Located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain in the northwest of Vermont, Burlington is a cute, lively city within earshot of some wonderful nature. Burlington is the largest city in the state and is very popular with tourists, offering plenty of family friendly attractions, great shopping and the nearby Adirondack and Green Mountains. In addition, Burlington has an international airport.
As one of New England|England’s most attractive cities, Burlington is great for strolling and the downtown area features markets, malls and pedestrianized walkways. Church Street Marketplace on Church Street is closed to traffic for four blocks and is loaded with cafés and quaint shops with unique items.
Lake Champlain provides another aspect of Burlington, with cruises leaving from Burlington Harbor throughout the day aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen II. There are several quality hiking trails within easy reach of Burlington, including on Mount Philo, which is ideal for families with kids, while Mount Mansfield offers more challenging terrain.
Highlights
Church Street Marketplace: is a pedestrian mall situated in the heart of the city, with lots of shops, cafés and festivals throughout the year.
ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain: features an impressive aquarium and natty science center.
Burlington tours: for getting the most out of a visit to Burlington Vermont include the Switchback and the Brewery Magic Hat Brewing Company tours.
Cycling: is another good way to see the city and the lake. A lengthy bike path runs along the lake shore and connects with the Colchester bike path.
Lake Champlain: cruises aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen II give visitors the best chance of seeing the Loch Ness monster’s sister, ‘Champ’.
Green Mountains: lie just to the south Burlington Vermont and feature some impressive peaks, several state parks and some good hiking trails.