Getting there: Montpelier is served by Interstate 89, which runs from Concord, N.H., to the Quebec border and connects with the north-south Interstate 93 in Concord and Interstate 91, which runs north-south along the Connecticut River valley and connects with I-89 at White River Junction. It's also served twice daily -- once northbound and once southbound -- by Amtrak's Vermonter passenger train, which connects with the Northeast corridor, and several times daily by the Vermont Transit bus line. The nearest airport is Burlington International, about 40 minutes northwest of Montpelier.Lodging: Montpelier and the surrounding area have several hotels and motels, chain and locally owned. Rooms run from about $50 to $175, depending on the season. Busy times are from June to late October, with the peak during the foliage season in late September and early October.
Several bed-and-breakfasts are available.
Dining: Montpelier restaurants range from the relatively formal Chef's Table to a range of delis and pizza shops. Ethnic offerings include Thai, Chinese, Italian and Mexican. Restaurants are generally of unusually good quality for a small town, thanks in no small part to Montpelier being home to the New England Culinary Institute. The Horn of the Moon Cafe offers vegetarian cuisine.
Nightlife: Pubs include the slightly rough Charlio's World Famous ("Good drinks and bad company since the War Between the States"), a couple of places where sports fans gather, the more upscale downstairs bar at the Main Street Grill and several others. When the Legislature's in session, Republicans tend to gravitate toward the Thrush Tavern near the Statehouse, while Democrats often can be seen at Sarducci's, at the south end of Main Street.
Live music includes rock and blues at Charlio's, jazz at Justin Morgan's in the Capitol Plaza Hotel and an open-mike jam session at the Horn of the Moon on Monday evenings. There are two movie theaters in town: one an art house and the other offering standard Hollywood fare.
Weather: The difference between a day's high and low temperatures averages 24 degrees, providing sleeping comfort even on the hottest summer night. The average high peaks at 81 degrees in July, though it can get into the 90s. It bottoms out at 27 degrees in January when the average low is 4 degrees. Even in July, the average low is 55 degrees.
Snowfall is about 9 feet a year. Only June, July, August and September regularly escape measurable amounts. Most of the snow comes in fewer than a half-dozen major storms, which may drop several feet at a time. However, exceptional road crews keep traffic flowing with few interruptions. Fortunately, winter humidity is relatively low, and the dry cold is tolerable. Consistent winter cold means that most of the snow that falls after Thanksgiving will still be around in March.
Information: The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce is a good place to start, at (802) 229-5711, or on the Web at (www.central-vt.com). There's a travel information center at 134 State St. in Montpelier.