Blog

5 Birds You Can See at Swift House Inn

Downy Woodpecker (Male) on Left & Black-Capped Chickadee on Right Nestled in the heart of Middlebury, Vermont, Swift House Inn offers a unique opportunity to witness some of the state’s most fascinating bird species right from the comfort of your own room. From the majestic White-Breasted Nuthatch to the energetic… Read More

How to Make a Wine Room That Stands Out

Jessica's at Swift House Inn is known for our award-winning wine program. Thanks to David Herren, our resident Sommelier, the restaurant is only one of two in Vermont to currently hold a prestigious Wine Spectator Best of Award. But the vast 1,800-bottle wine cellar is located far away from the dining room in the basement and with only a remote set of stairs for access on the far opposite end of the house. Read More

middlebury college in fall setting

10 Things to Know About Alexander Twilight

Vermonters adore Alexander Lucius Twilight (1795-1857) for his great ambition, his notable achievements, and for his “unconquerable will.” He was the first person of African descent to receive a college degree from an American college—Middlebury College in 1823—and to be elected to a state legislature—Vermont’s in 1836. For more… Read More

coop store sign lunch tables

7 Great Lunch Spots in Middlebury

At Swift House Inn, we are delighted to start your day with the Vermont breakfast of your dreams. And although our own renowned Jessica’s is open for dinner from Thursday through Sunday (in the winter), we are not open for lunch. While you are out exploring, we want to provide you with 7 great lunch spots around Middlebury. We hope you enjoy our choices so much you'll want to come back. Read More

5 Tasks for Winterizing the Inn

We realized that we had a load of tasks to prepare for Thanksgiving, Christmas festivities, and all of Vermont’s winter wonderland activities. Here are the seven tasks that we have to do to get the inn ready for the deep freeze. Read More

woman sitting on grass

A Server’s School Application Essay

Amelia Quesnel was recruited to play D1 hockey for Kents Hills in Maine. Middlebury Union High School student Amelia Quesnel was one of the most hardworking, intelligent, and capable young people to come through our doors. Guests were charmed by her quick sense of humor and her gift of… Read More

How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Buffet

A few months ago, we switched to a breakfast buffet to better serve guests’ needs and to solve a number of problems, particularly staffing. Everybody knows that labor shortages are hitting restaurants and hotels particularly hard during this post-Covid era. Swift House Inn is no exception, so we put our… Read More

hillside terrace garden

How to Landscape a Terrace Garden

It was our dream to transform our wild, poison ivy and myrtle entangled slope into a terraced hillside garden. Although the weedy, disorganized mass of plants growing on the existing hillside were great for attracting pollinators and creating a refuge for wild life, it was a lost opportunity for… Read More