Welcome to Montpelier, Vermont!

One of the nicest things about being in the smallest state capital in the country is that it’s easy to walk around and see almost everything without feeling overwhelmed. The catch is, you don’t always know what you’re looking at. Whether you are a visitor or a long-time resident, you might find yourself strolling around the historic downtown, enjoying its vintage character, and wishing you had just a little more of the backstory. Who lived in those gorgeous old single-family homes on Main Street? What is that red castle-looking thing across the street from the State House? Why does the library have two names?

In these five walking tours around the heart of the city, Montpelier native Kathryn Guare is your companionable guide, bringing the history of her hometown to vivid life by sharing stories of its highs and lows, its heroes and ghosts, its well-known sights and hidden treasures. She also makes sure you get the most out of what the city has to offer today - pointing out what you’ll find inside the restaurants and shops along the route; where to find recreational trails for every season; and what venues feature live music, from chamber orchestras to heavy metal. Also, as any good guide should, she hits every mouth-watering bakery in town.

This guide is perfect for:

• Visitors: It will make you linger in the capital of Vermont a little longer than you might have expected to.
• New residents: Get up to speed quickly on your new hometown.
• Long-time residents: You will look with fresh eyes at the places you’ve known for years...and learn something new about them.