Burlington is a cool and funky city. It’s a college town that sits on a hill behind Lake Champlain and is nestled between Mt. Mansfield on the Vermont side and the Adirondack Mountains across the lake in New York. The mountains combined with the lakefront location give Burlington a culture that is outdoorsy, healthy, earthy, artsy, creative, and just plain fun.
As you drive down Main Street in Burlington from the highway, the views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains across the lake will blow you away. Lake Champlain is the biggest lake in Vermont and the eighth biggest naturally occurring fresh-water lake in the U.S. The views of the lake alone make the city worth visiting.
There is no shortage of things to do in Burlington. It only makes sense though that when visiting Burlington you should do things that are cool and unique like the city itself, and avoid looking like a tourist at all costs. Here are a few ways you can visit Burlington and enjoy the area like a local.
Have a Picnic at Ethan Allen Tower
Ethan Allen Tower sits high on a hill above Burlington within Ethan Allen Park. Once you arrive at the park you’ll follow signs to the tower and what’s known as the Pinnacle. With a quick little jaunt up a paved road, you’ll arrive at an open grassy field that is high above Burlington and has amazing views of the city, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondacks.
The views get even better once you climb the 40-foot tower. You’ll be able to see Mt. Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, and the Adirondacks! On a clear day, you’ll see views for miles. It’s a perfect place to have a picnic and watch the sunset. Check out the hours and park information here.
Visit Church Street and Get a $5 Shake or a Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate
The heart of Burlington is Church Street. A lot of locals will tell you that Church Street has a sister street in Denver Colorado called Pearl Street that was designed by the same person. The two cobblestone streets look super similar. They were constructed at the same time by east coast architectural firms who had the same style, but it turns out it wasn’t the same person. This rumor has probably continued because Denver and Burlington have a similar outdoorsy and creative vibe. Church street is definitely a tourist destination, but there are a few places you can hit up to visit it like a local.
Walk from Church and Main Street to the top of Church Street. At the top, go right and head to Radio Bean on North Winooski Ave. Order a $5 shake. It’s made using a local oatmeal stout, a shot of espresso, and a drizzle of maple syrup on the foam. It’s a drink the locals love.
For a non-alcoholic beverage that is just as delightful, grab a sweet and spicy Aztec hot chocolate to-go from Lake Champlain Chocolates on Church Street. During the winter enjoy the holiday lights as you walk and warm up your soul!
Explore the Treehouse, Ledges & Views from Oakledge Park
Oakledge Park is different from other parks closer to Burlington because you can enjoy some really unique spaces.
You can wander out onto a massive ledge rock that juts out into the lake and find your own private little space. Or explore a giant wheelchair-accessible treehouse. Oakledge also has an earth clock built out of giant rocks, pavilion space, and a big playground. Pretty much something for everyone!
Check out everything there is to do at Oakledge Park.
Visit the Tallest Filing Cabinet in the World
Many locals aren’t even really sure why we have the tallest filing cabinet in the world, but now you will be in the loop. In 1965 there was an idea to build a highway called the Champlain Parkway to connect the south end of Burlington to downtown. It was a bureaucratic nightmare and today it still hasn’t happened (though, we hear there is progress!).
In 2002 a local artist decided to symbolically show how long the project was taking by stacking 38 real metal file cabinets, resembling the piles of paperwork for the parkway project. Ironically, in 2020 the file cabinet was moved about 100 feet to make way for the Champlain Parkway.
Enjoy a Glass of Wine on Fox Hill with Views of Burlington and Beyond
A fun fact about Lake Champlain is that it’s home to over 80 islands. The largest is Grand Isle which is made up of two towns – Grand Isle
and South Hero. South Hero is only 20 minutes north of Burlington and is home to our very own Snow Farm Vineyard!
Snow Farm Vineyard & Distillery is Vermont’s first commercial grape vineyard. Because Snow Farm is on an island in the middle of Lake Champlain it has its own micro-climate with a growing season identical to Burgundy, France. That means cooler climate vinifera grapes are grown, such as Pinot Noir and Riesling. Snow Farm also makes, among other dessert wines, an ice wine, that cannot be made in many other places in the world.
You can bike from Burlington’s waterfront park to the vineyard using the Burlington bike path thanks to the bike ferry! It’s about 13 miles and takes an hour (check out this Google map for a visual). On a beautiful day, what better to do than get outside and bike to a winery.
One of the best things to do at the vineyard is to grab a glass of wine and explore the short hike up Fox Hill behind the vineyard, or as our family calls it, the side hill. It’s a quick and easy walk with incredible views.
The hill is home to many of our maple trees that we tap for sap in the spring. We also use the wood to make the trellis system for our 11+ acres of vines. But, the best part of the hill is the views. For very little effort (10-minute easy walk) you’ll see views of all of the mountain ranges across northern Vermont, the lake, and the islands.
