Burlington, VT, Guide and Information

One of the joys of spending time in a new city is trying new restaurants, and of course not having to cook! Don’t let the cozy size of this charming city lead you to believe that they don’t deliver when it comes to the delicious. The Burlington, Vermont restaurant scene has much to offer, so let’s get right to it.

As the biggest and most happening city in Vermont, Burlington has lots going on. Located on the shores of Lake Champlain facing the lovely Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, the oh-so easy-on-the-eye scenery sets the tone for a very chill, down-to-earth vibe throughout the town. Add to that a population of students from three colleges and a university and you have a super cool place to live and visit.

Church Street, a four-block-long pedestrian mall in the center of Burlington, flanked by Victorian buildings as well as modern structures is very much the epicenter of this northern Vermont town. With about a hundred retail shops, bars, restaurants and coffeehouses, it’s a great place to while away the day. People-watching here ranks high, especially since depending on the weather, folks like to hang out and take in the street performers that provide entertainment day and night. Crow Bookshop and Phoenix Books (just a block off the mall) are musts; this is a town that salutes independent booksellers and these two are tops.

It’s easy to spend a week in Burlington, Vermont between all there is to do within the city proper as well as the outlying area. Plus, with the expansive Lake Champlain to the west, activities in this part of northern Vermont are increased tenfold. (In the past, Burlington, which is situated at the widest part of the lake, served as an important port town. Now today the lake is primarily accessed for recreation.)

Let’s start with Shelburne, a sweet little town nestled on the shores of Lake Champlain. Established in 1763, Shelburne embodies most everything you’d hope to find in a quaint Vermont town:lots of charming places to shop and eat as well as fun things to do, all backdropped by beautiful scenery. Yes, this is unspoiled Vermont at its finest. Shelburne Museum, just a bit inland from the lake, ranks as the top attraction here. You can spend a whole day at this delightful showcase of American art and history and still only scratch the surface. Over 150,000 works are on display within thirty-nine exhibition buildings, most of which date back to the early days of Vermont life. From art to crafts to architecture, the Shelburne museum showcases a fine collection of Americana in an authentic manner. All this is set within a pastoral setting that’s quintessentially New England.