Burlington is Vermont’s largest city at around 45,000 people - a university town on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain with the Green Mountains as a backdrop to the east. The combination of the waterfront path, Church Street’s independent retail, and immediate access to ski mountains and fall foliage make it a natural hub for any northern New England trip.
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Lake Champlain Waterfront
Burlington’s waterfront runs along the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, with bike and pedestrian paths from the ECHO center north past the Community Sailing Center to North Beach. The Island Line Trail extends from the waterfront onto a former rail causeway - 8.2 miles one-way, mostly flat, ending at a ferry crossing to South Hero Island (approximately $5 each way, seasonal). The causeway section offers open lake views on both sides.
Paddleboard and kayak rentals are available at the Community Sailing Center (on the waterfront near College St) from approximately May through October - roughly $20/hour for paddleboards. The sail and powerboat charter scene on the lake is also active in summer.
Lake Champlain Ferries operate year-round from the Burlington terminal (King St dock): the Burlington–Port Kent crossing to New York takes approximately 60 minutes (approximately $20/vehicle, $4/passenger as of 2026). A scenic option rather than a practical transit route.
Church Street Marketplace
Church Street Marketplace (Church St, Main to Pearl) is Burlington’s pedestrian commercial zone - a four-block brick-paved street with independent shops, restaurants, and a regular street market. Vermont-specific shops are genuinely well-represented: maple products, craft cheese, local brewing, and outdoor gear.
Key stops:
- Outdoor Gear Exchange (37 Church St) - consignment outdoor gear alongside new equipment; reliably good for used skis, hiking gear, and technical apparel at reduced prices
- Kru Coffee (243 College St, one block off Church) - consistently among Burlington’s best espresso operations
- American Flatbread (115 St Paul St) - wood-fired flatbreads from local ingredients; the Friday/Saturday evening operation is the more interesting version (the Burlington location is the original)
- Penny Cluse Café (169 Cherry St) - the definitive Burlington breakfast spot; expect a line on weekends
The Church Street Farmers’ Market operates on Saturdays from early May through mid-October.
ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
ECHO (1 College St) is a science center focused on Lake Champlain’s ecology and the Champlain Valley ecosystem. Adults approximately $17, children (3–17) approximately $13 (as of 2026). The building sits directly on the waterfront with lake views from its upper levels.
The museum covers the lake’s ecology, geology, and history in hands-on format. The Champ exhibit - addressing the persistent legend of a lake monster - is well-executed and genuinely engaging across age groups. A working aquarium holds regional species including lake sturgeon, lake trout, and several freshwater species native to the Champlain basin.
University of Vermont and the Hill Section
The UVM campus (85 S Prospect St) sits on a hill above downtown with views toward Lake Champlain. The Fleming Museum of Art (61 Colchester Ave, on campus) is free and holds a strong collection with particular depth in American and European work from the 19th and 20th centuries - worth an hour for anyone interested in art. Open Tuesday–Friday 10am–4pm, weekends 1–5pm; free.
The Hill neighborhood around Willard Street and Prospect Street is the university residential area, with the highest concentration of Victorian-era architecture in Burlington.
Shelburne Museum
Shelburne Museum (6000 Shelburne Rd, 7 miles south of Burlington via US-7) is one of New England’s most significant folk art and Americana collections - 39 historic buildings across a 45-acre campus, housing approximately 150,000 objects. Adults approximately $28, children (5–17) approximately $14 (as of 2026). Open mid-May through late October; Wednesday–Sunday.
The collection spans quilts, furniture, decoys, weather vanes, carriages, and a full-sized paddlewheel steamboat (the SS Ticonderoga, 1906, designated a National Historic Landmark). The Electra Havemeyer Webb Memorial Building holds Impressionist paintings including Manet, Monet, and Degas. Plan at least 3 hours.
Skiing and Mountain Access
Burlington sits between two major ski areas:
- Stowe Mountain Resort (38 miles east, approximately 50 minutes via I-89 and VT-100): Vermont’s most-visited resort; Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak at 4,395 feet) has 116 trails, 13 lifts. Day tickets approximately $120–$230 as of 2026 depending on timing.
- Sugarbush Resort (48 miles southeast via I-89 and VT-100): 111 trails across two interconnected mountains; slightly less crowded than Stowe; day tickets approximately $100–$185.
The Mad River Valley (Sugarbush area) offers Vermont’s most authentic ski-town character - less development than Stowe, with strong local restaurants in Waitsfield and Warren.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory
The Ben & Jerry’s factory tour (1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury - 38 miles southeast of Burlington via I-89) runs daily; approximately $6 admission for the 30-minute guided factory tour. The factory is closed Sundays for production. The flavor graveyard on the grounds is free to visit. Waterbury itself has grown into a strong craft beer stop - Prohibition Pig (23 S Main St, Waterbury) is particularly good.
Guided Tours Worth Booking in Advance
| Tour | Duration | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Waterfront & Church Street Walking Tour | 2 hrs | $39 | Book |
| Lake Champlain Kayak or Paddleboard Tour | 2 hrs | $65 | Book |
| Stowe & Vermont Countryside Day Trip from Burlington | 6 hrs | $99 | Book |
| Burlington Craft Beer & Local Food Tour | 2.5 hrs | $59 | Book |
Browse all Burlington VT tours on GetYourGuide - free cancellation on most bookings up to 24 hours before departure.