If you are looking for things to do in Burlington, we hope this list can spark some adventure ideas throughout the Green Mountain State for you and your loved ones. No matter if you are a local, visitor, or a destination expert there is always something new, fun, or different to try!

Burlington is known for its beautiful wooded and natural areas nestled amidst our bustling city, with plenty of shops for your outdoor needs. Regardless if your visit brings you to the mountains or the lake.

24 Hours simply will not do when you are visiting the Burlington area. However, if that is all you have, we can make it work. Burlington is a diverse destination with an abundance of things to do, places to check out, and a true connection to the outdoors. Burlington is a small city with a mighty appetite for good food, great craft beverages, and four seasons of outdoor recreation.

Burlington’s New North End is a thriving part of the city. Home to delicious restaurants, breweries and other vendors and markets, Burlington’s New North End continues to increase in popularity among locals and visitors alike. Check out our guide to the New North End

This year marks the 100th anniversary of founding the Champlain Valley Exposition in 1922. A new book out this summer, “Champlain Valley Fair: Images of America,” by local photographer Stephen Mease of Williston, uses more than 200 historic and contemporary photos to tell the story of how a modest country fair in Essex grew to become Vermont’s largest annual event.

Visiting a working farm is an increasingly common experience in Vermont and an excellent way to support our local producers. Agritourism activities are not only entertaining and educational, but they also support agricultural development in our state. So it should come as no surprise that Vermont offers a bounty of culinary experiences and hands-on farming opportunities for locals and visitors to try.

Interview with Lisa Chase, Ph.D., Conference Chair of the International Workshop on Agritourism

Before it became a popular catchphrase, Vermont farmers practiced "agritourism." At the intersection of agricultural and tourism activities, our farmers have opened their doors to the public, welcoming them to see what their land can produce. For years, curious visitors have been meeting Vermont's makers and gaining insight into their farming practices.

Just steps from the Church Street Marketplace, Burlington’s Waterfront Park is the perfect place to find an authentic Vermont creemee, hangout on the grassy overlook and enjoy a picnic, or watch the sunset over Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains with your friends and loved ones.

Nothing epitomizes a Vermont summer like a real maple creemee. It’s the perfect combination of the two agricultural practices for which we’re best known; maple sugaring and dairy farming

In late March 2021, 79-year-old Bob Saffi -- more commonly known in Burlington as “Ice Cream Bob” -- stood beside a flatbed train in the Burlington rail yard, pondering his nineteenth summer selling ice cream.

Lake Champlain is commonly referred to as the ‘Sixth Great Lake” and living on one of the largest lakes in North America means water is all around us. It is a substance that plays a huge role in the lives of locals and visitors alike.

Outdoor dining is a token of the Burlington experience in the summer months. Restaurants, bakeries, and pubs block off sections of the sidewalk or street to allow for additional seating while buskers, performers and more keep the entertainment alive through downtown

Whether you are coming to Burlington for the first time or the hundredth time, as you crest over the hill at the top of Main Street with Lake Champlain’s dark blue water appearing in the distance, the lure to get out on the water is undeniable. Read more about how you can get out on Lake Champlain.

It’s been decades in the making, but the Ethan Allen Express (EAX) train is finally coming to Burlington. By July 2022, the Amtrak line will extend its roll from New York City up through the current Vermont route, making new stops in Middlebury and Ferrisburgh-Vergennes before ending in Burlington. This is a mega milestone in the effort to create a more sustainable and convenient mode of transport between the Big Apple and the Western Corridor of the Green Mountain State.

Although it is no secret that Burlington, Vermont loves beer, you may be curious to know how this all came about in such a tiny corner of the World. The history of craft beer is rooted deep into the culture and livelihood of Burlington.

Melting snow and geese flying north can only mean one thing; event season in Burlington is right around the corner! And this year is looking very promising indeed. From sports and music, to food and performing arts, there’s going to be a lot of great event action in the Champlain Valley this year. Summer is a great time to plan your trip to Vermont around one of our many awesome events.

Burlington consistently lands itself on annual lists of best places to visit, and for a good reason. With a thriving art scene, live music, museums, great food, local breweries, and boutique shops, the Queen City deserves all of the accolades it regularly receives. Not only is this unique city great for adults, but it is the perfect playground for families to explore as well.

Brewers and hop lovers from around the world travel to Vermont for our beer — it’s a brewing culture unique enough to be recognized by the state itself. “Vermont beer” is a categorical distinction, a style defined by the Green Mountain State.

Former President Calvin Coolidge once said, “We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once”—prudent words spoken like a real Vermonter. Indeed, if Cautious Cal were alive today, he’d be bowled over by the momentum and energy behind the changes coming to the biggest city in his home state. Several major infrastructure projects that have been halted for years, some for decades, are now back in play.

“The most exciting thing happening in Vermont this summer is the inaugural season of our brand new semi-professional mens soccer team, the Vermont Green. Founded in 2021 by soccer-obsessed college teammates Keil Corey and Matthew Wolff, and four close friends, Vermont Green Football Club recently joined the ranks of USL League 2.”

We live in a bounty of biking options.  The Burlington area boasts bike path and trail networks that can bring you quite literally across Lake Champlain and on top of mountain ridges, all within thirty minutes of each other. 

The City of Winooski is turning 100 years old this March. Burlington’s small yet mighty neighbor to the north might cover a mere 1.4 square miles, but it packs a punch. For over a century, this little city has attracted people from across the globe. While it has seen ebbs and flows of prosperity, several decades of revitalization have prompted economic growth and a renewed interest in the Onion City.

The Winooski river is one of the state’s most significant. Starting in the town of Cabot and winding 90 miles west to Lake Champlain, the river runs through the capitol in Montpelier, carves a swath through the Green Mountains wide enough for I89, and reaches the Lake at it’s mouth between Burlington and Colchester. The word "Winooski" means “Land of onions” or “Place of the wild onions” and long before Winooski became a city, it was home to early Native American settlement(s) whose inhabitants found the falls, floodplains, and forests particularly hospitable.

Looking to get outside this Winter? Hiking can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors through all four seasons. Here is a great place to start if you are looking for a winter trail near Burlington

Looking for a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway? Visitors and locals alike can find paradise in cozy, snow-covered Burlington this February. Take a stroll along Church Street to admire the twinkling lights, catch spectacular sunsets along the waterfront, indulge in the acclaimed culinary and brewery scene, soak in local performances, and spend quality time with someone special. Explore these special packages to experience the best Valentine’s Day yet!

One local favorite way to spend time outdoors in the winter is touring, also known as “skinning.” And luckily, Burlington is remarkably close to easily accessible, world-class ski resorts and thousands of acres of powder stacked woods. Whether you’re a complete beginner or seasoned enthusiast we hope to help guide you through touring in the greater Burlington area.

The western slopes of the Green Mountains are home to three of Vermont’s iconic independent ski areas. They’re privately owned, offer great skiing and riding, and their commitment to community and family is unrivaled. Privately owned ski areas are an endangered species in many places, but Vermont values independence, community, and enjoying winter.