Burlington, Vermont
Guide to Burlington: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. The highlights of Burlington include fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and shopping.
With a population of just over 40 thousand people, Burlington is the largest city in the state of Vermont. According to toppharmacyschools, it is located on Lake Champlain, in the heart of a small urban area that is, in fact, the center of all the fun in Vermont. Burlington is a college town known for its free-thinking and ultra-liberal politics. But at the same time, it is also an important commercial center of the state, which nevertheless has not lost its cozy and nice atmosphere.
Downtown Burlington is small, one of the prettiest in New England, and great for walking. And the most famous part of it, the real heart of Burlington, is the Church Street area with a pedestrian zone.
How to get to Burlington
Burlington International Airport receives daily flights from Chicago and Orlando, as well as weekly flights from Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington. By car from New York, you can get here in 6 hours, from Boston – in 3.5 hours, and from Montreal – in 1.5 hours. Daily shuttle buses run to Burlington from New York, Boston, Saratoga Springs, and Amtrak trains from Washington DC via New York.
Attractions and attractions in Burlington
Downtown Burlington is small, one of the prettiest in New England, and great for walking. And the most famous part of it, the real heart of Burlington, is the Church Street area with a pedestrian zone. Here you can see the imposing and beautiful Unitarian Church, built in 1816; the Richardson Building (1895) with pointed corner turrets; the Masonic Temple (1898), which is distinguished by beveled rows of windows; the former Howard Opera House (1878), now given over to commercial use. All of these structures form part of the Church Street Historic District, which is listed in its entirety on the National Register. And all of them are built, which is typical for this area, of red stone.
But the modest House-Museum of the hero of the revolution Ethan Allen, built in 1784 and also included in the national register, does not make a special impression either from the outside or from the inside. Everyone, except for ardent history buffs, can refrain from a tour of it with a light heart.
Follet House, erected in 1840 on the model of ancient temples with a Doric colonnade, and the classic post and customs building (1906) look completely different. Well, quite unlike anything – but charming – the “fairytale” House of Daniel Webster Robinson. It was built in 1886 as a private residence of a magnate and is closed to the public: the building is occupied by the Alpha Xi Omega university club.
The best time to visit Burlington is in the fall, when many trees paint the city in vibrant colors. Leaf fall here begins in mid-September, and every day the city changes color, until the first or second week of October.
Another beautiful corner of Burlington, where you should definitely take a walk if you have time, is the campus of the University of Vermont. The territory occupied by the university complex is quite large, green, planted with flowers, and the traditional architecture of the educational buildings is reminiscent of the old noble European educational institutions. Remarkably imposing building Old Mill, the oldest of all university buildings. The cornerstone of the building was laid by the Marquis de Lafayette, a French general and one of the commanders of the troops during the American Revolution. The arts and anthropology departments occupy the imposing Williams Science Hall, and the interesting medieval building of the Billings Memorial Library (1883) still has a dining hall from the time when it was used as a student center.
5 things to do in Burlington:
- Go on a lake cruise.
- Visit the Church Street market with shops and street food; listen to musicians and buy unique gifts.
- If possible, climb the Williams Hall fire escape to watch the sunset over the lake. This is an amazing and romantic sight.
- Try the ice cream “Ben and Jerry”, which has become a national brand. The first original store opened in Burlington in 1978 near College Street, but today the famous ice cream parlor can be found on Church Street Market.
- Try to see Shamp, a local relative of Nessie who is said to live in the lake.
In addition to admiring the architecture in Burlington, you can use and enjoy exploring museums and exhibition centers. Perhaps the most famous of them is ECHO – Lake Champlain Science Center and Aquarium. There are expositions dedicated to the flora, fauna, geology and history of the lake, there are also the remains of sunken ships. The Robert Hull Fleming Museum at the University of Vermont is dedicated to art and anthropology. Its collection contains about 25 thousand objects from different eras and cultures. It will also be interesting to wander around the center of the ECA, where various galleries and art studios are located on five floors.
More than interesting is the Shelburne Museum, which is located a few kilometers from the city. This is a whole museum complex of almost 40 buildings, which houses the most extensive collections of decorative and applied arts, paintings, sculptures, traditional costumes, toys, household items, etc. The museum buildings themselves are already of historical interest, and on the museum territory 45 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. Slowly, you can spend the whole day here, walking to the old lighthouse, looking at the covered bridge or writing something in chalk on the blackboard in the old school. The special pride of the museum is the Triconderoga, the last passenger paddle steamer with a vertically oriented engine remaining in the country. You can also walk on it.
The Bern Gallery on Main Street is definitely one of the city’s must-see attractions. In this art gallery, almost every day you can watch how elegant things are blown out of glass. The gallery has an accredited glass blowing school and a shop, and every September there are glass blowing competitions, in which 12 of the best masters from all over the country take part.
Travelers with children or just those with a sweet tooth will certainly enjoy the other sightseeing opportunities offered by Burlington. Firstly, this is a visit to the Ben and Jerry ice cream factory, which is located outside the city, but very close. This is a favorite attraction for tourists from all over the state, where you can not only learn about the history of the growth of the brand, but also see how the delicacy is made – of course, with a tasting. Secondly, the Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory also accepts guided tours. They last only half an hour, but this is enough: by the end of the tour, tourists can’t wait to return to the chocolate shop at the factory to choose something tasty from more than a hundred options.
Popular hotels in Burlington
Burlington events
The city hosts many festivals every year, starting with the New Year and February winter carnival. The Mardi Gras Parade is held on Fat Friday on Church Street and features a variety of live bands (with special events hosted by the town’s Magic Hat Brewery). The Discover Jazz Festival takes place in the first two weeks of June and is the largest event of its kind in the state, bringing jazz, blues, gospel and Latin music performers and fans to several venues throughout the city.
In mid-July, microbreweries from all over New England present their products at the Vermont Brewery Festival. In early August, Burlington hosts a festival of fools, which is dedicated to street performances, and a festival of boat races. And at the end of the month there is an air show.
