Spotlight: Burlington
Vermont’s biggest city bursts with country charm and tasty ice cream
The quaint charm of Burlington shows up just about everywhere you turn. Go where the locals go and spend the day in Church Street Marketplace. This open-air mall boasts a number of unique shops and eateries, as well as hosted events for everyone to enjoy.
Put a visit to Ben & Jerry’s Davis Center at the top of your list. This popular destination boasts exhibits devoted to the local entrepreneurs who launched their ice cream empire in Burlington in1978 in a renovated gas station. Oh, and you can also order up a tasty scoop of fresh ice cream in all of the fabulous flavors that have made Ben & Jerry famous.
Hit the Trail
For memorable views of the countryside surrounding Burlington, walk along the Bald Mountain Trail. Vistas along the trail offer views of Green Mountain Range, Otter Creek Valley and Cold River Valley. During the warmer months, Bald Mountain Trail is flanked with an abundance of blueberries and wildflowers.
Grab your fishing rod and stake out a spot along the Lower Winooski River. Get ready to catch yellow perch, white perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike and brown bullhead—all of which make their way into Lake Champlain as well.
Pack a picnic lunch and head to North Beach Park to bask in the warm Vermont sun and swim in the waters along Burlington’s largest beach. Rent a kayak or canoe and glide across Lake Champlain, or let someone else do the navigating on a sunset schooner cruise.
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Chill Out Near Champlain
Waterfront Park, just west of downtown Burlington, offers an active scene on the shores of Lake Champlain. Festivals and live music shows are frequently held here, and the park is also home to the Burlington Community Boathouse and the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, which boasts an aquarium and science exhibits.
See where statesman and Revolutionary War figure Ethan Allen made his home. Visitors to the homestead can see authentic representations of colonial life and learn about the role Allen played in the founding of the state and the efforts of the colonies to become an independent nation.
On the campus of the University of Vermont sits the Robert Hull Fleming Museum, a collection of some 25,000 art and anthropology objects. Visitors can catch rotating collections focusing on various aspects of culture and history.
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum showcases ship replicas and shares the history of the lake and its impact on the economy and livelihood of Vermonters. You can also learn about some of the 300-plus shipwrecks that have occurred in recorded history.