Visit the New England city of Burlington to enjoy a lively college town with beautiful bike paths, redbrick buildings and views of the Adirondack Mountains.
As Vermont’s largest town, Burlington features a busy city center. With over 100 shops and restaurants, this is a great place to get a feel for the area. Walk along the redbrick Church Street Marketplace and sample some Burlington specialties. Try craft beer from local microbreweries, which are very common throughout the city. Taste a scoop of locally founded Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream at the Church Street store. Drink a cup of gourmet coffee from one of the many cafés.
Rent a bike from one of the local businesses to take a ride on the 7.5-mile (12-kilometer) Burlington Bike Path. The path follows Lake Champlain for several miles, passing through six of Burlington’s waterfront parks. Head out to Colchester Point for one of the best views of the lake and the Adirondack Mountains behind it. Stop at Oakledge Park to see the lakeside earth clock, which is a circle of 14 stones arranged around a sundial.
Visit the University of Vermont to the east of town. Featuring open greens with crisscrossing pathways, mammoth brick buildings and a bright,white church steeple, the campus is one of New England’s finest.
Make sure to catch a sunset over Lake Champlain. The sight of the sun going down behind the Adirondack Mountains attracts people to the shoreline each evening.
The best way to arrive in town is by bus or car, which takes about 3.5 hours from Boston and under 2 hours from Montreal. You can also fly into the Burlington International Airport. Although beautiful year-round, a popular time to visit Burlington is during the fall, when the local trees have turned vibrantly colorful.