Burlington is the biggest city in the entire state of Vermont. Combined with the city’s close proximity to the state’s largest lake, which is dubbed Lake Champlain, this makes the location a fairly popular destination with tourists. There’s plenty to do and see while visiting Burlington, and we’ll be taking a look at some of the best activities in this video. From going souvenir shopping at the Church Street Marketplace to getting the inside scoop on Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in Burlington, Vermont.
Go Souvenir Shopping at the Church Street Marketplace
If you’re looking for a great place to go shopping for a variety of souvenirs while visiting the city of Burlington, you need look no further than the Church Street Marketplace. The impressive shopping center has come to be known as one of the preeminent destinations for tourists within the boundaries of the great Vermont city, and shoppers of all types will find plenty to peruse during their visit. The shopping center sits right within the middle of the bustling city, and some would call it the city’s heart. The shopping center lines a street that’s blocked off from cars, meaning that pedestrians will have plenty of room to hop from store to store.
Besides the variety of interesting, local stores that can be found lining the Church Street Marketplace, there are also several notable eateries that shoppers can stop into to refuel. Whether you’re looking to shop, grab a bite to eat, or simply soak in the atmosphere, tourists will find that there’s a great deal to enjoy while visiting the Church Street Marketplace. The marketplace also happens to play host to a number of notable evens over the course of the year, and these events can make the area exceptionally bustling. Some of the numerous events that you may find being held at the Church Street Marketplace include the Church Street Santa Parade and the Festival of Fools.
Go for a Lesisurely Ride on the Burlington Bike Path
The city of Burlington is a great place to take a bike ride thanks to it’s massive eight-mile-long bike path. This bike path goes by the name of the Burlington Bike Path, but it’s also colloquially referred to as the Greenway. The path can be found along the shores of Lake Champlain, and the path also happens to pass through a total of six different Burlington parks over the course of it’s length.
The Burlington Bike Path is paved all the way through, which makes it an exceptionally easy and stress-free ride for cyclists. However, those who would prefer to take the trail by fit also have the option to do so. Bikes are available to rent form nearby retailers for those who didn’t bring one with them, but there are also plenty of visitors who simply choose to walk or run along the amazing trail.
During the winter, the immense snowfall in Vermont makes the Burlington Bike Path a great place to try out the unique sport of “fat biking”. Tourists may not have ever heard of this interesting activity, but it’s been growing in popularity over the years in areas where there’s a ton of snow. Fat biking is similar to regular biking, but the tires are a lot bigger. This means that the bikes have less of a problem maneuvering in the snow, hence the sport’s popularity in Vermont.
Take a Visit to the Burlington Famers’ Market
Burlington plays host to it’s own farmers’ market every Saturday, and tourists that have a penchant for fresh and local produce won’t want to miss it! The Burlington Farmers’ Market was first held in 1980, and it has become a beloved city tradition in the many decades since. The market is held on Pine Street, and can be found every Saturday of the week from the late months of the spring until the early months of the fall. At the farmers’ market, you’ll find vendors that have travelled from all over the state to share their goods with the massive city’s population of both locals and tourists. Besides produce, you’ll also find vendors offering a variety of other food products. In farmers’ market tradition, you’ll also find a slew of vendors offering up hot food and full meals.
Some of the many, many different food items that you’ll find at the Burlington Farmers’ Market include local Vermont syrup, as well as freshly picked tomatoes and strawberries. You’ll also find a seemingly never-ending supply of fresh baked goods for those looking for something sweet.
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Admire Lake Champlain at the Waterfront Park
There is a great deal of awesome parks located within the boundaries of Burlington, and many of them can be found along the aforementioned Burlington Bike Path. For those who would like to get a great view of Lake Champlain, you’ll certainly want to pay a visit to the Waterfront Park. As the name of the park would suggest, the park sits right on the edge of Lake Champlain and offers some of the greatest views of the giant Vermont lake that visitors are likely to find.
The Waterfront Park is located only a short distance west from Burlington’s downtown area, meaning it’s not all that out of the way. Once you get to the park, you’ll find numerous paths leading to the shore, where you’ll be able to take in incredible views of Lake Champlain and the surrounding area. As one might imagine, these views become much more beautiful during both sunrise and sunset, meaning that these are some of the best times to visit the park.
The Waterfront Park is one of the more popular parks in Burlington thanks to it’s beautiful location, and this also means that it’s the park where tourists are most likely to find special events being held. Some of the numerous special events that are held at the Waterfront Park include the Grand Point North Music Festival and the local Oktoberfest.
Venture Out onto the Water North Beach Park
While the Waterfront Park is the most popular park to visit if you want to take in some grand, encompassing views of Lake Champlain, North Beach Park is the park to visit if you want to hop out onto it’s waters. North Beach Park takes it’s name from North Beach, which is the largest beach in the entirety of Burlington. As such, North Beach Park is an exceptionally great place to go swimming or try your hand at some of the area’s popular watersports. Some of the many watersports that you’ll see being practiced out on the waters of Lake Champlain include kayaking and canoeing, as well as paddleboarding. The park also features a playground and multiple picnic tables, which provide fun for families.
Try Out Some of Burlington’s Numerous Craft Breweries
The city of Burlington, as well as the greater state of Vermont, has come to be known for it’s plethora of craft breweries. Some of the numerous breweries that can be found within the confines of Burlington include the Magic Hat Brewing Company and Zero Gravity Brewing. There two breweries are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the variety that you’ll be able to find while strolling through Burlington, making the city an exceptionally great place for tourists to go brewery hopping. Each of these breweries features something unique, and fans of craft beers won’t want to miss out on visiting a single one.
Visit the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum
Those who are interested in getting a taste of Vermont’s rich history should check out Burlington’s Ethan Allen Homestead Museum. The museum is housed in an authentic homestead that was erected all the way back in the 18th century. The homestead as since been converted into the popular museum, and there’s plenty for tourists to enjoy while perusing it. The homestead belonged to a Revolutionary War hero by the name of Ethan Allen, which is where the museum gets it’s name.
Workers are dressed up in authentic period garb and act like colonists while giving tours. There’s also an area of the museum by the name of the Abenaki Encampment. While the bulk of the museum showcases what it was like to live in the area as a colonist, the Abenaki Encampment shows what it was like to live in the area as a Native American.
Visit the Shelburne Museum
While the Ethan Allen Homestead museum offers up an undeniably unique and Vermont-style experience to tourists, history buffs may also want to check out the larger and more popular Shelburne Museum. The Shelburne Museum functions as both a history and an art museum, and it has come to be known as the largest of it’s type in the entirety of New England. The museum spans nearly 50 acres and houses over twenty different historical buildings.
The Shelburne Museum has no shortage of interesting artifacts, with some of the most awesome including a massive steamboat and an old-fashioned carousel from years past. Besides these mainstays, the museum also hosts a variety of rotating exhibits throughout the years, meaning that tourists will always find something new.
Get the Inside Scoop At Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
For those who are unaware, Burlington is the home of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream was first founded back in the late 1970s, and has since become one of the area’s most beloved exports. Those who wish to try some Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream for themselves while visiting the city of Burlington will find numerous opportunities to do so. For one thing, they can visit the shop that’s located along the aforementioned Church Street Marketplace. For another thing, they can visit the factory located in the unincorporated village of Waterbury. There, tourists can take a tour and see how the popular brand of ice cream is produced.
With all of these awesome activities to take part in while you’re there, it’s no wonder that the city of Burlington has become such a popular destination with tourists. Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that Burlington is the home of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and that the city lines the largest lake in all of Vermont? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more globetrotting ViewCation videos are on their way!