Burlington
Around Burlington
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Metro area · Vermont · 229k people
Burlington
Locals say Champlain Valley · “Queen City”, “BTV”
Burlington · South Burlington
Where the mountains meet the lake — and the maple runs deep.
Catamount GreenUVM GoldLake Champlain Blue
Welcome to the Champlain Valley! Whether you're here for the lake, the hiking, or the creemees, you'll find a friendly, laid-back vibe. Get ready to explore the waterfront, catch a show, and enjoy the changing seasons.
Clubs for Burlington
No clubs for Burlington yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Burlington. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Burlington. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Church Street Marketplace Pedestrian mall with shops, restaurants, and street performers.
- Lake Champlain Waterfront The lake itself, with parks, beaches, and boat launches.
- Burlington Bike Path Scenic multi-use path along the lake, popular for biking and walking.
- ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Science and nature museum focused on the lake ecosystem.
- University of Vermont (UVM) Public university with historic buildings and a lively campus.
- Shelburne Museum Art and history museum with 39 buildings and a steamboat.
- Outdoors Hike the Green Mountain trails
- Outdoors Bike the Island Line Trail
- With kids Visit the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
- With kids Attend a Vermont Lake Monsters baseball game
- Evenings Catch a live show at Higher Ground
- Evenings Bar hop on Church Street
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love Craft breweries
Through the year
- Champlain Valley Fair August The state's largest fair with rides, exhibits, and concerts.
- Burlington Discover Jazz Festival June Multi-day jazz festival with performances across downtown venues.
- Vermont City Marathon May Scenic marathon and relay through Burlington and surrounding towns.
- South End Art Hop September Open studios and galleries in Burlington's South End arts district.
- Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival August Colorful dragon boat races on the lake with community teams.
Four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and mild, pleasant summers. The best time to be out is from May to October. Best: Late spring through early fall offers the most comfortable weather for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “creemee”
- Soft-serve ice cream, especially maple-flavored.
- “sugarhouse”
- A building where maple syrup is made.
- “mud season”
- The muddy season in early spring when snow melts.
- “leaf peeper”
- A tourist who comes to see the fall foliage.
Getaways
- Montréal Big-city culture, dining, and festivals just 90 minutes away.
- Plattsburgh Across the lake in New York, with its own waterfront and history.
- Barre Granite quarries and the Vermont Granite Museum.
- Rutland Gateway to the Green Mountains and Killington ski area.
Local flavour
Teams
- Vermont Catamounts NCAA Division I
- Vermont Lake Monsters Futures Collegiate Baseball League
Eat and drink
- Maple syrup Vermont's signature product, used in everything from breakfast to candy.
- Creemee Local term for soft-serve ice cream, often maple-flavoured, sold at stands across the region.
- Vermont cheddar Sharp, artisanal cheese from local dairies, a staple of farm-to-table dining.
- Apple cider donuts Seasonal treat from orchards and farm stands, especially in autumn.
- Craft beer Burlington has a dense concentration of breweries, including iconic local names like Switchback and Zero Gravity.
Where people go
- Lake Champlain waterfront Parks, beaches, and the bike path along the lake, with views of the Adirondacks.
- Green Mountain trails Hiking and skiing in the nearby mountains, including Camel's Hump and Mount Mansfield.
- Craft breweries and farm stands The region is dotted with breweries, cideries, and farm stands that celebrate local agriculture.
Heritage and traditions
Burlington is proud of its stunning Lake Champlain waterfront, vibrant arts and music scene, and a strong farm-to-table culture that celebrates the Green Mountain State's maple syrup, craft beer, and local produce.
This time of year in Burlington
- Fall foliage October Leaf peeping draws visitors to see the brilliant autumn colors.
- Apple picking September-October Orchards open for picking, with cider donuts and fresh cider.
Say it like a local: “Creemee” — Soft-serve ice cream, especially maple-flavored
Festivals
- Champlain Valley Fair August Vermont's largest fair with rides, agriculture, and concerts.
- Burlington Discover Jazz Festival June A multi-day jazz festival with performances across the city.
- Vermont City Marathon May A popular marathon with a scenic course through Burlington.
- South End Art Hop September Open studios and galleries in Burlington's South End arts district.
- Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival August Dragon boat races and Asian cultural celebrations on the waterfront.
- Vermont Brewers Festival July A beer-tasting event featuring Vermont craft breweries.
Landmarks with a story
- Ethan Allen Homestead The former home of Vermont's founder, with a museum and trails.
- Shelburne Museum A sprawling museum with historic buildings, art, and Americana.
- Battery Park A waterfront park with a statue of Ethan Allen and views of Lake Champlain.
- University Green at UVM The historic campus green surrounded by 19th-century buildings.
- Winooski Block A historic mill building in Winooski, now home to shops and apartments.
- St. Albans Historical Museum Local history museum in St. Albans, housed in a former railroad station.
Food traditions
- Maple syrup and sugar-on-snow In spring, locals boil sap and pour hot syrup on snow to make a taffy-like treat.
- Creemees Soft-serve ice cream, especially maple-flavored, is a beloved summer tradition.
- Vermont cheddar The region is known for its sharp, aged cheddar, often paired with apples or beer.
- Apple cider donuts A fall favorite at orchards and farm stands, often enjoyed with fresh cider.
- Craft beer Burlington's breweries are a point of pride, with a thriving beer culture.
Music and arts
- Indie and jam band scene Burlington has a vibrant live music scene, with Phish's roots at UVM.
- Burlington Discover Jazz Festival An annual jazz festival that draws national and international artists.
- Flynn Center for the Performing Arts A historic theater hosting theater, dance, and music performances.
- South End Arts District A neighborhood of galleries, studios, and artist co-ops.
A little history
- 1791 University of Vermont founded
- 1770s Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys settle the area
- 1814 War of 1812 naval battles on Lake Champlain
- 1800s Lumber and shipping boom on Lake Champlain
- 1800s Textile mills flourish in Winooski and Burlington
Rivalries
- UVM Catamounts vs. St. Michael's Purple Knights Local college hockey and basketball matchups.
- UVM hockey vs. University of New Hampshire Long-standing Hockey East rivalry.
- Burlington vs. Plattsburgh Friendly cross-lake rivalry over the best lakefront city.
- Game day UVM Catamounts hockey
- Game day Vermont Lake Monsters baseball
- Outdoors Hike the Green Mountain trails
- Outdoors Bike the Island Line Trail
- With kids Visit the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
- With kids Attend a Vermont Lake Monsters baseball game
Vermonters speak with a distinct Yankee accent, often dropping the 'r' in words like 'car' and 'park,' and use local terms like 'ayuh' for yes and 'creemee' for soft-serve. They also say 'wicked' for 'very' and refer to autumn tourists as 'leaf peepers.'
Only here
- Lake Champlain's legendary monster, 'Champ,' is a local source of pride and mystery.
- The Church Street Marketplace is a pedestrian-only downtown mall with street performers.
- The Island Line Trail includes a causeway that runs 3 miles out into Lake Champlain.
- Burlington is the largest city in Vermont, yet it feels like a small town.
New here? A few tips
- Dress in layers; weather changes quickly, and winters are cold and snowy.
- Try a maple creemee at a local stand—it's a rite of passage.
- Get a bike; the Burlington Bike Path and Island Line Trail are wonderful.
- Be aware of 'mud season' in April—trails can be messy, and roads may have soft shoulders.
- Learn to love the lake: swimming, sailing, and paddling are summer essentials.
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Part of Burlington area
Nearby
Every areaPlattsburghNew YorkWhere the mountains meet the lake.StoweVermontWhere every season paints its own picture.MiddleburyVermontMaple, mountains, and a quiet college‑town heart.AdirondacksNew YorkForever wild.BarreVermontWhere granite meets the Green Mountains, and maple runs deep.CowansvilleQuebecWhere the hills meet the orchards, and cider flows like autumn.RutlandVermontWhere the Green Mountains meet the maple groves.GranbyQuebecWhere the Appalachians meet the lakes
Burlington-South Burlington, VT. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.