Hotel/Inn/B&B plus Thanksgiving Dinner around Vergennes, VT area

[Familyof4]

We are visiting hubby's friend in Vergennes, VT day after Thanksgiving. I thought we should drive up from NY early and spend Thanksgiving around that area. Any suggestions on hotels/inns/b&bs and restaurants? Will consider Burlington too. Will appreciate any help (as Thanksgiving is getting close!) Thank you very much in advance.
Note: We are travelling with 2 kids over 4 but under 10. Thanks.

[sophie fox]

There are some really nice restaurants in Vergennes, most notably the Black Sheep Bistro, but I don't know about lodging. Basin Harbor Club is closed now, I'm pretty sure. There are some B&B's in town, but I know nothing about them. There are a bunch of the usual suspects for hotels (Holiday Inn etc) on the Rt 7 South strip. Mom and I stayed at the Middlebury In for a week in August, and it was very nice, and the food was good. Middlebury is a nice town - about half an hour from Vergennes. A few possibilities for lodging around Burlington - the Hampton Inn at the Colchester exit of 89 is good and cheap and a stone's throw from Libby's Diner (do NOT miss Libby's if you like diners!). Both the Hampton Inn and Libby's are swell places for children. The Inn at Essex is run by NECI and quite nice, maybe not as suited to small children, though I don't know that for a fact. I liked the food in the tavern there better than the food in the dining room - more interesting and seems more consistent in quality. Colchester and Essex are each about a half hour from Vergennes. Hope that this helps!

[bm_vt]

I would suggest Middlebury - Middlebury is 15 minutes south of Vergennes on Route 7. I would suggest looking at the Swift House Inn, Middlebury Inn, and the Courtyard by Marriott for lodging options (no Holiday Inn in the area).
I do know that Fire & Ice in Middlebury serves Thanksgiving dinner-its a very popular restaurant in the area-I've always had a good meal there. I'd check with the Mddlebury Inn and Swift House to see if they will be serving as well.
In Vergennes itself, the Black Sheep is excellent but not sure if they are open Thanksgiving. Lodging options in Vergennes are very limited-Strong House Inn and Emerson Guest House are the ones that come to mind.

[Familyof4]

Thank you to you both, sophie and bm. It's getting close (and I'm starting to worry) so I just went ahead and book for a couple of nights at the Middlebury Inn. I'll call them tomorrow for the Thanksgiving dinner. I hope nobody posts a reply with a negative comment about Middlebury! :-) Cheers.

[masha]

I've found the food at the Midd Inn to be disappointing. I don't know if they are doing Thanksgiving, but the food at the Waybury Inn in East Middlebury is much better. Rooms at the Midd. Inn are fine, but I prefer Swift House.

[phDuh]

We stayed at Middlebury Inn a couple of years ago, and were very pleased. Can't speak for the food. However, this past summer we had an unbelieveable meal at the Inn at Baldwin Creek , outside of Bristol. Not far from Middlebury at all. My guess is that if they have Thanksgiving dinner, then it is a hot ticket. They are very committed to using local farm ingredients. We were there for a "Garlic Night', featuring dishes made from a local farmer who grew different varieties of garlic. The growers were at the meal, eager to answer questions. This is the kind of place the Inn at Baldwin Creek is. Be warned, though - not cheap.

[Raedia]

Mary's Restaurant at the Inn at Baldwin Creek is indeed doing Thanksgiving dinner - $40 prix fixe, I believe. I've always had a good experience there.

http://www.innatbaldwincreek.com/

Bristol is a good little town for restaurants - bagels at the bakery, lunch at Almost Home and the Bobcat Cafe for dinner are all great.