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Burlington [1] is the largest city in the American state of Vermont, with a population of over 39,000. Situated on Lake Champlain, it is the heart of a small urban area that acts as Vermont's vibrant and cosmoplitan center. Known for its ultra-liberal environment and free-thinking spirit, Burlington is both a college town and an important commercial city, while maintaining an intimate atmosphere.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Burlington International Airport (IATA: BTV) (ICAO: KBTV), Airport Drive, Phone: 802-863-1889, [2]. Flights arrive daily via several carriers from as far away as Chicago and Atlanta. Travelers from farther afield will have to make a connection in a larger city. Despite the airport's name, there are currently no direct international flights. There are non-stop flights to Burlington Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington [3].

[edit] By car

Interstate 89 lies just to the east of town. The town center is accessible via exit 14W, while the south end of town can be accessed Interstate 189 at exit 13. Interstate 89 continues north to the Canadian border at Highgate, and south to the New Hampshire border. It is a 6 hour drive from New York City, a 3.5 hour drive from Boston and a 1.5 hour drive from Montreal.

[edit] By bus

There is a bus terminal on Pine Street, just south of downtown.

• Greyhound, 345 Pine Street, Phone: 1-800-552-8737, [4].

[edit] By train

The closest Amtrak station is in Essex Junction, about a 10-15 minute drive to the east. Amtrak provides daily service to Washington, D.C. via New York City.

[edit] By ferry

Ferry service is available seasonally from downtown Burlington to Port Kent, NY across Lake Champlain; this gives access to the Adirondacks area of New York state. See the Lake Champlain Transportation [5] for schedule and rates.

[edit] Get around

[edit] On foot

Downtown Burlington is one of the most walkable and beautiful small cities in New England, and you'd do well to get out of your car (parking in city and most private garages is free for the first 2 hours, and all day on Sundays) and soak it in.

[edit] By car

There are car rental offices at Burlington International Airport, including Hertz, Avis and Thrifty. Traffic is generally bad during the normal crunch half-hours (7:45 to 8:15 and 4:45 to 5:15). Williston Road to the east and Shelburne Road to the south are congested during those hours, and, unfortunately, unavoidable for the most part.

[edit] By transit

Burlington and the surrounding communities of Winooski, South Burlington, Shelburne, Colchester and Essex Junction are served by the Chittenden County Transportation Authortity (CCTA) which operates public buses. Buses are generally clean, uncrowded and relatively cheap. The main terminal is in downtown Burlington at the intersection of Church St. and Cherry St.

• CCTA [6].

[edit][add listing] See

• ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, 1 College St., Phone: +1 802 864-1848, [7]. Daily 9AM-5PM in summer. Lake aquarium and science center. $9/$7.
• Burlington's downtown is home of an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, and is well-known for its pedestrian Church Street Marketplace [8].
• Regular cruise tours of Lake Champlain aboard The Spirit of Ethan Allen III [9] leave from Burlington's harbor.
• Shelburne Museum, Route 7, Phone: +1 802 985-3346, [10].
• People-Watch Burlington is ideal for observing all sorts of individuals: Flower-child Hippies, Students, funky Artists, tattooed Hipsters, and Preps mingle on the streets and can provide unparalleled entertainment.
• Street Performances Ranging from violists to Hip-Hop dancers, Church Street is home to a multitude of performers, and you don't have to pay a penny, although it doesn't hurt to leave a few dollars.
• Check out the Waterfront At the bottom of College street. $5 for parking.
• Go to North Beach, 52 Institute Road (behind Burlington High School on North Ave). $8 for non-resident parking or get there for free from the bikepath at the Waterfront (go left when looking at the water) [11]

[edit] Arts and Culture

Burlington is renowned for its cultural amenities and strength in the arts, providing the opportunities typical of a much larger city.

• Flynn Theater Home to the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Stage Company, and Lyric Theatre Company.
• Flynnspace Presents alternative and avant-garde performances in an intimate, black box theater.
• Ethan Allen Homestead
• Robert Hull Fleming Museum
• Firehouse Center of the Visual Arts A five-story complex of galleries, classrooms, and studios run by Burlington City Arts.

[edit] Recreation

Go Biking [12] Burlington has a 7.6 mile bike path that runs along the lake and now connects to the Colchester bike path.

Go Hiking Vermont has an abundance of beautiful, hikable mountains. Mount Philo is a leisurely hike for beginners, especially with younger kids. Camel's Hump and Mount Mansfield offer more challenging terrain, but reward hikers with beautiful summit views of the Champlain Valley. All three mountains are within 1 hour driving distance of Burlington.

Go Skiing Several alpine and cross-country ski resorts and backcountry ski trails are within an hour of Burlington--and you can nordic ski in the city, as well, at Red Rocks Park and Burlington Country Club. Written by a local, Skimaven.com the Vermont skiing blog [13] reports on snow conditions, resort options and more.

Visit a Brewery Magic Hat Brewing Company[14] is a tour worth checking out in the Burlington region. For a more comprehensive listing of Vermont Brewery Tours visit [15].

Catch a Movie at the Drive-In Theater The Sunset Drive-In Theater[16], in the neighboring town of Colchester, sends patrons on a nostalgic trip back to sixties with double features of movies. Open seasonally from late April to early September. Cost: $20 per car load (up to six people).

[edit] Festivals

Burlington hosts several festivals and events throughout the year. This list changes every year but the following events staples of the community.

• First Night, December 31st

Parades, performers, and fireworks help to mark the coming of the new year. Burlington continues the First Night tradition with plays, performers, and a grand welcoming of things to come.

• Winter Carnival, Feburary time frame

Celebrate the winter with Ice Scptures, parades, and sleigh rides.

• Mardi Gras Parade, Weekend before Ash Wednesday

Burlington hosts its own Fat Tuesday parade which is usually scheduled for the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. A large parade goes up Church Street, bands play in the clubs and streets, and special events hosted by Magic Hat Brewery.

• KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, Sunday before Memorial Day [17]

A qualifying race for major national marathons, it is one of the largest sporting events in the city with street vendors, musicians and food stalls during and after the race. The marathon begins and ends at Waterfront Park and traverses much of the city. Expect major city streets to be closed down in the morning hours and most hotel rooms booked far in advance.

• The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, First two weeks in June [18]

The Discover Jass festival is the largest event of its kind in the state and draws internationally renowned performing artists to the city each summer, as well as throngs of jazz, blues, gospel and Latin music fans. Its the highlight of the summer festival season. Venues throughout the city, including Waterfront Park, Memorial Auditorium, Contois Theatre, Waterfront Theatre, and The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, [19].

• Independence Day Fireworks Evening of July 3

The City of Burlington holds its' fireworks the evening of the 3rd, so as to allow people to attend both it and the smaller towns' festivities on the 4th. If you go to the latter, prepare to leave early as many roads are closed for parades and it's not always possible to reach towns without Interstate exits between mid-morning and late afternoon of the 4th.

• Vermont Brewers Festival, July 18-19, 2008 [20]

Taste microbrews from Vermont and throughout New England during this annual summer gathering on Burlington's waterfront. General admission is $25/session which includes 10 tasting tickets and a complimentary tasting glass. Discounts are available for admission tickets purchased before July 1st.

• Dragon Boat Festival, August 7, 2007 [21]

The Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival is hosted by Dragonheart Vermont, a breast cancer survivor and supporter dragon boat team. Local companies man 10 person dragon boats in head to head races on Lake Champlain.

• Vermont Air Show, Late August

Watch an air demonstration of older and newer airplanes. Sometimes held at Hanscom Field and sometimes held over the downtown area.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Church Street Marketplace - Four blocks of Church Street are closed to all motor traffic and creates an open air mall in the heart of the city. A variety of eateries, shops, and stores provide a diverse place to find unique gifts.

• Burlington Town Center Mall - Connected to the Church Street Marketplace is the downtown mall. This indoor shopping area has a lot of the traditional stores you would find in an enclosed mall. Anchor stores include Macy's and Old Navy.

• University Mall - Located on Dorset Street the University Mall is closer to campus and offers a wider range of shops than the Downtown Mall. Anchor Stores include Kohls, Sears, and JCPenny's.

• The North Face Store @ KL Sport, 210 College Street, [22] is a locally owned outdoor store specializing in The North Face clothing, outerwear, and equipment. This store provides the gear and information necessary for enjoying the natural splendor of Vermont.

A wider range of stores can be found just outside of Burlington in Williston at Taft's Corner. Store in that area include Wal Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, Toys R' Us and many more stand alone large chain stores.

[edit] Education

• The University of Vermont
• Burlington College
• Champlain College
• Saint Michael's College

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Lake Champlain Chocolates, 750 Pine Street, [23] is a local chocolate maker. They have a company store and a viewing area to see the chocolate being made. They also have a small coffee bar where they serve espresso drinks and their own ice cream.

• Church Street, [24] has many places to eat along this pedestrian mall ranging anywhere from the famous "Hot Dog Lady" street vendor to the upscale dining of many varieties. The marketplace maintains its own directory: [25]. Church Street also hosts a variety of street performers.

• Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop No trip to Vermont would be complete without a stop by one of the renowned Ben & Jerry's scoop shops to sample their latest contributions to Americana. Indeed, few would dispute the fact that ice cream is in season every season. Presently there is a scoop shop located on the Church Street Marketplace at the corner of Cherry Street. The original Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop was located nearby on the southwest corner of College Street and Saint Paul Street.

• Pastabilities, 4735 Williston Road, Williston VT 05495 (At the intersection of Williston Road and Industrial Ave), ☎ 802-598-5513, [26]. 11-7. All Natural - No Preservatives - No Conditions - Everything is made from scratch including 10 types of ravioli, gnocchi, fettuccini, pizza, sandwiches, etc.  edit

• The Skinny Pancake, 60 Lake St, ☎ 802 540-0188. 8AM-8,12PM. is a Burlington Creperie. They serve sweet and savory crepes with a local twist. The "Heartbreaker" crepe features the world favorite Nutella spread loaded with fresh bananas and local strawberries. Along with an emphasis on local and organic products, the S.P. offers molten swiss fondues and live music on Thurs. Fri. and Sat. Come Grab A Crepe! $6 and up.  edit

• Bove's, 68 Pearl St., ☎ 802 864-6651, [27]. 2-8:45 T,W,Th; F/S 11-8:45, closed Sun/Mon. Since 1941, traditional Italian fare. Lasagna (traditionally Wed. only but check first) is the stuff of local legend.  edit

[edit] American

• Al's French Frys, 1251 Williston Road, South Burlington, +1 802 862-9203. [28]
• Bruegger's Bagel Bakery, 93 Church St., +1 802 860-1995, [29].
• New England Wings, 505 Riverside Ave., +1 802 658-6399.
• Muddy Waters, 184 Main St., +1 802 658-0466.
• Greenstreets, 30 Main St., +1 802 862-4930, [30].
• Rusty Scuffer, 148 Church St., +1 802 864-9451.
• Uncommon Grounds, 42 Church St., +1 802 865-6227
• Vermont Soup Company, 1636 Williston Rd., So. Burlington, +1 802 862-5678.
• Windjammer Restaurant & Conference Ctr., 1076 Williston Rd., So. Burlington, +1 802 862-6585, [31].
• Sweetwater's, 118 Church St., +1 802 864-9800.
• Ice House Restaurant, 171 Battery St., +1 802 864-1800.
• Handy's Lunch, 74 Maple St., +1 802 864-5963.
• Tommy's City Grill, 580 Shelburne Rd # 10, Burlington, VT 05401

[edit] Pizza

• American Flatbread, 115 St. Paul St., Burlington, +1 802 861-2999. [32]
• Big Daddy's, 177 Church St, Phone: +1 802 863-0000. The footlong Oinkin' Gobbler is a local favorite, but the pizza is great as well.
• Lee Zachary's Pizza House, 1234 Williston Road, So. Burlington, +1 802 864-9817.
• Leonardo's Pizza, 83 Pearl St., +1 802 862-7700.
• Manhattan Pizza, 167 Main St., +1 802 658-6776.
• Mr. Mike's, 206 Main St., +1 802 864-0072.

[edit] Seafood

• Shanty On The Shore, 181 Battery Street, Phone: +1 802 864-0238. Fresh seafood and great lake views. Expect a wait on weekends.
• Tilley's Cafe, 161 Church Street, Phone: +1 802 658-4553. Unique World Flavors in a nautical island theme, including Seafood, American, and Vegetarian cuisine

[edit] Pan-Asian

• Asiana House, 191 Pearl St, Burlington, +1 802 651-0818.

[edit] Chinese

• Hong Kong Kitchen, 1900 Williston Road, South Burlington +1 802 862-4622.
• China Express, 293 Shelburne Road, +1 802 865-2155.
• A Single Pebble, 133-35 Bank Street, +1 802 865-5200. Try the Mock Eel! [33]

[edit] Japanese

• Koto Japanese Restaurant, 792 Shelburne Road, So. Burlington, +1 802 660-8976.
• Sakura Japanese Restaurant, 2 Church St., +1 802 863-1988, [34].

[edit] Thai

• Bangkok Bistro, 144 Church St., +1 802 951-5888
• Tiny Thai, 24 Main St, Winooski (right outside of Burlington) +1 802 655-4888. Most authentic Thai food in the area. There is also another Tiny Thai at the Essex Outlets & Cinema in Essex, VT (about 30 minutes from Burlington).
• Tantra Organic, 169 Lower Church St., +1 802 651-9660. All local farm fresh & vegetarian.
• Parima Thai, 185 Pearl St.,
• Pacific Rim, 111 Saint Paul St.

[edit] Indian

• India House Restaurant, 207 Colchester Ave., +1 802 862-7800.
• Shalimar of India, 16 North Winooski Ave., +1 802 864-5693. Have a great Sunday brunch which is ~$10 and buffet/all you can eat. Good deal.

[edit] Italian

• Trattoria Delia, 152 St. Paul St., +1 802 864-5253.
• Three Tomatoes Trattoria, 83 Church St., +1 802 660-9533.

[edit] Mexican and Tex-Mex

• Madera's, 3 Main st., +1 802 657-3377.
• New World Tortilla, 10 N Winooski Ave., +1 802 865-1058.
• Bueno Y Sano, 213 College st., +1 802 864-9900.

[edit] Brazilian

• Souza Brazilian Restaurant, 55 Main St., +1 802 864-2433.

[edit] European

• Leunig's Old World Cafe, 115 Church St., +1 802 863-3759.
• Amir's Kebab Cart, Church Street Marketplace (nxt to City Hall)Gyro, Chicken gyro, Doner Kebab

[edit][add listing] Drink

Bars and clubs

• The Vermont Pub and Brewery 144 College St., +1 802 865-0500. [35]
• Akes' Place 134 Church St., +1 802 864-8111. [36]
• Ri Ra Irish Pub 123 Church St., +1 802 860-9401. [37]
• Nectar's 188 Main St., +1 802 658-4771. [38]
• Esox - 194 Main St., +1 802 862-7314.
• What Ales You 152 St. Paul St. (on the corner of Main and St. Paul), +1 802 862-1364.
• Ruben James (or simply "RJ's"), 159 Main St., +1 802 864-0744.
• Church Street Tavern 103 Church St., +1 802 658-1309.
• Daily Planet 15 Center St., +1 802 862-9647.
• Red Square 136 Church St., +1 802 859-8909 [39]
• Three Needs Brewery and Taproom 207 College St., +1 802 658-0889. Freshly-brewed self and local beers, as well as a small but decent selection of beers on tap. Red felt pool table in the back, and friendly barstaff.
• Drink 135 St Paul St., +1 802 860-9463. [40] Hip Spot. Lots of couches. And board games.
• American Flatbread, 115 St. Paul Street, ☎ (802) 861-2999, [41]. An organic and localvore flatbread (don't call it pizza) joint which brews their own "Zero Gravity" beer.  edit

Coffee

• Uncommon Grounds 42 Church St., +1 802 865-6227. [42] Locally owned, they roast their own beans on site.
• Muddy Waters 184 Main St., +1 802 658-0466. Locally owned. Great atmosphere. Some beers on tap too.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Hampton Inn & Conference Center Burlington, 42 Mountain View Road, +1 802 655-6177. [43]. Convenient accommodations close to Downtown Burlington and Burlington International Airport. Offering complimentary breakfast and airport shuttle. Visit hotel website for a complete listing of packages and specials.
• Hawthorn Suites South Burlington, 401 Dorset St., +1 802 860-1212, [44]. This all-suite hotel in the heart of South Burlington Vermont provides 104 spacious and well-appointed one and two-bedroom suites to meet all of your travel needs.
• Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center, 870 Williston Road, +1 802 865-6600. [45]. The largest hotel and conference center in the state of Vermont, it is close to businesses and shopping in beautiful downtown Burlington. The hotel is also close to Lake Champlain, Burlington International Airport and many Burlington attractions.
• Hilton Burlington Hotel, 60 Battery Street, +1 802 658-6500. [46]. Overlooking Lake Champlain and Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont, the hotel offers vacationers 257 hotel rooms.
• Courtyard Burlington Harbor, 25 Cherry St, corner of Battery St and Cherry St., 1 802 864-4700, [47]. Burlington's newest hotel, offers 127 rooms with breath taking views and exceptional staff service.
• Willard Street Inn, 349 South Willard Street, +1 802 651-8710, [48]. Very close to Champlain College and UVM with views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.
• Lang House, 360 Main Street, 877-919-9799, [49]. A cool alternative to a hotel and is just a short walk down the hill to the Church Street Marketplace.
• Super 8 Burlington, 2572 Shelburne Road (Exit 13 off Interstate 89), ☎ +1 802 985-8037, [50]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 11AM. Affordable hotel on main Route 7 corridor. Indoor Pool and free breakfast. Free wireless internet as well.  edit

[edit] Get out

• The Canadian border and Montreal, Quebec, is less than a two hour drive north. Be advised that due to recent changes, border crossing between the US and Canada now require a passport or enhanced identification (such as Vermont states Enhanced Driver's License, or EDL)
• Smugglers Notch and Stowe ski resorts are within 45 minutes from the heart of the city
• Just south of the city are several State Parks and some of the tallest peaks in the Green Mountains
• Try to find 'Champ' the Lake Champlain monster who is supposed to be a sister to Nessy of Lock Ness