About Burlington, Vermont

Things to Do in BVT

This small city offers restaurants, coffee bars, shopping, music venues and varied cultural opportunities within a quick walk from campus.

Lake Champlain's waterfront, ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain with its aquarium and science center, Waterfront Park and the 12-mile Burlington Bike Path are within a short walk of campus. World-class skiing, snowboarding, hiking and mountain biking are within an hour's drive.

• ECHO AT THE LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN: On the waterfront, just down the hill from campus and the Church Street Marketplace, ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is a place to explore and learn about the Lake Champlain Basin, with an aquarium, engaging exhibits, hands-on activities, events and programs.
• SHELBURNE MUSEUM: On Route 7, just seven miles south of Burlington, the Shelburne Museum holds one of the nation's most eclectic collections of folk art, decorative art, tools, toys, textiles and transportation vehicles, as well as paintings by Monet, Manet, Cassatt, Degas and Wyeth. The museum is open from May through October.
• SHELBURNE FARMS: A National Historic Landmark and nonprofit environmental education center, Shelburne Farms features walking trails, a farmyard, inn, restaurant, tours and special events. Open from May through October.
• SHOPPING AND DINING ON THE CHURCH STREET MARKETPLACE: For casual strolls, serious shopping, great food, street vendors and people-watching, the Church Street Marketplace is just a quick walk down the hill from Champlain's campus.
• THE SPIRIT OF ETHAN ALLEN III: There is something for everyone at the Spirit! They offer daily scenic narrated cruises, lunch and dinner cruises, and more.

Places to Eat

Just down the hill from Champlain's main campus, is Burlington's downtown. There is no wonder as to why Burlington is ranked One of America's Best Downtowns by Forbes. Set near the Lake Champlain, you can hear live performances while eating local foods and admiring the Adirondacks, or stop and watch some of the local street performances on the pedestrian only Church St.

• Mr. Mikes Pizza: The go-to pizza joint for the college population of Burlington. Mr. Mikes features affordable slices, a pool table and arcade games in the back. Open late on weekends. 206 Main Street
• Vermont Pub and Brewery: The oldest craft brewery in Vermont is one of Burlington's popular destinations. Located in the heart of downtown, the VPB offers live music on Fridays and an extensive menu of traditional and local pub fare. 144 College Street.
• Muddy Waters: Grab a coffee and a book, and experience the ambiance of this coffee shop. It's a favorite spot for students to read, sketch, meet with friends and do homework. Go down on Thursday nights and listen to live jazz. 184 Main Street
• The Red Onion Deli: Featuring fresh ingredients piled high on thick slices of fresh homemade bread, the Red Onion is great for lunch. Try their specialty melts-the Red Onion Sandwich or the Red Onion Spinach Melt. 140 Church Street
• Bruegger's Bagels: A favorite bagel and coffee shop located right on Church St. Take a seat upstairs by the window and enjoy their creative bagels and toppings.
• Ben & Jerry's: The epicenter of Vermont's most famous ice cream shops in on upper Church Street. The scent of homemade waffle cones will get your mouth watering as you choose from dozens of trademark ice creams, frozen yogurts and sorbets. 36 Church Street
• Farmers Market: Burlington and surrounding communities offer a great way to eliminate the middleman when it comes to getting local food direct from the source. The biggest one is the Burlington Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 to 2 p.m. in City Hall Park during the summer and in the Burlington Auditorium in the winter. 

Accolades

Dubbed by msn.com as one of "America's Coolest College Towns," and "One of the 10 Great Places for Campus Culture" by USA Today Travel Guide, Burlington is such a distinctive city, it shows up in the top of many "best" lists, including:

• TOP ADVENTURE TOWN: Voted #14 in the list of Top 100 Adventure Towns by National Geographic Adventure magazine.
• HEALTHIEST: Burlington was named Healthiest City in the U.S. in a 2008 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• BEST SKIING: Sugarbush Ski Resort, Vermont, ranked #1 for "Terrain Variety" in 2008 by Ski Magazine.
• BEST PLACE TO LIVE: Burlington named the "Best of the Best" places to live by Men's Journal Magazine (top 5 of their "50 Best Places to Live").
• TOP HIGH-TECH METRO: Voted #11 in a list of the Top 20 High-Tech Metros by the Atlantic

 Additional Burlington Information

 Photos courtesy of Stephen Mease Photography | Champlain College