50 THINGS TO DO IN VERMONT

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!

Here is a list of 50 ideas to help you get started adventuring throughout the Burlington area.

1) Spend a day shopping and dining along the Church Street Marketplace, Burlington's pedestrian shopping district. With seemingly endless shops and boutiques to explore, turn a corner or two off Church Street and you’ll find even more!

2) Rent a SUP or Kayak and hit the waters of Lake Champlain or one of the many inland lakes and ponds in the region. Check out this article on rentals to reserve your board or boat!

3) Find a hidden gem in downtown Burlington.. One we would recommend starting with is Hong's Chinese Dumplings. She started as a food cart on the Church Street Marketplace and a few years ago, purchased a brick and mortar store on Pearl Street, downtown.

4) Spend your weekend exploring local farmers markets and sample the area's most local and delicious products.

5) Drink a beer at the nations second EVER Craft Brewpub - Vermont Pub & Brew. Looking to learn more? Check out this article on the history of brewing in Burlington.

6) Stop in at the Firehouse Art Gallery on Church Street and check out their rotating gallery.

7) Plan your trip around a festival or event and see the city come alive! Our recommendations would be the Discover Jazz Fest, Festival of Fools, or Grand POint North when it’s back in action! But here is a list of additional Festivals happening in Burlington this summer to check out!

8) Enjoy the view from 360 degrees, from a Lake Champlain Sunset Cruise along the Spirit of Ethan Allen

9) Take a quick trip to the Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour, and explore the Ice Cream making process or checkout your old favorite flavors in the Flavor Graveyard!

10) Charter a fishing boat along Lake Champlain, world-class fishing for SmallMouth Bass, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Landlocked Salmon and MORE

11) Learn to juggle at the Festival of Fools, every year in July along the Church Street Marketplace

12) Listen to live music at Nectars Bar. * Where the band Phish got their start! *

13) Head to the South End Art Hop and explore the amazing artwork throughout the city.

14) Explore the biodiversity of Lake Champlain at the Echo Leahy Center and experience over 70 live exhibits every day.

15) Stop down at Ice Cream Bob's on the waterfront for one of Vermont's special "Creemees" Remember though, Ice Cream Bob’s is cash only, if that happens to you thank goodness Burlington Bay is only steps away.

16) Explore the history of the area and learn about Vermont's local war hero, Ethan Allen at the Ethan Allen Homestead.

17) Hit us up in the winter months and join us at the Hotel Vermont Ice Bar! Tune in for upcoming dates

18) Visit the Shelburne Museum and walk the historic museum grounds, explore a number of exhibits, and even catch a glimpse of what life was like in the area from hundreds of years ago.

19) Every Monday night through the summer months is Battery Street Concert Series at Battery Park (Don't forget to pack a snack or hit up Beansies Bus for a hot dog and fries!)

20) Dine at the Honey Road on Church Street and explore a new dimension of tapas and other Mediterranean style entrées.

21) Hop on the Green Mountain Dinner Train and enjoy dinner and a ride along Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains

23) Go back in time at the Archives Bar and play an eclectic mix of classic arcade games while enjoying craft beer or mixed libations.

24) Rent a bike and explore the Burlington’s beautiful downtown, waterfront and bike path that extends 8 miles to the Champlain Islands. Thankfully we have a list of bike rentals and trail systems right here!

25) Explore the Lake Champlain Islands by car or bike. That’s right, the Burlington Bike Path extends all the way to the Champlain Islands with a little help from Local Motions Bike Ferry crossing on the causeway.

26) Tour one of many local craft breweries and learn the secrets behind Vermont IPAs.

27) Snap a picture of the Burlington sunset from the Burlington Waterfront

28) Check out the world-class A-Dog Skatepark along the Burlington Waterfront

29) Enjoy the product of local grapes and learn about the winemaking process in a northern climate. Or check out one of Burlington’s esteemed Wine Shops, like Wilder Wines

30) Take a hike in Vermont's Green Mountains and enjoy the view over the vast mountains and lakes

31) Head to Shelburne Farms and visit the operating farm or grab a drink and gaze over Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains

32) Grab your swim trunks and hit the beach, Burlington has three sandy beaches along the shores of Lake Champlain

33) Listen to one of many local artists at the Night Club Lamp Shop, Radio Bean, Blue Cat Café, or other local spots.

34) Swing down and check out the Burlington Surf Club, take a board out on the lake or take a dip into Lake Champlain

35) Stuff your face with tacos, burritos and homemade chips at Taco Gordo or El Gato Cantina

36) Get the gang together and check out Burlington Paint n Sip for a night of creativity, laughter, and togetherness.

37) Ring in the New Year at Burlington's Highlight event and watch the annual fireworks with your loved ones.

38) Lace up your running shoes and sign-up for the Vermont City Marathon. Participants can enter to run the full, half, or sign up a relay team and take down 26.2 miles with your team.

39) Cool off on a hot summer day and take a dip in one of hundreds of local streams and brooks

40) Take a visit to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill and sample Vermont's best apple cider, and cider doughnuts

41) Take a gondola ride up Vermont's tallest peak, and grab a drink or a bite to eat at the Cliff House.

42) Head out on the links for 18 holes of great views and good times.

43) Spend a summer night watching the Vermont Lake Monsters, Burlington's Single-A Professional Baseball Team

44) Take a drive to the Northeast Kingdom and try out Hill Farmstead, the #1 Brewery in the world. Check their website for hours and reservations!

45) Watch a comedy show at the Vermont Comedy Club

46) Visit the Fleming Museum of Art and appreciate a number of pieces of art on exhibit

47) Book a day at the Essex Resort and Spa and experience an assortment of relaxing spa offerings, bring your appetite along with you, their two on-site restaurants are

48) Hop on a brew bus and take a ride to all the amazing craft breweries in the area

49) After a large snow storm, try urban cross-country skiing along the streets of downtown Burlington

50) Hop on a Segway Tour of the city and don't worry about walking up-hill through a historic and eye-opening tour of the city.

WHERE TO GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

This story originally appeared in Seven Days and has been edited by Hello Burlington.

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. If you arrived without hiking boots, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Need a backpack, lifejacket, or a helmet? We’re on it. Rest assured that we have all outdoor expedition equipment and apparel right here in the city -- you can even rent the bikes, paddleboards, canoes, or kayaks needed for your adventures along the shores of Lake Champlain! Here is a list of local businesses that can help you prepare for your next outdoor adventure!

Outdoor Gear Exchange

37 Church St., Burlington, gearx.com

For two decades, OGE has been the go-to shop for local kayakers, hikers, skiers, climbers and camping enthusiasts. And with good reason: The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the selection is tough to beat. Check the downstairs consignment area for the real scores. Oh, and you can bring your dog, too.

Photo: Outdoor Gear Exchange

Alpine Shop

1184 Williston Rd., South Burlington, alpineshopvt.com

"Ski today, work tomorrow" is the motto of this locally owned outfitter, housed in a roadside ski chalet and in business for more than half a century. It has everything you need for your alpine adventures — including stylin' après-ski apparel.

Photo: Michael Heeney

Burton Snowboards

80 Industrial Pkwy. & 162 College St., Burlington, burton.com

Respect your elders, especially if they invented your sport. Jake Burton Carpenter's flagship store is the first stop on any boarder's quest for pow — or steez. Burton is a trendsetter in both gear and style.

Photo: Burton Snowboards

North Star Sports

100 Main St., Burlington, northstarsportsvt.com

Stop into this landmark bike shop on Burlington's Main Street, and you'll be spinning your wheels in no time. Since 1985, North Star has been renting and selling cycles of all kinds.

Ridin' High

2 Pearl St., Burlington, rdnhgh.com

Before you shred the skate park or barrel down Pearl Street on your longboard, visit this funky shop for the latest in skateboards and protective gear.

Photo: Matthew Thorsen

Skirack

85 Main St., Burlington, skirack.com

SnowSports Industries America has called this the No. 1 ski shop in New England. Skirack is also a sizable bike shop with tons of two-wheelers, from BMX to downhill.

Photo: Ski Rack Vermont

WND&WVS

688 Pine St., Burlington, wndnwvs.com

Yes, Burlington has a surf shop. The city's only exclusive water-sports retailer offers access to the wind and waves. Gear up here for windsurfing, standup paddleboarding and kiteboarding.

Photo: Corey Hendrickson

24 HOURS IN BURLINGTON

HOW TO SPEND A DAY IN BURLINGTON

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.  No matter what time of the year, if you are in Burlington there will always be some tough decisions to make, like where to eat, what to do, and where to start. 

Here are some recommendations for a quick 24-Hour trip to Burlington.

BRING YOUR APPETITE

Food is something Burlington prides itself on. Before “Farm-to-table” became a household phrase around the nation, Vermont had been, and never stopped  focusing on farming and foraging, providing the freshest ingredients for local restaurants, and making sure everyone who eats in the Green Mountain State is having an authentic Vermont experience.

Burlington is no exception, full of locally-owned restaurants, food trucks, and other local vendors. The city even has a community garden that provides fresh produce.

Bring your appetite for adventure, good times, and great food!

SHOP LOCAL

Burlington is full of locally owned shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Take a stroll down the Church Street Marketplace or one of Burlington’s other bustling' streets and meander through the eclectic collection of shops and restaurants. It’s easy to support local businesses while shopping in Burlington, check out the BTV Artists Market or the Burlington Farmers Market or stop into any shop in the downtown area and find a souvenir for your friends or loved ones. 

GET OUT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

Lake Champlain is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the United States, stretching over 120 miles long, and over 10 miles wide, this magnificent body of water is situated among two beautiful mountain ranges, the Adirondacks Mountains of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont. 

Getting out on Lake Champlain has never been easier, with a variety of charter boats and lake cruises, no matter what your preference may be, enjoy a few hours of serenity on Lake Champlain. Sailboat and Paddleboard rentals are available as well. Check out more information here. 

BURLINGTONS SOUTH END

Located along Pine Street in Burlington is a host of local shops, breweries and art studios, which has been deemed “Burlington’s South End Arts District.” Take a stroll down to the South End and check out Burlington’s Soda Plant, Zero Gravity Beer Hall, or if you are here on the weekend, swing into the South End Truck Stop or the Burlington Farmers Market for one of the best collections of local produce the state has to offer.

WATERFRONT SUNSETS

If the Burlington experience had to be distilled into one thing, like Maple Syrup to Vermont, Burlington’s one thing would be sunsets over Lake Champlain. An event as unique as the city itself, each night the sun sets over the Adirondack Mountain. Burlington is fortunate enough to be positioned in the East, facing the West, with beautiful sunsets 365 days a year.

Needless to say, 24 hours is a great start in the Burlington area. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or a foodie extraordinaire, a small taste of Burlington will leave you salivating for more delicious beers and waterfront sunsets. The good news is that another trip to the Green Mountain State could be on the horizon. Check out places to stay in Burlington here!

BURLINGTON’S NEW NORTH END

Burlington’s New North End is a thriving part of the city. Home to growing number of young, hardworking families, ‘The New North End’ is basically considered everything North of North Beach and Burlington High School (North Ave., BHS) to Starr Farm Dog Beach and Leddy Park and everything else in-between. This Burlington neighborhood always been home to all kinds of local businesses, and local entrepreneurs are continuing to find success in their home neighborhoods. Delicious restaurants, breweries and other vendors call the New North End home, and the area continues to increase in popularity among locals and visitors alike. Located just north of downtown Burlington, the New North End is accessible by the Burlington Bike Path or a short drive down North Ave.

It’s easy to spend a few hours exploring and indulging through the New North End. Find yourself strolling along the sandy beaches of Lake Champlain, sampling locally brewed beers, or discovering some of Burlington’s most unique monuments and parks. Here are some recommendations on things to do and places to eat in Burlington’s New North End.

THINGS TO DO IN THE NEW NORTH END

Ethan Allen Tower

Take a stroll through Ethan Allen Park and meander through the carriage trail system as they lead you to the Ethan Allen Tower, a monument memorializing Ethan Allen, Burlington’s local Revolutionary War Hero.

This monument, is positioned looking back towards the city and provides beautiful views of the University of Vermont. The Ethan Allen Tower is available to visit, click here for hours of operation.

image by @drivinmissdavis

Burlington Sea Caves

Spend an hour exploring the Burlington Sea Caves, this unique site is only accessible during the winter months when the pond is frozen over. Referred to as the “Devils Den” or the “Intervale Sea Caves” the myths, legends, and history continue at this unique site in the New North End.

Read More

Image by @britt_lyon

Leddy Park

Leddy Park is a beautiful recreational area with athletic fields, an indoor ice rink, and a sand beach on Lake Champlain. The Burlington Bike Path provides easy access to and from downtown Burlington, while parking is also accessible at Leddy Park.

Read More

Image by @cole_casale

Ethan Allen Homestead

As previously mentioned, Ethan Allen was without a doubt, one of the first residents of Burlington’s New North End. The Ethan Allen Homestead is a historic site and museum showcasing the magnificent history of the area.

Get a glance of what life was like in the 18th Century, before and after the Revolutionary War. Take a tour of the Allen House, built in 1787 and walk the historic grounds of the residence.

Read More

Image by Ethan Allen Homestead

Rock Point Center

Looking for a short hike near downtown Burlington? Check out Rock Point Trails! Over two miles of walking and hiking trails on 130 acres of privately owned and conserved land along the shores of Lake Champlain.

You must obtain a pass to access the grounds, click here to reserve your pass today!

Image by @afrostylicity

EAT & DRINK IN THE NEW NORTH END

Butter Bar & Kitchen

The Butter Bar brings the classic ‘Gastropub’ styled food to the New North End. With an eclectic menu featuring a number of homestyle favorites like a Fried Chicken Sandwich, or America’s favorite international import; Poutine.

Simple Roots Brewery

Simple Roots Brewery has become a staple of the New North End. Brewing approachable beers that can be enjoyed by anyone. The friendly staff makes you feel right at home, while a nice cold pint could be the refreshment you deserve.

Pingala Café

Pingala recently opened a new restaurant in the New North End! This vegan style restaurant serves up organic breakfast, lunch & weekend brunch, plus gourmet coffee & craft beers. Check out their new location!

Bagel Café & Deli

Burlington’s second favorite food group, besides beer. The Bagel Cafe and Deli has been providing delicious bagels and breakfast sandwiches to the Old North End every day from 6am - 2pm!

Miss Weinerz

Miss Weinerz is a neighborhood bakery specializing in homemade sourdough donuts, buns, breads, cakes, cookies, chips, & more. If you haven’t had the pleasure of having a Miss Weinerz donut, it’s a must!

Find Miss Weinerz here

Bessery’s Butcher Shop

Bessery’s neighborhood butcher shop is a New North End icon, established in 1963, this full-service gourmet company specializes in the highest quality of fresh meats, pork, poultry, grocery products, along with beer and wine. Stop by for a sandwich or freshly butchered meats.

Hello Bessery’s

La Boca Woodfired Pizza

Wood-Fired Pizza in Burlington’s New North End! Pop into La Boca relax after a long day of adventuring! The wood-fired pizza is spectacular especially paired with a cold beer or glass of wine in a relaxing atmosphere.

100 YEARS OF THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR

Story and Images by Stephen Mease

2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the the Champlain Valley Fair, the largest annual event in the state of Vermont. While so much about the fair has changed over the last century, so much has remained the same. It’s the sights, sounds, scents, and tastes that continue to define the fair experience that runs this year from August 26th through September 4th in Essex Junction.

The heaviest pumpkin in the Green Mountain State; pristine fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers; well-tended potted plants; preserves, honey gleaming in glass jars; quintessentially local art and crafts; well-bred cattle, horses, oxen, sheep, pigs, poultry, and rabbits; the latest shiny farming equipment and cultivation methods – that’s how founders envisioned the Champlain Valley Fair.

They were right in thinking that pride in local agriculture would draw exhibitors into friendly competition for blue ribbons, cash prizes, and bragging rights. And it would lure visitors from near and far throughout New England for a heady dose of the country life, novelty entertainment, games of chance, thrilling rides, and sweet and salty well-oiled flavors of fast-food favorites. It’s a formula whose ingredients haven’t changed much in over a century.

It’s not a fair without a midway where mysterious sideshows, games of chance, and dizzying rides reside. Since 1927, the fair has hosted nine carnivals including the World of Mirth, Vermont’s own King Reid Shows, Reithoffer Shows, and currently, the James E. Strates Shows.

The carnival games today still test ring tossing and balloon-popping skills, feats of strength and aim, and every year the thrill level cranks up toward faster, higher, more extreme rides.

Fair food, that once-a-year traditional indulgence, is often only available locally at the Champlain Valley Fair. Irresistibles include simple, hot, buttered ears of fresh sweet corn from the Rotary Club booth, corn dogs from the 75-year fair vendor Piggy Bar, cartons of Al’s French Frys, onions and peppers piled on Mr. Sausage, milkshakes from the Dairy Center, or anything sweet from the Maple Sugar Shack.

Veering away from the booths, fairgoers enjoy the more social cooking demonstrations with local chefs, craft beer competitions, and even a martini bar to compliment the beer tent.

The fair’s grandstand shows have provided Vermonters the chance to see performers like Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, and Bruno Mars, while the monster truck shows and demolition derbies help to round out the slate of entertainment.

Still, it’s that scent of fried dough and burgers wafting across the midway; the whoop of a winner choosing a huge plush panda; the shriek from atop the Ring of Fire, aerialists swinging high above the crowd, an eight-year-old leading her Holstein calf to their first blue ribbon – all this and more is why the Champlain Valley Exposition’s signature Champlain Valley Fair has grown to become the largest annual event in Vermont – aptly described as the “Ten Best Days of Summer.”

Stephen Mease is the author of “Champlain Valley Fair: Images of America,” a history of the fair that includes over 200 historical images that tell the story of how a modest country fair in Essex grew to become Vermont’s largest annual event.

The book will be sold at the Champlain Valley Fair’s Arts and Crafts Pavilion as well as local bookstores, and is available online at Arcadia Publishing.

AGRITOURISM BUSINESSES & EVENTS

By Dana Freeman

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. 

Philo Ridge Farm 

Plan a visit to this 400-acre working farm in Charlotte, where they raise livestock and practice organic farming. Everything grown on the farm is harvested, processed, and sold in their kitchen and Market. They are open several days for lunch and dinner and have grab-and-go options as well.

Image courtesy of Philo Ridge Farm

Earthkeep Farmcommon

A center for regenerative farming, Earthkeep Farmcommon in Charlotte encompasses a community of smaller businesses that grow and produce flowers, grains, honey, fruits, and vegetables using sustainable practices. On Thursday evenings,  overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains, they host weekly Farm Night Markets where Earthkeep Collective producers can sell their products directly to the public.

Image courtesy of Earthkeep Farmcommon // Junapr

Adventure Dinner

Adventure Dinner invites guests to feast on a bounty of Vermont-made food and drink in unbelievably picturesque settings. With perfectly curated candle-lit tables set with fresh-cut flowers, they make dining rooms out of farms, fields, barns, vineyards, and orchards. From tea parties to pig roasts in a pasture, these highly curated culinary feasts in unique locations showcase the best that Vermont has to offer. 

Image courtesy of Adventure Dinner // Chadwick Estey

Shelburne Farms

One of the most magical places to visit in Vermont, Shelburne Farms, is a working dairy farm and museum dedicated to the area’s farming history. The 1400-acre campus encompasses a grass-based dairy of Brown Swiss cows used to make their award-winning cheddar cheese, an organic garden market, maple sugaring, lumber operations, a children’s farmyard, and miles of hiking trails. For the last 23 years, they have hosted the Vermont Fresh Network Annual Dinner in their Coach Barn, where you can try some of the best farm-grown food prepared by local chefs.

Image courtesy of Shelburne Farms

Summervale

Set in the garden space of the Intervale Center in Burlington, Summervale is a weekly gathering that celebrates local food with live music and a rotating list of guest organizations and vendors. It is like a community picnic where kids run barefoot through the grass, catch frogs in the pond and run around while families gather to graze on flatbread, crepes, and ice cream while sipping craft beers and wine.

Image courtesy of the Intervale Center

Shelburne Vineyard

Located on the shores of Lake Champlain with 17 acres of grapes spread out over three vineyards in Shelburne and Charlotte, Shelburne Vineyards has been growing and producing red, white, and rosé wines since 1998. In addition to a tasting room that offers wines by the glass and snacks, they host weekly concerts at the winery.

Image courtesy of Shelburne Vineyard

Allenholm Farm

A seventh-generation farm, Allenholm is Vermont's oldest commercial apple orchard. Located in South Hero, this pick-your-own apple orchard has a farm stand, a petting zoo with farm animals, farmstand and sells creemees made with Vermont maple syrup.

Image courtesy of Allenholm Farm

Maple Open House Weekend

Usually held the last weekend in March during the height of sugaring season, Vermont sugar houses open their doors to invite the public in to see how sap from our maple trees is turned into syrup. Each sugar house offers something a little different. Activities range from sugar house tours, hikes in the sugarbush, sampling maple products, trying sugar-on-snow, and purchasing that liquid gold straight from the source. This year Vermont is also hosting an additional two maple house open weekends in the Fall. 

This is just a tiny sample of what Vermont has to offer. Check out DigIn Vermont for a more complete listing of Vermont food experiences, including tasting trails, farmers' markets, classes, and workshops.

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

Written by Dana Freeman

Lisa Chase

Bio: Dr. Lisa Chase is Extension Professor at the University of Vermont and the Director of the Vermont Tourism Research Center. Her research and outreach focus on the intersection of food systems, working landscapes, community vitality, and tourism. During the past 20 years, she has worked with entrepreneurs, communities, farmers, and tourism businesses throughout Vermont. Before moving to Vermont, Dr. Chase worked in New York, Colorado, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, among other places. She is the conference chair of the International Workshop on Agritourism, which will be held in Burlington in August 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and eating her way around Vermont and other world-class destinations. 

Q: Tell me a bit about Agritourism in Vermont? 

Dr. Chase: Agritourism is about farms welcoming visitors for education, recreation, direct sales of products, hospitality, and entertainment. Agritourism supports farm viability by helping farms diversify their revenue sources and creating new jobs.

Agritourism also promotes agricultural literacy. It allows people to experience a farm's sights, smells, sounds, and tastes. Many people these days don't understand where their food, fuel, and fiber come from. Oftentimes they have no idea how food is actually produced. Being connected to agriculture a few generations ago was common, but now a tiny percent, just 2% of our US population, works on farms. One hundred years ago, 70% of US employment was in agriculture. Now, most consumers just go to the store and pick up their food and have no idea where it comes from. There is a fundamental disconnect between consumers and their food. We owe a debt of gratitude to the farms that are willing to open up and share their agricultural knowledge and heritage with local visitors as well as those from outside Vermont.                                              

Q: When did Agritourism start, and how has it evolved in Vermont?

Dr. Chase: The practice of gathering on farms for planting, harvesting, and boiling sap has probably been around since the invention of agriculture. In the past few decades, that practice has been named, monetized, and marketed as a way to connect farms, their communities, and visitors.

The term "agritourism" used in the United States is derived from the Italian word "agriturismo." It is a blend of the Italian words for agriculture and tourism and is loosely defined as a farm stay where guests can stay overnight on a farm and/or dine there.

In the 1960s and 70s, the struggling small Italian farming populations began moving from rural to more urban areas to find work to support their families. Concerned that the farming culture was disappearing, in the mid-80s, the Italian government developed incentives, in the form of subsidies and tax policies, to encourage people to return to their rural roots and keep farmers working the land. These agriturismo laws helped farmers restructure their homes to accommodate visitors for overnight stays and restaurants.

Many other countries around the world noticed the agriturismo movement in Italy and began considering how it might benefit them. In Vermont, Beth Kennett, the owner of Liberty Hill Farm, pioneered the agritourism movement. In 1984, as a way to generate additional income for the family dairy farm, she turned her home into a Bed & Breakfast and began taking in overnight guests. At that time, Beth did not realize that visitors would be so excited to stay on a working farm and what an attraction milking cows and eating her fresh farm food would turn out to be. Beth is a trailblazer for agritourism in Vermont and throughout the US.

Q: What are some examples of Agritourism in Vermont?

Dr. Chase: A few decades ago, agritourism encompassed traditional on-farm experiences such as educational field trips to farms, u-pick fruit, corn mazes, milking cows, and hayrides. However, in the last decade, the focus on local food has led to tastings and meals on farms, as well as more creative types of experiences like farm-to-ballet and goat yoga.

Some examples of agritourism in Vermont that are happening this summer include:

• Open Farm Week - Usually held the second week in August, Open Farm Week is an opportunity to get to know Vermont farmers and get a behind-the-scenes look into our working agricultural landscape.

• Pick-Your-Own (PYO) - This is a classic way to get on the farm and bring a bounty home with you. You can pick anything from strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries to apples and pumpkins.

• Farm Stays - spend a night or two on a working farm.

• Run a 5K on a Farm - Run a race through the fields and paths and past barns. 

• Farm to Fork Dinners - Enjoy farm-fresh meals made with local produce, breads, meats, and cheese in a unique setting.

Origin of Food Tours - Planned in conjunction with the International Workshop on Agritourism, there is limited space for the public to partake in the Origins of Food tours that showcase the very best of agritourism in Vermont with a variety of themes, farms, food, and fiber producers. Registration closes Friday, August 12.

Q: What is something that people would be surprised to learn about Agritourism in Vermont?

Dr. Chase: Here in Vermont, we are used to stopping by a CSA or farmstand for our fresh veggies; we all have our favorite cheese makers and sugar makers and favorite places for a maple creemee. Visiting a farm may feel commonplace. But you might be surprised to know that visiting farms and buying local is not as easy to come by in many other states and countries. The relationships between visitors and the farming community don't exist in the same way in many other places.

Q: What is the International Workshop on Agritourism? 

Dr. Chase: Taking place in Burlington from August 30 - September 1, this three-day event will bring together an international group of farmers, researchers, agricultural service providers, and tourism experts to share their agritourism knowledge, expertise, and experience. Plus, there are opportunities before and after the conference for attendees to visit Vermont’s farms and producers. 

Q: Why was Vermont chosen to host the 2nd annual workshop?

Dr. Chase: In 2018, the First World Congress on Agritourism was held in Italy. When I saw the call for presentations, I said to the UVM Extension Director at that time that Vermont needed to be represented there. He agreed and asked me to attend with the goal of not only sharing what we do in Vermont but also bringing the next conference back to Vermont. 

After the Italy conference, everyone who was interested put in a proposal to host the next one. At that first conference, there were 250 people in attendance from 42 countries. However, there were only six from the United States and six from Canada. I made the case that by moving the conference around and outside of Italy, they might attract more people to attend. I was also able to convince the Italians that Vermont is a true leader in agritourism in the United States. People in other countries don't realize how strong our commitment is to farming and local food. Vermont is right up there on a world-class level, and not everyone knows it. This conference is an opportunity for the world to understand that.

I was honored when Vermont was chosen for the 2020 conference, and then the Covid-19 pandemic happened, and the conference was postponed. During that time, we developed a series of webinar series called Virtual gatherings. These webinars may potentially continue along with online networking events. The next steps will be determined at the Burlington conference on how to continue developing this international agritourism network. 

Q: What is it about Burlington that would attract international attendees to come to Vermont from all over the world?

Dr. Chase: Vermont has authenticity – not to mention amazing food and drink. Our farmers care about our communities, the working landscape, and the environment. It is not just about making money, it is also about creating sustainable and regenerative food systems.

AGRITOURISM IN VERMONT

By Dana Freeman

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.

Many endeavors that once felt commonplace in Vermont can now be classified as tourism activities. Without even realizing it, you've likely already participated in agritourism.

You've probably been to an orchard to pick-your-own apples in the fall or cut down your Christmas tree at a local farm before the holidays. Perhaps you've also bought your vegetables at a farmers' market. And in all likelihood, if you have visited Vermont in the spring, you've been to a sugarhouse to learn about the process of maple sugaring and then bought maple syrup directly from that sugarmaker. All of these are examples of agritourism.

It is not just about buying local but being local. Agritourism promotes the relationship between the community, our farmers, and Vermont's majestic landscape. These occurrences have become increasingly popular in the last decade and morphed into more formalized undertakings.

Not only can you eat and drink your way through the Green Mountain State, but you can see and experience how that food got from the ground and onto the table. This ability to get up close and personal with your food creates a very authentic taste of place.

These genuine farm experiences go behind the scenes to give locals and visitors a better understanding of Vermont's food and agriculture system. It is more than simply visiting a working farm to milk a cow or trying your hand shearing a sheep.

Image courtesy of Shelburne Farms

Unique farm and food experiences include having dinner in a farmer's field using food sourced from its gardens, listening to a concert in a vineyard, gathering eggs and berries for breakfast during a farm stay, or even watching an outdoor ballet performance on a farm. Apart from participating in farming activities, there are agricultural fairs, field days, and cheese, wine, and brewer's festivals.

The economic impact of agritourism is real. Producers can grow their businesses using innovative ideas to develop these successful recreational and educational on-farm, orchard, or vineyard events.

The public's support of these activities not only creates awareness but also generates additional sources of revenue for the producers, enabling their businesses to flourish. In fact, many of Vermont's producers are now nationally recognized brands with goods available for purchase outside of Vermont. 

Image courtesy of Adventure Dinner / Bolster McKinley

Image courtesy of Shelburne Farms

Our strong farming history in Vermont makes it an internationally recognized agritourism destination. So much so that the International Workshop on Agritourism will be held in Burlington from August 30-September 1st.

THINGS TO DO ON THE BURLINGTON WATERFRONT

Our Guide to the Burlington Waterfront Park

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.

No trip to Burlington is ever complete without a visit to the Burlington Waterfront. Here are some other reasons to check it out

GET OUT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

Spirit of Ethan Allen III

Lake Champlain’s largest cruise ship and floating restaurant‑a Burlington “must do!” Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Champlain and the Vermont Mountains while enjoying delicious food and drinks. This triple deck luxury cruise ship offers daily scenic lunch, brunch, and nightly themed dinner cruises.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN COMMUNITY SAILING CENTER

The Lake Champlain Sailing Center  provides educational and recreational activities out on the lake. Offering a variety of sailing and paddling opportunities perfect for a sunny day in Burlington.

THE BURLINGTON BIKE PATH

Local Motion

Rent bikes from Local Motion on the Burlington Waterfront and  discover downtown Burlington on two-wheels. Tear it up on the Burlington Bike Path and head out on the Colchester Causeway. Or swing over to Oakledge or North Beach Park for a dip into Lake Champlain.

Other bike rentals can be found a few blocks away these businesses: North Star Sports, SkiRack, Outdoor Gear Exchange, etc.

WATCH A SUNSET OVER LAKE CHAMPLAIN

FARMERS & FORAGERS

Farmers and Foragers Dockside at the Burlington Harbor Marina is a summer favorite with beautiful views over Lake Champlain and Lone Rock Point. The Food Truck based restaurant serves a variety of homestyle comfort foods from their delicious “Vermont Cheesesteak” to Lake Champlain Perch tacos, and much more.

SPLASH AT THE BOATHOUSE

A waterfront restaurant offering lunch, dinner, and a full bar with beautiful views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Easily accessible by boat and dog friendly as well. Take in the best sunsets around as you enjoy a bite and a beverage on the docks of the iconic Burlington Boathouse.

GRAB A BITE & A BEER

FOAM BREWERS & DEEP CITY

Chillin’ on the Burlington Waterfront and  serving up a constantly changing lineup of beers, Foam Brewers is a year-round gem, literally, 12-Months of great beer and amazing sunsets. With world‑class cheese and charcuterie slates, freshly brewed small batch specialties, served up  in a funky laid‑back atmosphere, leaving can be the hardest part!  

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

ECHO, LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN

A museum on the Burlington Waterfront showcasing the biodiversity of Lake Champlain while educating children and visitors through more than 100 interactive exhibits; 70 species of fish reptiles, and amphibians; major changing exhibits; and a 2,500‑square foot early learning interactive space, ECHO encourages visitors to explore and learn about their natural environment.

THE GALLERY AT MAIN STREET LANDING

The Gallery at Main Street Landing features Contemporary and Non-traditional art from local artists and is easy accessible from the Burlington Waterfront.

TRICKS AT A DOG SKATEPARK

A DOG SKATEPARK

Skate along the shores of Lake Champlain and enjoy a world‑class skate park. Endorsed by Tony Hawk, the legend himself made the trip to Burlington to mark the grand opening of such a landmark in the city. A world-class skatepark with unparalleled views.

ICE CREAM: OLD SCHOOL ICONS & NEW PIONEERS

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.  Local establishments like Palmer Lane Maple have been a destination for creemee lovers since 2012. Pure maple syrup is added in perfect proportions to a high-butterfat milk base and a Taylor soft serve machine churns the ice cream to velvety, billowing peaks. The resulting creemee, swirled expertly in a cone, calls to mind the texture of just-spun gelato. Don’t forget to top it with their homemade maple sprinkles or maple dust. 

Vermont Cookie Love, a roadside “Love Shack” twenty minutes south of Burlington off Route 7, straddles the line between nostalgia and new wave. The chocolate-brown shack sells homemade cookies and manages a seasonal parking-lot window dedicated to creemees and ice-cream-cookie sundaes.

Throughout the day, cookies arrive warm from the oven, sending an aroma across the one-lane highway that could melt frozen bones even mid-winter. Ice cream flavors like a coffee-maple twist, churned with locally roasted coffee and pure maple syrup, are some of the many reasons a steady (and worthwhile) line can often be expected. 

Image by Vermont Cookie Love

Little Gordo Creemee Stand is a hole in the wall creeme stand and snack bar on South Union Street in Burlington. (Behind City Market) They are always serving up something special and typically topped with fruit loops, oreos, or other delicious toppings. You can spin your creemee into a frosty Wizard (which is a lot like a Blizzard) with sweet cream and horchata soft serve, cookie crumbles and rainbow sprinkles -- or order a neatly peaked cone of maple coated with craggy hunks of peanut brittle.

Photo by Tom Carton

Offbeat Creemee, Aisha Basset’s plant-based creemee kiosk beside the Myers Memorial Pool in Winooski, weaves a whimsical and happily unconventional thread through flavors inspired by childhood favorites. For allergy-conscious consumers and omnivores alike, Basset’s ice creams lack nothing in texture, flavor, and allure. Featuring delicious flavors like Smoky Campfire, Classic Mint Chip, Beet sherbet, and Blueberry-basil, traditionalists will be pleasantly surprised. Purists can order a swirl of vanilla soft serve if they want, though they can also twist it with yolk-yellow Sunshine Golden Milk ice cream (which, of course, contains no yolks). 

Photo by Bear Cieri

Photo by Bear Cieri

“In Winooski, there’s a lot of economic and cultural diversity,” says Basset. “People might not be able to eat dairy or eggs due to religious, cultural, or dietary reasons. I switched to plant-based because of the need for people to socialize over ice cream -- it’s a big part of going out as a family unit, of being with your friends. And it’s a huge part of Vermont culture.” 

Shy Guy Gelato, opened by Tim Elliot and Paul Sansone in 2016, pulls from Sansone’s Italian American heritage, and a stint cooking across Italy, to recreate luxurious gelato with Vermont ingredients and traditional Italian technique. Flavors like creamy cantaloupe gelato, peach sorbet and sweet-cream fior di latte have garnered Shy Guy a committed local following.

 “90% of our crowd is locals from this area,” said Sansone. “It feels like Italy, in a way -- Some people come every night after dinner. I’ve seen neighborhood kids grow up over our past five years in business.”  A scoop of Shy Guy is almost like Vermont’s high-butterfat soft serve in texture, but the body is slightly thicker, the ice cream denser. With less air pumped throughout, the flavor becomes so concentrated that a bite of khaki-colored Sicilian pistachio tastes exactly of the nut itself, while a scoop of rosy Strawberry-Thai Basil becomes the coldest, silkiest bite of the berry you might experience. Some say their nectarine tastes more like a nectarine than a nectarine.

Photo by Bear Cieri

Lulu, an ice cream shop in Vergennes known for its enormous ice cream cone moniker hanging above the doorway, similarly puts locally sourced ingredients at the base of all flavor creations. Owner Laura Mack has honed her palate over multiple decades in the culinary playground that was her family’s farm-to-table restaurant, Mary’s. Her father was the chef-owner, her mother was front-of-house, and she and her sister were the bartenders-slash-servers. 

“My mentality has always been knowing what I can get locally and allowing my creativity to be the backbone of the flavor profiles,” said Mack. “And having fun with it, because it’s ice cream -- it should spark joy in the people eating it and in me making it.” 

Photo by Lulu Ice Cream

Sisters of Anarchy, a family-owned ice cream shop in the center of Fisher Brothers berry farm in Shelburne, brings hyper-local ingredients to another level by growing most of flavor elements onsite, where they also make 100% percent of their pints. Inspired by a multi-generational love for ice cream, owners Becky Castle (“The Mother of All Anarchy”), Bob Clark (“Farmer Bob”), and their three children Lily, Sunshine, and Clark (formerly nicknamed “The Sisters of Anarchy” for their high-energy childhood) create flavors from local milk and over thirty-thousand row feet of bushes and vines.

There are blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, aronia berries, raspberries, Marquette grapes and a patch of peppermint. What results is ice cream flavors that blend local dairy and hand-picked ingredients with a cheeky sense of humor and a gutsy, ferociously delicious taste.

Photo by Bear Cieri

Standout flavors include Overtime, a base of Burlington-roasted Kestrel coffee ice cream blended with red raspberries; Crystal Blue Persuasion, where fresh blueberries are blended into a pitch-perfect vanilla base; and I Want Candy, the Castle-Clark family’s answer to classic mint chip, but with farm-grown peppermint and giant sheets of homemade chocolate broken by hand with a mallet. 

HELLO ICE CREAM

The innovators, hidden gems and old-school icons behind our maple, cows and creemees
HAPPY RETIREMENT ICE CREAM BOB!

by Julia Clancy

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. Saffi’s green and butter-yellow clapboard kiosk, Ice Cream Bob’s, had recently been uprooted and transferred -- intact, but with shutters closed -- from its eighteen-year fixed location on Burlington’s waterfront bike path to a nondescript spot in the rail yard, marked by wiry brambles and the detritus of construction projects past. The bare maple trees still signaled “stick season.”

“Ice Cream Bob” Saffi before his retirement in 2022. Photo by Bear Cieri.

“Months before, Saffi was handing maple creemees (more on those later) through the kiosk window to customers. The high-butterfat soft serve was spun with Vermont maple syrup and twisted into tight, evenly tiered swirls, complete with the drooping peak of a cartoon ice cream cone. In fall 2020, Ice Cream Bob’s was displaced without notice to make way for renovating the railroad and bike path in preparation for the upcoming extension of Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express train to Burlington. I thought I was over,” said Saffi. “I didn’t think I’d ever be back in business. But the people advocated for me. They came to my rescue. And this season was as good as any other.”

Photo by Jeff Lawson

By “the people advocated for me,” Saffi alludes to a little hubbub that ensued. After Saffi’s ice cream stand was removed from the waterfront, Burlington locals and Ice Cream Bob regulars reached out to city government. The owner of The Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington’s largest cruise ship and floating restaurant, advocated for his return.

The Burlington Business Association rallied behind him. The president of Vermont Rail backed Saffi. So did the mayor.  An administrator at Burlington Electric made a three-and-a-half-minute video in support. In the end, Ice Cream Bob’s was reinstated in a stretch of greenspace across from College Street on the Burlington waterfront, a few yards from its old location on the bike path. 

Saffi has since retired, but few stories better symbolize the appreciation Vermonters have for ice cream -- both for the obvious pleasure of a cone, and as the ideal lens for showcasing a few things the state does best: community, dairy, and a unique combination of traditional and offbeat artisanship.

Shy Guy Gelato in the South End. Photo by Bear Cieri

This is a state that has its own vernacular for soft serve: The creemee, a word with unknown origins beyond its singularly creamy texture, is often marked by the addition of Vermont maple syrup and the frequent use of local dairy with a higher butterfat content. Here, dairy covers around 70% of annual agricultural sales, and around 1,500 sugarhouses make Vermont the top maple producer in the United States. Roadside ice cream stands and creemee shacks dot scenic byways that cut through mountain passes, canopied woodlands, and fields of grazing Holsteins.

In and around Burlington, a local maker churns perfect gelato from Vermont ingredients (Shy Guy Gelato), or crowns a twist of soft serve with a giant wisp of spun candy floss (Canteen Creemee Company), or is heralded for continuously crafting pints for almost 100 years (Wilcox Dairy).

Maple farmers at Palmer Lane Maple spin their amber syrup with dairy from fourth-generation farmers at Kingdom Creamery. At a community pool in Winooski, Offbeat Creemee creates plant-based ice creams for a dedicated following, in flavors like soft-serve coffee cardamom and bright lemon meringue pie. An Instagram account called @idreamofcreemees searches for the best Vermont ice cream statewide. Stuck In Vermont, a popular YouTube channel from Burlington’s alt weekly, Seven Days, features a multi-part creemee tour. We haven’t yet mentioned Ben & Jerry’s. (Stay tuned: Jerry will make a cameo.) 

Menu board at Offbeat Creemee

There are layers to what makes Burlington an under-the-radar point of origin for the best ice cream in the country.

From ice cream traditionalists to area innovators, from hard vanilla to soft serve cherry-cheesecake, from small dairy farmers making value-added pints to a family of berry farmers with a bent for ice cream anarchy, consider this your jumping off point for exploring Vermont ice cream its best. Not that you needed an excuse to eat a creemee. 

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SUMMER

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. For those lucky enough to live in Vermont, the lake serves as an internal compass, the lake is west, and everything else falls into place.

Throughout the spring, the water throughout the region comes back to life. As the weather warms, the ice unlocks and soon the majestic rivers of the Green Mountains begin to flow freely again, connecting the mountains to the lake. Before long, we’re in simultaneous motion ourselves. Sailboats and paddleboards dot the lakes surface, kayaks and canoes set out to explore the wild riverways, and anglers from all over flock to Lake Champlain for their chance at a trophy catch.

We asked our friend, Caleb Kenna, to take to the sky to gather some shots that celebrate the water all around us.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN BURLINGTON

GET OUT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

WATERFRONT RESTAURANTS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

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. In Burlington, waterfront restaurants are the go-to for afternoon cocktails and a snack when the sun is at its peak. Soak up some rays while sampling local brews from the many different draft lists, or mix it up with a summer frozen specialty.

As the warm days of spring and summer begin to set in, the people of Burlington will start to move everything outside, be it eating, drinking, or just hanging out. With Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains providing a picturesque backdrop for a summer evening in the Queen City.

Here is a list of 5 Waterfront Restaurants on Lake Champlain. 

Splash at the Boathouse      
2 College St, Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 658-2244

Hours: Seasonal (Daily: 12 - 9pm)

There is always a time and place for fine dining. There is also always a time to kick back, relax, and enjoy a sunset with a frozen drink in hand. Splash at the Boathouse is the ideal location to find yourself for an afternoon or evening on the waterfront. 

The Spot on the Dock     
1 King St, Burlington, VT 05401
 (802) 540-0480

Hours: Seasonal (Daily: 12 - 9pm)

An eclectic, surf-inspired, dockside restaurant along the Burlington waterfront. The Spot on the Dock is open seasonally, although their opening dates can vary depending on the weather. It is typically normal to see them open anytime in May and by Memorial Day at the latest. 

Farmers & Foragers

75 Penny LN, Burlington VT 05401

Open seasonally May through October

Hours: Wednesday - Saturday (12:00-9:00PM) Sunday (12:00-4:00pm)

Farmers and Foragers Dockside at the Burlington Harbor Marina is a summer favorite with beautiful views over Lake Champlain and Lone Rock Point. The Food Truck based restaurant serves a variety of homestyle comfort foods from their delicious “Vermont Cheesesteak” to Lake Champlain Perch tacos, and much more.

Shanty on the Shore     
181 Battery St, Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 864-0238

Hours:  Open Everyday (12pm - 8pm)

Burlington’s premier seafood restaurant - The Shanty on the Shore prides themselves on old fashioned fresh seafood. Boasting gorgeous views over Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, the Shanty is a go to for a family dinner with a view.

Deep City at Foam Brewers   
112 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 800-1454

Hours: Thurs - Monday (4pm - 9pm)

A Foam Brewers Project, Deep City is situated along Burlington’s Waterfront Park with a front-facing view of Lake Champlain. Serving a wide variety of epic dishes, Deep City also benefits from an extensive list of craft beers provided by Foam Brewers as well as guest beers from some of the best local, national, and international breweries.  

Skinny Pancake
60 Lake St Unit 1a Burlington VT
(802) 540-0188

Hours: Everyday: 8:00am - 3:00pm

The Skinny Pancake in Burlington is one of many of their epic crepe based franchises throughout the northeast. With a hyper focus on supporting local communities and creating a sustainable food shed. The Skinny Pancake has been a leader in our local restaurant community for a while now.

A quick stroll down Battery Street, College Street, or around Waterfront Park and you will likely pass by the Skinny Pancake. Great for a quick drink, dinner with friends, or a hearty brunch before a day of adventuring. 

Explore Lake Champlain with the Community Sailing Center

By Dana Freeman

All images courtesy of the Lake Champlain Sailing Center

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. It is as if Burlington’s waterfront is beckoning you to come down and play. Each year the Community Sailing Center helps over 8,000 people do just that. 

Located directly on the waterfront, their new Community Waterfront Center offers visitors and residents numerous ways to get out and enjoy the lake. In addition to stand-up paddleboard, kayak, and canoe rentals, certified instructors are available for private, family, or group lessons. Whether you have no experience or are a beginner without enough confidence to go out alone, lessons are a great way to build confidence in your abilities. 

Newcomers to the sport will find they offer some stellar programming that is good for anyone who has ever wanted just to try sailing or simply get out on the water for a few hours. For example, for adults, the First Sail Program combines sailing with one of Vermont’s favorite pastimes - sampling local craft brews.

After a two-hour sail covering some basics, you’ll head across the street to Foam Brewers to enjoy a cold pint. Proving you are never too young to learn to sail, kids as young as six can enroll in their summer sailing camps and continue until their late teens, perhaps even becoming a junior instructor one day.

While the Sailing Center provides access to the lake for enjoyment, they also understand that environmental education and stewardship are equally as important. Lake Champlain is Vermont’s greatest natural resource, and they know it is imperative to continue finding ways to keep the lake healthy for future generations to use.

The center’s WAVES (Water. Access. Vitality. Education. Stewardship) program is an initiative interwoven into all of their programs. Each element plays a vital role in the center’s mission. Education and sustainability are always top of mind. For instance, during their summer camps, kids participate in hands-on lessons that teach them about water quality.

They help to monitor the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) that bloom in Burlington Harbor. Additionally, wanting to utilize best practices to reduce impacts from their on-the-water events, they partner with organizations like Sailors for the Seas to certify clean and sustainable regattas that eliminate single use items and practice responsible waste management.

And finally, their new Sailing Education Center is a net-zero facility with a solar array that has produced 190,580 kilowatt-hours (KWH) of electricity to date.

Access to the lake is equally important. Accordingly, one of the most exciting and notable achievements for the Sailing Center focuses on its commitment to access. Their Sailing Diversity Access Initiative Program, which is designed to foster inclusion within the sport of sailing for BIPOC children, was recently awarded the US Sailing Jim Kilroy Outstanding Outreach and Inclusion Award.

This multi-year, fully funded program intends to inspire a lifelong love for sailing by offering campers, aged 11-15, up to 4 weeks of camp each summer for four years that includes before- and after-care and transportation assistance.

Are you ready to get out on the lake?

The Amtrak EAX Connects NYC to Burlington

By Carolinne Griffin 

Train train, coming down, down the line. 

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. With the climate crisis going from bad to worse and gas prices averaging nearly $5 per gallon, the EAX train is pulling into the station at the perfect time. 

The new service is ideal for visitors, whether you’re coming up from NYC and the Hudson Valley  eager to explore the Champlain Valley region or the reverse. On the northbound track, the EAX  is expected to depart New York’s Penn Station daily at 2:20 in the afternoon and pull into  Burlington around 9:55 at night.

Southbound, the train will leave Burlington at approximately  10:15 in the morning to arrive in NYC close to 6:00—just in time to grab a slice and catch a  show. “It’s gonna be a great schedule and a pretty quick timeframe,” says Toni Clithero from  the State of Vermont’s Agency of Transportation, who points out that 85% of the travelers on  the current Amtrak line come from the New York City area.

With the additional stops in  Vermont, the agency is also making a big push to encourage Vermont ridership. There will be  the $18 maximum fare for travelers within the state, and for the grand opening, they’ll be  offering $1 promotional rides on the EAX to all points within Vermont. “For a dollar, you can get  the kids on the choo-choo train. It’s a great event, especially in the summertime.”  

Photo by Stephen Mease

Getting a passenger train up to the state’s biggest metropolitan area seems like a no-brainer,  and indeed, for years, there’s been robust support for the line. But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t  faced significant obstacles. Representative Diane Lanpher, chair of both the House Committee  on Transportation and the Vermont Rail Action Network (VRAN), can point to 2009 as a big  turning point for the project. When former Governor James Douglas recommended canceling  the Ethan Allen Express and only providing a bus from Albany to Rutland, “that call to cancel  that service really put it on the radar of importance,” recalls Lanpher.

“People had moved to  the Rutland area and used that train to go to work in the city. They never thought the train  wouldn’t be there for them.” According to Lanpher, the desire to connect EAX to Burlington  was there, but many improvements had to happen first. For passenger rail, it was the  installation of continuous welded rail to eliminate the clickety-clack of a typical freight track. In  addition, the EAX is also getting a much-needed upgrade to the train cars. Folks can expect a  more comfortable, quiet ride all around. A lot of consideration has gone into the schedule, as  well, to keep the timeline of the service competitive with road travel.

Photo Courtesy of Amtrak:

And there’s more! Commuter trains are next on the state’s wish list, a prospect with many  implications, not just for residents but for extended rail travel. As the EAX chugs closer to the  July launch date, the state is also working towards connecting the other Amtrak line, called the  Vermonter, to our Canadian friends up north.

Currently, the Vermonter begins in Washington, D.C., and comes through NYC to Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and slips up the  eastern spine of Vermont, crossing through Montpelier, Essex Junction, and terminating in St.  Albans. The goal, slated to happen in the next few years, is to continue the train over the  international border and end in Montreal. 

“You can just imagine, if you could come up on the Ethan Allen [Express], connect over to Essex  Junction, now you’ve connected two [Amtrak] trains,” says Lanpher. That means New York City  to Montreal via rail is a possibility in the years ahead. “And I know there’s a great desire for  Montreal to be an overnight—to leave Montreal and wake up in New York or Boston. That’s on  the bigger radar.” 

On the environmental radar, though, are the benefits that an uptick in train travel will have on  climate change. Evidence shows that rail is a much more sustainable and efficient way of  moving people from point A to B than airplanes or private vehicles. With the Biden  administration’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50-52% below  2005 levels by 2030 and decarbonize by 2050, action needs to occur at every level, from  industry to consumer.

The transportation sector—cars, trucks, aircraft, railroads, etc.—is one of  the heftiest contributors to GHG, responsible for 29% of total U.S. GHG emissions  (Environmental Protection Agency, 2019). And in Vermont, it’s even worse—transportation  accounts for 47% of the state’s GHG emissions (VRAN). Not great for a state with the word  “green” in its moniker. 

On the other hand, railroads account for just 2% of national GHG emissions—clearly, a move to  train use would be a step in a greener direction. While train travel still has a way to go before  reaching net zero, the Federal Railroad Association is doubling down on the effort, funding  research on clean, energy-efficient technologies like compressed natural gas, biodiesel, and  electric batteries. As a result, freight and passenger rail are expected to reduce their carbon  footprint year over year.  

The arrival of the EAX is a win-win for wanderlust and for climate progress. But the question  remains, will folks ditch the comfort of their vehicles and the zippiness of commercial flights for  a ride on the train? Clithero thinks so. “It’s unfathomable what’s going on with gas prices. I  think that what we can offer with our Amtrak service is gonna be extremely competitive.” Not  to mention enjoyable. “Once you get on the train, you flop in that seat with that big window;  it’s like your vacation starts. You just relax.”

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BEERLINGTON: Switchback Brewery

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. Breweries like Vermont Pub and Brew, Magic Hat, and even Switchback Brewing Company all helped shape the landscape of the beer culture cultivated in the area.  If you are truly interested in learning more, and didn’t get a chance to read our last article “Beerlington - A brief history of craft brewing in Burlington” you can check it out here.

Switchback Brewing Company has been brewing and serving up beer for two decades which qualifies as centuries in the craft beer world. Their brewpub is situated along Flynn Avenue in Burlington’s South End “Arts District”, which, over the past few years has been blossoming with an abundance of restaurants, shops, and other local breweries.  

“Founded in 2002 with one goal in mind – to brew unexpected, relatable, great tasting beer”, partners Bill Cherry and Jeff Neiblum brought to life the magnificent ideas for Switchback Brewery. Jeff’s entrepreneurial spirit and community mindset blazed a trail for Vermont breweries and other local brew pubs, while Bill's scientific approach to brewing resulted in meticulous perfection.  - Read More: Switchback Brewery

Bill envisioned Switchback Ale, the brewery's flagship beer, long before they stepped their first barley. Somehow, maximizing complexity and flavor while serving up a fresh, crisp beer.. The idea? To leave the beer unfiltered and carbonated 100% naturally, resulting in a beer brewed to a ‘flavor idea’ as opposed to any ‘existing style guidelines.’ The very first pint of Switchback Ale ever served was at Ake’s Place on the Church Street Marketplace on October 22, 2002.

As Switchback began to expand their distribution network, demand grew in lockstep. Switchback added state-of-the art German equipment, including a copper brewhouse from the Brauerei Schmucker in Beerfelden, Germany as well as bottling and canning facilities to keep up with their retail demand.

In 2014, the Tap Room at Switchback opened on Flynn Avenue in Burlington’s South End Arts District. Switchback utilizes the tasting room as an outlet to showcase experimental brews and limited batches. Their Tap Room is an excellent example of a local, hometown brewery with floor to ceiling windows, wood paneling, and their brewing operation through the interior glass windows next to the bar. 

Currently, their experimental brew is the Flynn on Fire smoked beer initiative. Experimenting with the seemingly endless possibilities of smoked malt. At the tap room, each day is completely different with Flynn on Fire (FoF) on tap.

Switchback ‘Flagship’ Beer List:

Switchback Ale (5.0% ABV AND 28 IBU)  - A reddish-amber ale, developed as a flavor concept. Using only traditional ingredients, this beer is notable for being particularly well-balanced utilizing five different malts and select hops resulting in a Burlington favorite. 

Switchback IPA (5.9% ABV AND 74 IBU)  - Formulated specifically to maximize fresh hop characteristics, this IPA utilizes a generous blend of Centennial, Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook and Simcoe this brew is bursting with citrus and floral hop 

Karsten Premium Lager (5.1% ABV AND 25 IBU) - Karsten, also unfiltered, and 100% naturally carbonated, is an approachable premium lager named after a German brewery technician. An interesting story about a great beer, check it out here.

THINGS TO DO IN BURLINGTON THIS SUMMER

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. Grab tickets to one of the upcoming festivals or concerts, a room at one of Burlington’s finest hotels, and enjoy the getaway of a lifetime!

Here’s a quick glimpse of what the summer has in store:

MAY 

The season kicks off with the triumphant return of Waking Windows. After a two-year hiatus, this music and art festival is finally going to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a great slate of acts from near and far. You can catch media darlings Japanese Breakfast, New England icons Dinosaur Jr. and a slate of local heroes when the festival kicks off on May 13th. The city of Winooski comes to life as musicians and other performers take the stage at a number of different downtown venues.

Vermont Green FC are Burlington’s newest kids on the block. Our very own USL League 2 soccer club kicks has its inaugural kickoff at UVM’s Virtue Field on Saturday May 28th with other matches running through the summer.

These days it can feel pretty good to embrace traditions, thankfully, the Vermont City Marathon will be back for it’s 33rd iteration on Sunday, May 29th. With help from the local and regional community of volunteers the VCM will be back on the Burlington Waterfront Memorial Day Weekend, a true kick off to summer in Burlington.

JUNE

Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green offer one of the most scenic concert backdrops you’ll find anywhere. The series begins with The Head and the Heart on June 3 and runs through August with acts including Norah Jones, Fritz & the Tantrums and the National among the powerhouse lineup.

Also kicking off on the June 3 is one of the state’s biggest and most beloved events, the Discover Jazz Festival. It’s 39th iteration promises to get Summer going with 10 days of great shows with artists from around the globe.

The city of Burlington will be hosting its second annual Juneteenth festival on the weekend of June 19. Building off the momentum off last year’s inaugural event, this one will be bigger and better consuming Burlington’s downtown for a great weekend of celebration. Come on down and check it out!

JULY

Can’t mention Events in July without mentioning the 4th! Burlington has a great fireworks display on the waterfront on July 3rd and surrounding towns like Hinesburg, Williston, Colchester and Essex, have fireworks of their own on the 4th.

Thirsty? The Vermont Brewer’s Festival is back on the Burlington Waterfront after a two-year delay. Vermont Beer is a category all by itself and Brewer’s Fest is the best way to sample old favorites and new flavors. Known for it’s collection of astounding breweries from throughout the northeast, the VT Brewer’s Festival is a beer drinkers paradise on the Burlington Waterfront. Come check it out July 21st - 23rd.

July 28-31, the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival rounds out the month on the waterfront.  View the classic boats, long boats, canoe, kayak and Dragon boat demonstrations while listening to music and enjoying some local fare.

Thursday Concert Series at Battery Park is another fun activity for families and visitors.. Taking place every Thursday throughout the month of July, the Battery Street Concert Series has become tradition for locals and visitors alike, featuring regional musicians, marching bands and other unique performances.

AUGUST 

Burlington City Arts will host the Festival of Fools on Church St August 5 -7. This annual event is a favorite for locals and visitors alike with a calendar jam-packed with an eclectic range of street performers up and down the marketplace.  

The Champlain Valley Fair runs from August 26-September 4 at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex. Along with the traditional rides and fair fare, there’ll will be a monster truck show, demolition derby and  musical performances by the Dropkick Murphys, Scotty McCreery, and Nelly.

Starting on August 30th, Burlington will also play host to the 2022 International Workshop on Agritourism. Which is an amazing opportunity for Burlington to showcase it’s forward-thinking environmental mindset to an international audience.

SEPTEMBER

Burlington sort of goes off in September. With hometown star, Grace Potter coming back to put on yet another epic Grand Point North music festival over the weekend of September 10th - 11th.. Annually, Grace packs the Burlington Waterfront for one of the most epic concerts in small town history. Find yourself caught between a Lake Champlain sunset and the GPN stage for the show of a lifetime!

This year in particular is special because Burlington is welcoming the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) Annual Boat Show. The Burlington Waterfront will be packed with classic boats for pedestrians to come down and take a look at! The perfect summer activity for families and kids!

The Northeast Street Rod Nationals also come to town every September to showcase some of the nations sweetest Hot Rods at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Jct. From fully restored American classics to ‘rat rods’ the Northeast Nationals is a fun time to be in town. This year, plan to check it out between September 22nd - 25th

Regardless of all these fun events, if you need something to do or a place to go this summer, come check out Burlington!

BURLINGTON WITH KIDS

By Dana Freeman

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. And although it is a great spot to visit year-round, these are some of the best things to do with kids in Burlington this spring and summer.

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

Photo Courtesy: Brett Simison - ECHO Leahy Center

Located just steps from the bike path directly on the waterfront, ECHO should be the first stop for family fun in Burlington.

Lake Champlain is Vermont's largest natural resource, so it is only natural that Burlington has an interactive science center dedicated to everything you need to know about our lake. This innovative science museum has 100+ interactive exhibits to check out, plus 70 different fish species, reptiles, and amphibians, such as snapping turtles, a black rattlesnake, and pumpkinseed fish so kids will never be bored. The youngest in your group will love playing around in Champ Lane with its treehouse climbing area and animal care kids lab.

Creemees

Photo Courtesy: Dana Freeman

Despite being the birthplace of Ben & Jerry's, soft-serve ice cream, known as a creemee in these parts, dominates the frozen treat scene here. Creemees can be found at snack shacks, roadside stands, and gas stations all over Vermont, and they're all excellent; however, some of the best can be found right in town.

Get your kid a cone from Beansie's, a retrofitted yellow school bus parked and open seasonally at the edge of Battery Park in the Old North End. A Burlington establishment, it has been serving Michigan hot dogs, burgers, fries, and creemees out its side window since 1944. 

Relative newcomer, Little Gordo uses fresh, local organic ingredients like maple syrup, honey, strawberries, and peaches in the creemees it serves from its small seasonal stand on Union Street. Take your creemee experience to the next level. Try a wizard or their Little Gordo Creemee inside a donut! 

Centennial Field

Photo Courtesy: Vermont Lake Monsters

Enjoy America's favorite pastime at Centennial Field, one of the oldest baseball parks still in use today. Opened in 1906, it is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters, a wooden bat college league. Take the kids on a summer evening to the park to cheer on the team and laugh at the team's mascot, Champ, who provides plenty of entertainment in between innings. 

Oakledge Park

Photo Courtesy: Burlington Parks

Located just off the bike path, directly on the shores of Lake Champlain, Oaklege Park offers families plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors. It has two sandy beaches for easy access to the water, plus Paddlesurf Champlain rents standup paddleboards and gives lessons. In addition to the tennis, bocce, and volleyball courts, it has one of the best-hidden gems for kids in Burlington. The Forever Young Treehouse is a unique wheel-chair-accessible hideaway that kids will love.

Splash Pad

Photo Courtesy: Burlington City Arts

Keep your cool and let the kids soak up some summer fun at the Splash Pad in City Hall Park. While this spray pad is open daily in the summer from 10 am to dusk, they like to turn it up a notch on Friday and Saturday. So for good vibes and fountains of fun, bring the kids to Splash Dance, Burlington City Arts' weekly DJ-fueled dance party, to boogie along with some of Vermont's best DJs.

Folino's Pizza

Photo Courtesy : Dana Freeman

What kid doesn't love pizza? Although there are many places in Burlington to grab a slice, Folino's is one of the best. Located downtown, just behind City Market, this small BYOB pizzeria serves uniquely flavored, wood-fired pizzas slightly charred. The Buff Chik, Pesto Bomb, and the BK Special pies are just a few of the local favorites. 

Shelburne Farms

Photo Credit: Vera Chang & Shelburne Farms

Less than 15 minutes from downtown Burlington and located on the shores of Lake Champlain, Shelburne Farms is one of the most magical places in al of Vermont. This Nonprofit Education Organization and National Historic Landmark has a children's farmyard which houses, sheep, goats, pigs, donekys’’, and more. Kids can learn to milk a cow and look for eggs in the chicken coop as well. There is even a bakery and cheesemaking facility there as well. Shelburne Farms is a great place to walk around, with miles of spectacular walking trails that take you through the property and right down to the waterfront.

Spirit of Ethan Allen

If your family is not quite ready to rent a boat from the Community Sailing Center, but you still want to get out on the lake, make things easy by booking a cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. This is a fabulous way to spend an afternoon enjoying time on the water, admiring the scenery, and if you head out in the evening, taking in a spectacular Lake Champlain sunset.

BREWERIES TO VIST WITH KIDS

BEERLINGTON

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CRAFT BREWING IN BURLINGTON

BY TOM CARTON

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. According to the National Brewers Association, we currently have around fourteen breweries per 100,000 people over the age of twenty-one in the state, leading the country in number of craft breweries per capita... But where did it all start?

Perhaps, a bit of history is necessary to understand the reason why Burlington didn’t have local breweries or brewpubs. Vermont was impacted by prohibition as early as the 1880’s and through Federal Prohibition (1920-1933) much of the brewing history and culture that may have once existed had diminished to nothing. By the 1980s, due to outdated laws and legislation against “on-premise brewing”, Burlington had essentially gone over 100 years without a brewery. That is until one local micro-brewer was able to lobby the legislature and influence a change in laws that would shift the landscape of Burlington.

In 1986 a local Vermonter (and impromptu lobbyist) by the name of Greg Noonan published a book called “Brewing Lager Beer”, which quickly became gospel for micro brewers across the country. With esteemed accolades in 1988, Noonan decided to open Vermont Pub & Brewery in downtown Burlington which, at the time, was only the second microbrewery in the nation.

Many well-known local brewers and brew masters came through the doors of the Vermont Pub & Brewery, if it was to learn one of many brewing techniques from Noonan, or simply enjoy an excellently crafted beer. Breweries like the Alchemist , founded by John Kimmich, located in Stowe, and best known for “Heady Topper” and “Focal Banger”, credits their success in large part to what Noonan was able to teach. “Greg is a major reason that The Alchemist is a success,” Kimmich says. “He’s been a wonderful mentor. He’s got the blending of the chemistry knowledge with the esoteric side of things.”

Source: VT Pub & Brewery - History

It may come as a surprise, but two decades ago, not many folks in America had access to locally brewed beers, most of what was available was distributed by large beverage companies. It is with much gratitude and appreciation that we acknowledge Noonan’s impact on the Craft Beer Industry, which has grown into a $22.2 Billion per year industry.  Today, The Vermont Pub & Brewery remains at the corner of St. Paul Street and College Street in Burlington’s downtown, where it all started. With over three decades of experience, they are now one of the most qualified breweries in the city, but the landscape is quickly shifting as more breweries continue to pop up throughout the area and experiment with new techniques and ‘taste ideas.’ However, Burlington, in large part, has to thank Vermont Pub & Brewery for its development as a beer destination.

Some beers that you would be able to find at the Vermont Pub & Brewery that have been a staple on their draft menu for decades include:

BOMBAY GRAB IPA - A big, bitter 77 IBU India Pale Ale, spiced with a blend of fragrant Magnum, Simcoe, and Cascade hops. An American IPA recipe. One of the original ‘“East Coast IPA’s.’”

BLACKWATCH IPA - A house favorite dark IPA! Roasty and bitter, made with British malts. This style was brought to modern brewing by our founder, Greg Noonan and its current popularity is vibrant and growing throughout the country. In 2010, the Brewers Association created a Black IPA category for this style of beer

BURLY IRISH ALE - A slightly caramel, medium bodied smooth Irish Red Ale. Rich, creamy and mellow. A local favorite for over 30 years!

CZECH YOUR PILS - A traditional Czech-style pilsner made with Continental pilsner malt and Saaz hops. 

For more information check out their Beer Menu here.

CITY ON THE MOVE

By Carolinne Griffin

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 Silent 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. While it’ll take five to six years before all of these initiatives are complete (President Coolidge did have a point), once they are, residents and visitors can expect to navigate the Queen City with greater ease, safety, and enjoyment.

The Renovation of Main Street

On Town Meeting Day, March 1, 2022, Burlington passed a $25.9 million bond to fund the transformation of Main Street. From South Union Street down to Battery Street, now an unremarkable, pedestrian-reluctant thoroughfare, will be upgraded into a picturesque gateway to the waterfront. The Main Street reno is just one phase of the Great Streets BTV Initiative outlined in 2015 by the City of Burlington to ensure “a vibrant, walkable and sustainable urban center,” to quote the website. In recent years, the Great Streets project successfully overhauled City Hall Park and St. Paul Street, but with city resources refocused on pandemic issues over the last two years, Main Street has patiently awaited its upgrade.

If you’re curious what the makeover will include, turn onto St. Paul Street, where renovations wrapped in 2018. Main Street will see the same treatments: a change in parking orientation from diagonal to parallel to make way for a spacious pedestrian corridor with wide sidewalks and eight-foot tree belts. In addition, the design incorporates permeable paving for wastewater, eco-friendly rain gardens, space for public art, outdoor restaurant seating, sidewalk kiosks, and more. Cyclists will have protected bike lanes, while pedestrians can park on one of the many shaded benches to take in a famous Champlain sunset.

Main Street will be more functional below ground, too, as the project tackles the 150+-year-old sewer system buried under the corner of South Union and Main. The fabled “Ravine Sewer” has prevented the development of this prominent block for over a century (hence the palatial parking lot), and the city is ready to replace the crumbling relic with a modern sewage system.

It will be one year and a half before the Main Street project breaks ground, and another two years until it is completed. Until then, the city will finalize the concept with community input. At a neighborhood meeting leading up to the big March vote, Public Works Engineer Laura Wheelock made a case for the renovation. “It is definitely the heart of the downtown, and it’s important to highlight that Main Street is one of our last links. It really connects a lot of important destinations and features within our city.” The majority of voters agree!

The Champlain Parkway

Ah, the Champlain Parkway, that abandoned stretch of highway off I-189, home to cement barriers, tenacious weeds, and the state’s biggest unofficial skatepark. If you've ever cruised into Burlington from the south, you’ve likely seen the “road that leads to nowhere”— a ghost of a federal project mired by decades of red tape. But it seems the literal and figurative roadblocks are now being cleared for good.

Beginning mid-2022, the city of Burlington, along with the Federal Highway Administration and Vermont Agency of Transportation, will start construction on the new parkway that will provide access from I-189 and U.S. Route 7 to the city center. Thanks to dozens of years of push-pull from the community, the new version will be quite different from the four-lane highway first proposed.

Picture taken from 1-I89 looking West toward Burlington and Lake Champlain

The Champlain Parkway will be a 25-mph road with two lanes, encompassing 2.8 miles of roadway between Home Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, connecting Burlington’s South End with downtown. The design is meant to be resident-, pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly with brand-new crosswalks and automated signals to enhance safety and improve stormwater management. In addition, the parkway will pull traffic off of the heavily burdened Pine and St. Paul Streets and extend a series of upgrades to these streets, like the addition of bike lanes, bike racks, and bus bulb-outs.

So, when will they finally cut the ribbon on the Champlain Parkway? The city says it should be complete by 2026. After almost sixty years of waiting, the finish line is practically in sight.

Additional renderings can be found here - Courtesy of The Champlain Parkway

CityPlace

Also on the horizon is the construction of CityPlace, the long-anticipated residential and retail complex at the top of Church Street. Don Sinex first shared his plan in 2014 for the mega 200+- million-dollar project that would replace the Burlington Town Center shopping mall. However, CityPlace has faced legal and financial challenges that have stunted its progress.

As soon as April 2022, residents of Burlington can take a collective breath as construction on the development resumes. In 2017, the old mall was flattened to make way for the shiny, new complex but the work stalled leaving an unsightly hole the size of a city block in the heart of Burlington. The “pit,” as it’s come to be known, has remained untouched since then, and residents are tired of it. With legal issues finally cleared, the city and the community are ready to build out of the pit with the post-2020 vision of CityPlace.

The reimagined design includes 420 residential units (132 more than first proposed), 84 of which will be “affordable,” according to the project’s website. The addition of more rental units (and less retail space) will help address the housing crunch in Burlington that only got worse during the pandemic. In addition, the LEED Gold–certified building will stand nine stories high, instead of the fourteen stories in the original plan, with a lower cost to build of $160 million. Another big win for the community will be the reconnection of St. Paul, Bank, and Cherry Streets, which should invigorate the city streets and improve traffic flow. Despite the shade of doubt and contention surrounding the project, CityPlace has reemerged with a more realistic and viable plan to bring life, housing, and economic growth to the heart of Burlington.

A City on the Move

BTV Terminal Expansion

The recent support and action for these big infrastructure projects are a sign of the times—if 2020 was a red light, 2022 is a green one. Improvements to Burlington are expected to reach way beyond the city’s limits. In the next two years, Burlington International Airport will expand its terminal by consolidating two security checkpoints into one, an enhancement made possible by a 14.5-million-dollar Federal Grant. And as soon as this summer, the new Ethan Allen Express Amtrak service will be up and running, making rail travel between Burlington and New York City down the western spine of the state a reality. This expansion should be a real gamechanger says Toni Clithero of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. “Vermont trains have come back really strong since the pandemic. It would appear as though we’re going to continue to do very well.” More on the Amtrak line will be coming down the pike very soon. No matter their mode of transit, folks will find a more efficient and user-friendly experience of Vermont’s largest urban center in the coming years. On all fronts—by train, plane, automobile, and foot—Burlington is peeling out of the two-year pandemic rut with bold resolve, ready to get things done. And we are here for it.