I'm traveling to Vermont next weekend for a weekend getaway. We would like to be somewhat close to Middlebury (about 1 hour) as we have a football game there on Sat afternoon. Any ideas for places to stay, things to do, etc? We are looking for romantic places, but will do anything. Thanks.

Middlebury is a lovely college town. A bit north of town is the Dog Team Restaurant. I believe they only serve dinner but double check. I wouldn't exactly call it romantic, but a very nice restaurant. Walk on the pedestrian bridge of the river. There's some nice shops. See if Brandon is having their scarecrow festival. Simon Pearce in Queechee is out of the way (NH border) but maybe a place to stop for lunch coming or going. The service is wonderful. A friend described the restaurant as romantic. It's a beautiful building and if you are early (lunch starts at 11:30) you might get a table overlooking the waterfall. Pick up a free Vermont guide at a tourist rest area. It's a wonderful area to explore and it's the most fun when you discover something for yourself.

If you don't have hotel reservations yet, good luck. The next 2 weekends are the busiest of the year for tourism in VT. I'm sure you'll find something, but it may take a bit longer than normal. The Burlington & Rutland areas would have the most beds-both are about 45 minutes away. In Middlebury itself is a new Courtyard By Marriott, the Middlebury Inn, the Inn on the Green, and a couple Mom & Pops. The Waybury Inn in East Middlebury is very nice as well.
Good suggestion of the Dog Team Taven for dinner. No it's not all that romantic, but it's got lots of charm and the food is good. Be sure to have reservations though-we went to dinner there last Saturday (had reservations) and the wait was 1.5 hours if you didnt have any.

The Middlebury area would be a good base, though I'm not sure about specific romantic lodgings {we're from the area lol!}. But I know I've seem um!

125 East just south of Middlebury is a pretty Autumn drive that will lead you through the tiny town of Ripton, past the Robert Frost interperative trail, where his poems are strategically placed along the trail, and the scenic Texas Falls. I've seen moose on this road.

The Dog Team restaurant has a unique ambience, with an interesting history,a relish wheel, and their famous sticky buns. Fire and Ice is another excellent restaurant {my personal favorite}. It has a great salad bar with an old boat at it's center, and lots of dated memorabelia all around. Mr. Up's is a sort of hang-out, for college students, their families, just about everybody - excellent food, wide selection of choices, right on the river, so you can get a table outside on a nice day.

Apple picking is a traditional Vermont thing to do, often with a hay ride included. I know of at least one orchard in the Middlebury area, and I'm sure there are more.

Here is a listing of most lodging in the area. http://www.vermontvacation.com/Trave...h.aspx?catID=1
Between the football game, walking around Middlebury and the Dog team tavern, you're all set. If you want a scenic drive, go to Mt. Independence-beautiful views and interesting, noncommercial history.