Montpelier is only 20 minutes away from the beautiful BEAR LAKE.  There you can go swimming, boating, and fishing.  Every year we have a great Cisco fish run.  Also there is Bloomington Lke and Minitonka Cave. Dingle is only five miles away from the lake, and it's the picturesque little podunk town that everyone wants postcards of. The thought of living there though... horrifying to the urban teen! Unfortunately, I've been living here for ten years now. The Skinner family is the only positive side to Dingle. Theirs is a great (though sprawling) family tree. Overall, I guess Bear Lake isn't too bad though. This is a great web site to look at:   www.bearlake.bearnecessities.us . Also try www.bearlake.lili.org for additional great links.

If you are looking for shopping centers, Montpelier is not for you.  We have no shopping malls; in fact, we only have one chain grocery store and a small family-owned market.  There is no place where you can buy a new dress.  However, if a new car (or truck) is to your liking we have three car dealerships whose lots are completely full of cars.  We have two drug stores, but don't plan on shopping at either one of them after two o'clock on Saturday, because both of them will be closed.  

Montpelier has a terrific hospital with state of the art equipment, but it's not always easy to find a doctor when you need one.  

Montpelier definitely has its quirks and faults, but it is a great place to raise a family in, and within two hours or less you can be in the city where you can shop to your heart's content!