A picturesque lighthouse stands watch Burlington's harbor on Lake Champlain.
Burlington is Vermont's largest city, but it's a college town at heart. Home to the University of Vermont which was founded in 1791, Burlington has a reputation for being a vibrant hub of arts and recreation on the shore of Lake Champlain. Downtown Burlington is compact and easy to navigate on foot, which makes it a fun and friendly place for visitors.
Shopping and Special Events
In the late 1970s, the city of Burlington took a forward-thinking approach to urban revitalization and created the award-winning Church Street Marketplace. Stretching four blocks through the city's historic downtown core, the marketplace is an open-air mall that entices locals and visitors with an inviting variety of shops and restaurants.
Closed to vehicle traffic to encourage leisurely strolling that might include stopping to watch one of the street performers who frequent the area, the marketplace is the perfect location for the many festivals and events that are hosted here throughout the year, including a Mardi Gras parade and the Discover Jazz Festival in the summer.
Arts and Culture
The south end of the Church Street Marketplace is by anchored the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, where visitors can enjoy world-class dance, music and theater performances and Burlington City Arts, a contemporary art exhibition space and learning center located in the old city fire hall. Art lovers will also enjoy visiting the Fleming Museum on the campus of the University of Vermont, which houses one of the largest collections of historical artifacts in the state and presents a rotating schedule of art exhibits from around the world.
Dining, Drinking and Entertainment
The abundance of downtown restaurants makes finding a great place to eat a simple task. Local favorites include the Magnolia Bistro, L'Amante and Big Fatty's BBQ.
Like any good college town, Burlington has a thriving nightlife and there are bars to suit almost anyone's taste -- from dance clubs to sophisticated cocktail lounges and cozy brewpubs. Beer drinkers can indulge their taste for the good stuff at one of the city's four purveyors of locally brewed beer: American Flatbread Brewpub, Switchback Brewing, Three Needs Taproom and Magic Hat Brewing.
Choices abound for live music fans; on any night of the week you can check out live acts at venues like Radio Bean or Rí Rá Irish Pub. Pick up a copy of the local entertainment weekly "Seven Days" for listings and locations.
Sports and Recreation
Winter sports and Vermont go hand in hand. With its proximity to the Green Mountains, the Burlington area is no exception. There are several popular ski resorts that are less than an hour's drive from the city, including Bolton Valley and Stowe Mountain Resort.
During fairer weather, visitors can enjoy Burlington's picturesque harbor on foot, by bicycle or tour boat. One of the most popular activities is to ride the waterfront bike path, which follows the shoreline of Lake Champlain and winds through six of the city's parks. Constructed on a former railroad bed, the bike path connects with a network of bicycle routes in the Lake Champlain area, making Burlington an ideal destination for cycling enthusiasts.
Tags: Lake Champlain, bike path, Burlington Vermont, Church Street, Church Street Marketplace, college town