Situated on Lake Champlain in northwestern Vermont, Burlington is a four-season destination. In addition to brilliant fall foliage, the city offers various types of outdoor adventure—skiing in the winter and water-based fun in the summer—and delivers quality culinary experiences, thanks to its focus on farm-to-table dining.
“When I first visited Vermont, I thought it was only about the mountains, and they are spectacular, but a visit to Lake Champlain in Burlington completely surprised me,” says Karen Ballard of the Vermont Tourism Network. “I learned more about Vermont’s nautical side, and Lake Champlain is the reason.”
She recommends a lunch or sunset cruise around the scenic harbor on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. During the tours, passengers can enjoy views of the Green Mountains to the southeast and the Adirondacks across the lake in New York to the southwest as they ride around Burlington Bay and listen to stories detailing the region’s heritage, geography, and wildlife.
“The history of this lake, with 587 miles of shoreline in Vermont, New York, and Québec, will also captivate you and lead you to even more discovery,” she says. “Named in 1609 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, the lake was an important asset during the Revolutionary War.”
Groups that head south of Burlington can discover a unique aspect of local culture during a visit to the UVM Morgan Horse Farm in Middlebury. The Morgan breed is one of the earliest in the U.S., and this working farm is home to around 50 Morgans, which all can trace their bloodline to a single stallion named Figure.
To learn more, email Karen Ballard of the Vermont Tourism Network or go to vermonttourismnetwork.com.
Top Attractions
Trapp Family Lodge
Hildene–The Lincoln Family Home
Top Culinary Options
Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks
Burlington Farmers’ Market
the Lake Champlain Culinary Trail
Top photo: Burlington Breakwater North Light
Photo by CC Flickr/LunchboxLarry: bit.ly/2Szyx9l
