Capital Region

With only 15,000 people between them, it’s probably a bit overstated to call the sister cities of Barre [1] and Montpelier [2] a metropolitan area. This will just have to do for Vermont, however, with the majority of the businesses between Brattleboro [3] and Burlington [4] clustered in the area.

As you’ll no doubt hear countless times, Montpelier takes pride in being the smallest state capital in the country. With a charming downtown honeycombed with art galleries, it feels more like a quaint county seat than headquarters for an entire state.

Just a few miles down the road, Barre has a grittier, more working-class feel, accentuated by the still-active granite quarries that give the town its claim to fame.

Situated in a mountain range over to the west, the Mad River Valley [5] is the recreation center for the area, a hidden glen of ski trails and paddling streams anchored by a quartet of scenic hamlets.

Getting to the Capital Region

For the Mad River Valley [5], take exit 9 to Route 100B and then Route 100 south to Waitsfield. The distance from Montpelier [2] is 20 miles (30 min.) The Mad Bus (802/496-7433, www.madbus.org [6]) shuttle stops at various locations in Waitsfield and Warren, along with routes to Sugarbush, Mad River Glen, and Montpelier.