The quaint and vibrant shire of Middlebury offers museums, restaurants, theater and a walkable downtown shopping district along Otter Creek. Nestled in the Champlain Valley, in the western foothills of the Green Mountains, Middlebury is a quaint and vibrant shire about an hour’s drive south of Burlington. Home to Middlebury College, an elite liberal arts school with a lush, rolling campus and stunning architecture, the town offers museums, restaurants, theater and a walkable downtown shopping district along Otter Creek. With easy access to the nearby mountains, rivers, lakes and national forests, Middlebury has something to offer every visitor. If you want to visit Middlebury, Vermont, here’s a suggested itinerary. Note: Check websites to confirm business hours for the day you visit. Food and Drink Rise and Shine: Breakfast Spots Rosie’s Restaurant For more than 50 years, Rosie’s has been serving up hearty and delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners “just like mom used to make.” Stop by the coffee counter for one of the best cups of joe in the Green Mountains, or grab a table and dig into an Irish Benedict, a platter of homemade sausage and gravy biscuits, or a down-home country-fried steak. No one leaves Rosie’s hungry. 886 Route 7, Middlebury Haymaker Bun A national semifinalist for a James Beard Award for outstanding bakery, Haymaker is known for its world-class buns, which are named for the distinctive spiral of a Vermont hay bale. Chef and co-owner Caroline Corrente trained as a pastry chef at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and worked in restaurants and bakeries for years before opening this gem in 2017. Today, her sweet and savory goodies are in a class all their own. 7 Bakery La., Middlebury Otter Creek Bakery & Deli This small, European-style bakery and deli offers a full line of gourmet foods and pastries, all baked or prepared on the premises. Otter Creek Bakery is known for its award-winning gourmet breakfast and lunch sandwiches, paninis and quiches. Lovers of sweets will swoon for the fresh-baked croissants, cakes, cupcakes and tortes, including a maple layer cake filled with — you guessed it — Vermont-made maple syrup. 14 College St., Middlebury Noontime Nourishment: Lunch Spots The Mad Taco With its house-smoked meats and from-scratch hot sauces, Mad Taco’s creative and tasty Latin- inspired cuisine has taken Vermont by storm. Choose from burritos, enchiladas, carnitas and tacos, then quench your thirst — and the spice — with a margarita or local craft brew. 3 Mill St., Middlebury Sabai Sabai Thai Cuisine Enjoy…