Surrounding Lake Dunmore:

The Waterhouses: a private swimming, boating, and beach area with convenience store
Branbury State Park: a Vermont State Park with excellent beach, picnicking area, and activities
Silver Lake hike: a relatively short, family-friendly hike to the Falls of Lana and Silver Lake
Kampersville convenience store, ice cream stand, and restaurant

Middlebury, Vermont
Middlebury is a fifteen minute drive from the Cottage. It is a beautiful and walkable town with unique owner-operated shops, restaurants, sporting good stores, museums, and a movie theatre. Other conveniences such as large grocery stores, movie rental places, and services are located on the outskirts of town.

A few fun things to do in Middlebury:

Visit Middlebury College and its art museum
Take a tour of Otter Creek Brewing (great beer!)
Pick up a book at the locally-owned Vermont Bookshop
Taste the ice cream at the Ben & Jerry's
Check out the beautiful fine arts and crafts at Frog Hollow Craft Center
Have a burger and root beer at the authentic A&W Drive-In
Pick up some gourmet treats at the Middlebury Co-op
Take in a show at the Town Hall Theater
Visit the Middlebury Farmers' Market
Tour the Sheldon Museum

Brandon
Art-filled and lovely Brandon is a 10 minute drive from the Cottage. It has a number of distinctive restaurants, an excellent independent bookstore, art galleries, and gift shops.

Some establishments in Brandon:

Brigg's Carriage Bookstore
Cafe Provence
Vermont Made Furniture
Brandon Artists' Guild
Gourmet Provence
Liza Myers Gallery
Maple View Farm Alpacas
The Brandon Inn

Other Attractions:
Green Mountain National Forest (berry picking, hiking, mountain biking, Robert Frost poetry trail)
The Long Trail, VT's 250 mile hiking path is close by
Neshobe Golf Club, Middlebury Country Club
Scenic drives over the Brandon, Middlebury, or Appalachian Gaps
Visit Burlington, VT (one hour away): ECHO Aquarium, Waterfront Park, Flynn Theater, Church Street Marketplace, The University of Vermont, Magic Hat Brewing Company, The University Mall, pubs, live music clubs, and restaurants
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Vermont Teddy Bear Company
Shelburne Museum: historic buildings, art shows, events
Shelburne Farms: tours, petting farm, educational programs