Burlington, Vermont

ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center

Lake Champlain is vast, magnificent, and mysterious, and the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center has a goal of unveiling its mysteries. It hopes to share its knowledge of the lake and its inhabitants with Vermont visitors and residents and to protect the lake’s fragile ecosystems. The center, one of the top Burlington attractions, is a 36,000 square foot facility with over 100 interactive exhibits and exciting science education programs.

The Center is home to more than 70 species of fish, invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles.

There is even an exhibition of the legendary creature called Champ, a mysterious twenty-foot serpent that is supposedly living in the lake. The Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is a 2.2-acre environmental campus located on the Burlington Waterfront.

College St, Burlington, VT 05401

The Fleming Museum of Art

Since the day it was opened in 1931, The Fleming Museum of Art was considered a place where people of all ages could gain practical knowledge. This vibrant museum of art and anthropology is located at the University of Vermont, and its collection contains more than 25,000 art and artifacts from the dawn of the civilization to present times from almost all continents.

The Fleming Museum of Art is one of the best things to do in Burlington, Vermont for art lovers. It offers visitors a unique interpretation of the world’s cultural heritage and history through its permanent collection, and it also boasts visiting exhibitions and numerous education programs for children and adults. If you are wondering what to see in Burlington, the Fleming Museum of Art is a great place to visit for art lovers. The museum offers free movies, workshops, and lectures every Saturday, and it has a popular traveling exhibit for schools.

61 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT, Phone: 802-656-0750

Church Street Marketplace

There is always something happening in downtown Burlington. The entire area between Church, Pearl, and Main Streets is closed for traffic. The Church Street Marketplace is a delightful mix of historic buildings, great shops, various kinds of food, street entertainers, bookstores, and a lot of music.

It is the heart of Burlington, bustling with youth from the local University, tourists, and locals who are enjoying the city together, regardless of the weather. If you are wondering what to do in Burlington VT today, this is a great place to start exploring. No snowstorm ever kept the Market empty.

131 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401, Phone: 802-863-1648

Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

If there is a performing art event happening in Burlington, it is probably happening at the Flynn. The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts is quite literally a home for the performing arts in the area. It houses the Vermont Stage Company, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the UVM Lane Series, the Vermont Youth Orchestra, the Lyric Theatre, and many smaller local and visiting groups.

Everything necessary for a successful performance is there, including a 1,411-seat auditorium, a 180-seat delightful cabaret space, a gallery with constantly changing exhibits from local artists, and two studios for education activities. You can also see the Burlington annual Jazz Festival, visiting Broadway shows, or take a dance course at Flynn.

153 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-863-5966, Instagram

Burlington Farmers' Market

Every Saturday morning, hundreds of people descend on City Hall Park for some fabulous treats, because Saturday is the day of the Burlington Farmers' Market. During the colder season, the whole crew moves to the indoor space on Saint Paul Street.

The Market is the best place to meet Vermont farmers, cheese makers, bread bakers, artists, and artisans. Try their products, talk to them about their lives, and learn about the Vermont lifestyle from the source. Don’t forget to load up on homemade brownies, cookies, pickles, cider, maple syrup, and other fun items. You also have the chance to try rich ethnic food from diverse places such as Nepal, Jamaica, Mexico, China, Morocco, and Tibet. If you are looking for date ideas in Burlington, the farmers' market is a great spot.

Pine St, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-310-5172

Hen of the Wood

Hen of the Wood is romantic, and elegant, and its two roaring fireplaces make the place feel warm and inviting. Wood stacked along the walls reminds you that you are in Vermont where the winters are long and fire is not for decoration only. The restaurant’s leather seats are luxurious and comfortable and the ceiling beams add a charming rustic touch.

You can watch the drama unfold in the open kitchen and observe the staff move around as though they are participating in a grand ballet. The menu is simple, short, and tempting, and it changes daily. All ingredients come from the local suppliers in the Champlain Valley or Green Mountain.

Meat is the king at Hen of the Wood, and it is always succulent and perfectly cooked by the expert kitchen staff. Try Rabbit Loin wrapped in ham with apples, kohlrabi, and fresh cream. The wine list is spectacular and the beer has been carefully selected.

Address: Hen of the Wood, 55 Cherry Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-540-0534

North Beach Park

From May through Labor Day, you can go swimming on a small but lovely sandy North Beach Park on Lake Champlain, located just off a bike path near the high school. You can also rent a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or bike. There is a patch of grass with a few barbecues if you are an enthusiastic cook and a fully stocked snack bar if you prefer having someone else do the cooking.

You can also take advantage of a well-organized campground next door if you decide to spend the night at the North Beach Park, a worthwhile experience on clear nights when the stars are particularly spectacular. If you are looking for things to do in Burlington with the whole family, visit this unique park. The beach has a lifeguard during the summer, and while it is closed in the winter, you can still come by and make a snowman or have a snowball fight.

Pizzeria Verita

You know that you are going to eat a great pizza as soon as you walk through the doors of Pizzeria Verita and see the pizza oven in the middle of the room. It is a magnificent 6,000-pound masterpiece imported from Italy, too beautiful to put in the back of the restaurant.

It makes pizzas in 90 seconds, and they come out perfectly every time, bursting with flavors, the way real Neapolitan pizza should. The restaurant, located in downtown Burlington a block from City Hall, is spacious and beautifully decorated, and an entire wall behind the bar is lined with some very fine wines. Even the stacks of wood look like sculptures.

You can try many delicious Italian dishes from the menu, but pizzas are the hottest items on the menu. Pizzeria Verita even makes its own mozzarella every day.

Address: Pizzeria Verita, 156 St. Paul Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-489-5644

Ethan Allen Homestead

Visiting Ethan Allen Homestead will let you get close to the spirit of the most popular folk hero of Vermont. Ethan was a backwoodsman-turned-statesman, a flamboyant and unusually well read character for the time. He played an important role in the history of Vermont, which was then called the New Hampshire Grants. At the time, the territory served as the northern frontier of the restless New England colonies.

Visiting Ethan Allen’s homestead and looking at the artifacts from the time during which he lived in the house paints a vivid picture of the rough living, cramped quarters, and turbulent times typical of the country’s history. The Homestead frequently organizes special events such as the Harvest Festival and the Celebration of Family and A Tribute to Nature.

Address: Ethan Allen Homestead, 1 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-865-4556

American Flatbread

For a university town, having a great pizza place is essential. American Flatbread is a very popular, welcoming place packed with individuals who appreciate great pizza that has been baked in the enormous earthen oven loaded with fragrant burning wood. Just watching the fire makes the place cozy and warm. All toppings are organic and mount watering, and there are some really imaginative combinations of ingredients.

Burlington Heart partners with local farmers and artisans such as Cob Hill Cheese from Heartland and Diggers’ Mirth Collective, organic vegetable growers from Burlington. No wonder the salads are superb and astoundingly fresh. Wash it all down with some excellent Zero Gravity brews on tap.

Address: American Flatbread, 115 St. Paul St., Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-861-2999

Burlington City Arts Center

Established in 1981 and located in the former firehouse, Burlington City Arts Center has a goal of making arts accessible and available to all, regardless of economic or social status. It is not surprising, therefore, that one of the first activities the center organized was the Battery Park Free Concert Series, which is still incredibly popular to this day. Today, the center is the home and heart of Vermont’s contemporary art.

The center encourages meaningful experiences with art, inspiring the general public to challenge and engage with the various works. The center has a significant contemporary art collection and a studio for the artist-in-residence. It organizes frequent contemporary art events such as concerts, movie screenings, and theatre performances.

Address: Burlington City Arts Center, 135 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-865-7166

Lake Champlain Chocolates

You will smell Lake Champlain Chocolates from a mile away, and you will inevitably follow your nose to a bright, modern production room from where you can observe all the action through the viewing glass from comfortable seats. Listen to a fascinating explanation on the process of making chocolate, the company’s fair trade program, and the establishment’s commitment to working with local producers whenever possible. As you listen to the lecture, you will see their signature truffles, almond butter crunch, and gooey caramels roll out.

The presentation lasts about half an hour, and by that time, you will feel that you simply must get your hands on some samples. Fortunately, you can engage in a chocolate tasting and four-chocolate comparison course and free chocolate bar making classes, ensuring that you will get your fill of chocolate. The tour is not for children under 7, as the chocolate is quite rich.

Address: Lake Champlain Chocolates, 750 Pine Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 800-465-5909

Battery Park

Burlington’s 14-acre Battery Park is a historically important park located on an elevated point which overlooks the popular Waterfront Park. Originally built as a military camp during the war of 1812, Battery Park gunners successfully defended the site against an attack by British forces in 1813. Today most visitors come to the park to enjoy the solitude and the beautiful views over Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. You will find a promenade, children’s playground and a band shell which hosts regular outdoor concerts in summer. You can also admire commemorative sculptures and art pieces as well as a memorial fountain.

Address: Battery Park, 1 North Ave, Burlington, VT 05401

Petra Cliffs Climbing Center

Petra Cliffs Climbing Center in an indoor climbing center where you can literally learn the ropes before setting off to enjoy outdoor rock climbing. The center offers facilities for (almost) all ages and is the ideal place to get to know and love the sport of rock climbing. There are climbing wall for all abilities and a high-ropes course. If you have never tried climbing before you will start off by learning the basics of bouldering. Once you gain confidence on the bouldering courses you will be ready to take on the more advanced climbing walls using a harness and autobelay device to ensure your safety.

Address: Petra Cliffs Climbing Center, 106 Briggs Street, Burlington, VT 05401, Phone: 802 657 3872