseMiddleburyVT23Nov2016
matcha and lemon cake, tamari almonds, dried fruits (Stone Leaf Tea House)

middleburytgiving2010stoneleadteahouseoolong

… and to Danforth Pewter, where many Christmas gifts for friends and family have been purchased over the years (ornaments and earrings, mostly).

Otter Creek Brewing is just a short drive away.

OtterCreekBrewingMiddleburyVT24Nov2016middleburytgiving2010ottercreeekbreweryottercreekbrewingcoinsideMiddleburyVT29Nov2013

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And probably most importantly, the Inn is centrally located for walking/hiking the Trails Around Middlebury, which is what occupies most of our time when we’re visiting the area.

Below are some photos from some of the TAM trails over the years, all hiked between end of the October and the beginning of December. (I have no idea what Middlebury looks like in the spring or summer. For us, it’s a fall-winter tourist town.)

The [Middlebury] Class of ’97 Trail

fencebarbedwirepostsfieldClassof97TrailTAMMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
(26 Nov 2016)
bridgegrassesClassof97TrailTAMMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
(26 Nov 2016)
threeyellowbirchtreesClassof97TrailTAMMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
three yellow birches (26 Nov 2016)
solarpanelscarsroadMilddeburyCollegecloserClassof97TrailTAMMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
Middlebury College building, solar panels (26 Nov. 2016)
skysnowhillfieldClassof97TAMTrailMiddleburyCollegeVT30Nov2013
(30 Nov 2013)
bridgeandtreesClassof97TAMTrailMiddleburyCollegeVT30Nov2013
(30 Nov 2013)
sumacamongwhitepinesClassof97TAMTrailMiddleburyCollegeVT30Nov2013
sumac and white pine (30 Nov 2013)
WatchforSwoopingBirdssignClassof97TrailTAMMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
“walk quickly through the area – don’t run” (26 Nov 2016)
greysilverjunipershrubhidingclosedetailClassof97TrailTAMMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
juniper (26 Nov 2016)
openinghornetnestClassof97TrailTAMMiddleburyVT26Nov2016
hornet’s nest (26 Nov 2016)

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Johnson Trail (all 24 Nov. 2016)

fieldgrassmountainsnowJohnsonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016fallleavessnowtrailbJohnsonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016

snowyboardwalkTomendJohnsonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016
snowy boardwalk

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Chipman Trail (first, 24 Nov. 2016; the rest, 2 Nov. 2015)

ChipmanTrailfieldMeansNaturePreserveTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016hillfallfoliageblueskyfromparkinglotChipmanHillTAMMiddleburyVT2Nov2015

aspenleafgrasshopperChipmanHillTAMMiddleburyVT2Nov2015
aspen leaf + grasshopper
suffusedwithyellowtreesbeechsunlightChipmanHillTAMMiddleburyVT2Nov2015
yellow beech tree leaves
yellowaspenleavestrailChipmanHillTAMMiddleburyVT2Nov2015
aspen leaves

rockpurplesplotcheslichenChipmanHillTAMMiddleburyVT2Nov2015yellowbrownfallfoliagesunlightleavesChipmanHillTAMMiddleburyVT2Nov2015

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Battell Nature Park (first three, 24 Nov. 2016; last 31 Oct. 2015)

snowytrailtreesBattellNaturePreserveTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016ladensnowevergreensalongtrailBattellNaturePreserveTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016

multiflorarosebrambleredberriesBattellNaturePreserveTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016
multiflora rose bramble
redbractswhiteberriesSwidaRacemosaGreyDogwoodBattellWoodsTAMMiddleburyVT31Oct2015
grey dogwood (Swida racemosa), 31 Oct. 2015
landscapefallcolouryellowtreesBattellWoodsTAMMiddleburyVT31Oct2015
(31 Oct 2015)

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Otter Creek Trail (29 Nov. 2013)

damfallsfromArnoldbridgeTAMOtterCreekTrailMiddleburyVT29Nov2013
dam and falls from Arnold Bridge
limestoneTAMOtterCreekTrailMiddleburyVT29Nov2013
limestone
waterfallathydrodamcloserTAMOtterCreekTrailMiddleburyVT29Nov2013
waterfall and hydro dam
etherealsnowmossTAMOtterCreekTrailMiddleburyVT29Nov2013
ethereal snow, moss, mist
fourcowsTAMOtterCreekTrailMiddleburyVT29Nov2013
four cows

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Wright Park (27 Nov. 2016)

OtterCreekgrassesslantedtreesenchancedWrightParkTAMMiddleburyVT27Nov2016
Otter Creek with grasses and slanted trees
hepaticafoliagebWrightParkTAMMiddleburyVT27Nov2016
hepatica foliage
yellowjellyfungusWrightParkTAMMiddleburyVT27Nov2016
yellow jelly fungi
ArnoldBridgeacrossOtterCreekWrightParkTAMMiddleburyVT27Nov2016
Arnold Bridge across Otter Creek

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Murdock Nature Preserve (1 Nov. 2015

caverockspineneedlesMurdockPreserveTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
cave
whitepinkrockMurdockPreserveTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
rock
largishtwigbirdnestcloseMurdockPreserveTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
large twig bird’s nest

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Means Nature Preserve (24 Nov 2016)

shagbarkhickorytreetrunkclosebMeansNaturePreserveTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016
shagbark hickory bark

redleavesvinesnowMeansNaturePreserveTAMMiddleburyVT24Nov2016

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Jackson Trail – obviously a favourite

oursilhouettesinfieldJacksonTrailTAMWeybridgeVT28Nov2013
28 Nov. 2013
geeseinflightJacksonTrailTAMWeybridgeVT28Nov2013
geese in flight (28 Nov. 2013)
wetareasunlightwoodsJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
(1 Nov. 2015)
grassesalongsideJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
(1 Nov. 2015)
headbofsnakeIaccidentallysteppedonJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
garter snake I accidentally hit with my foot (1 Nov. 2015)
fieldgrassesdarkskyJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
dark sky (1 Nov. 2015)
fourbaretreesgrassdarkskyJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
bare trees and dark sky (1 Nov. 2015)
cricketingrasscloseJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT1Nov2015
cricket (1 Nov. 2015)
polypodyfernsmoundJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT25Nov2016
mound of polypody ferns (25 Nov. 2016)
oneequisetumstalkJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT25Nov2016
one equisetum stalk (25 Nov. 2016)
beechleavestreesorangeJacksonTrailTAMMiddleburyVT25Nov2016
orange (25 Nov. 2016)
sunlightonsnowJacksonTrailTAMWeybridgeVT28Nov2013
sunlight on snow (28 Nov. 2013)
threeunIDbirdofmanyinfieldJacksonTrailTAMWeybridgeVT28Nov2013
blurry horned larks – the field was full of them (28 Nov. 2013)
machineandhayshedJacksonTrailTAMWeybridgeVT28Nov2013
machines shed (28 Nov. 2013)

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As always when travelling, what’s nice is coming back to the comforts, even luxuries, and the privacy of the hotel, motel, or inn. At the Middlebury Inn, that pleasure is doubled when returning for a little nap in the room before afternoon tea in the spacious and well-lit lobby.

MiddleburyInnentranceMiddleburyVT30Nov2013afternoonteaMiddleburyInnVT29Nov2013

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