Things To Do
Burlington Bike Path
The Burlington bike path is a great way to experience Lake Champlain with several beaches and parks along the way. We like Local Motion for bike rentals. You can also bike the Colchester Causeway (connected to the Burlington Bike Path), a very nice and easy gravel bike path that is bordered on both sides by Lake Champlain. On weekends, you can take a ferry across the lake to visit South Hero Island.
Swimming, Kayaking, and Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Lake Champlain will be very warm for swimming in August. In Burlington, we recommend Oakledge Park, which also has kayak and stand up paddle board rentals. You can also rent boats at the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center or Burlington Surf Club. Leddy Park also has a beach area as well. Outside of Burlington, we love Waterbury Reservoir for swimming and you can rent kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards as well.
Restaurants in Burlington
For a great lake-side patio option, we love Spot on the Dock. We also love Santiago's and Skinny Pancake near the hotels and Waterworks in Winooski. There are lots of patios and restaurants on Church Street (a pedestrian only shopping street) as well.
August First Bakery
Caroline's favourite bakery from her days working retail nearby in the summer time! On August first (our wedding day), they usually have a little party and you can pick up some August first merch.
Breweries
Our reception is at one of our favourite breweries in Vermont! In addition to Burlington Beer Company, we also love Foam by the waterfront, Zero Gravity, and Switchback (next to Burlington Beer Company). In Stowe, we love the Alchemist, Idletyme, the Von Trapp beer hall and Stowe Cider. It's also fun to rent bikes on the Stowe bike path and make stops along the way! If you are in the Mad River Valley, Lawson's has a great outdoor space and some of our favourite Vermont beers.
Shopping and Church Street Marketplace
Visit Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian-only street with shops and patios. You can also visit Burton Snowboards' Flagship Store, which also serves as the company's global headquarters.
Hikes
There are lots of great hikes in the Green Mountains. We recommend Camel's Hump for a moderate to difficult hike. Sterling Pond for a moderate hike and Mt. Philo for a more gentle hike.
Family Friendly Spots
The Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is a great family focused science and nature museum on the waterfront near the downtown hotels. We also recommend going to the Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms (separate, but nearby locations). You can catch a Vermont Lake Monsters baseball game too (it's no Blue Jays, but plenty of ball park snacks)!
Creemees!
Creemees are Vermont's version of a soft-serve ice cream, and they are a must have. We highly recommend maple creemees at Palmer Lane in Jericho (Caroline's hometown) and Canteen Creemee Company if you are in the Mad River Valley. In Burlington, Little Gordo is great. Burlington Bay Market is near the downtown waterfront hotels as well.
Shelburne Farms
There are many walking trails, gardens and you can enjoy lunch at the Shelburne Inn with a reservation. There are farm animals and family friendly activities as well.
Visit Stowe and the Stowe Bike Path
At the foot of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's tallest mountain, you can visit the resort and take a gondola ride or do a hike and then visit the town where you'll find lots of cute restaurants, breweries, and shops. You can explore the town using the bike path as well! Caroline and her family have been renting bikes from Mountain Ops since they moved to Vermont. We love American Flatbread for pizza.
von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort
An Eatock family spot! Ian went and saw the sound of music when he was a kiddo.
Waterbury Reservoir
Waterbury Reservoir is an 850-acre lake surrounded by Mount Mansfield State Forest. It’s a peaceful spot for kayaking, paddle-boarding, swimming, or relaxing on the beach.
Savu Pop Up Saunas
This is one of our guilty pleasures when we are on vacation here. In Burlington, Savu is located at the Burlington Surf Club with a cold plunge tub or you can jump in Lake Champlain to cool down. There are other locations near Smuggler's Notch Ski Resort and Madbush Falls in the Mad River Valley where you can do a natural cold plunge in the falls.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory
The original Ben and Jerry's factory with a short tour (book online ahead of time), but the best part is the flavour graveyard!
Visit the Mad River Valley
Waterbury, Waitsfield and Warren are all great little Vermont towns. For Waterbury, we recommend the Waterbury Reservoir and the Black Back Pub (ask to sit upstairs!). For Waitsfield, there are spots to swim in the river, Lawson's brewery and Canteen Creemee Company (both creemees and food). For Warren, visit Sugarbush ski resort and go for a sauna and a cold plunge in Madbush Falls. Madbush Falls is also a great place to stay and their restaurant onsite is delicious!
Smugglers Notch Ski Resort and the Notch Road
Caroline's home mountain! You can also take the Notch Road from Smuggs to Stowe, which is a very pretty but dramatic and winding road through the notch of Mt. Mansfield.
Lake Willoughby
Visit the Northeast Kingdom if you would like to explore and stay in a different area in Vermont (also close to the Canadian border for travel). Lake Willoughby is a gorgeous lake with great hiking trails and a beach. We stayed in nearby Newport and visited Hill Farmstead brewery during our trip.
Go camping or visit Burton Island State Park for the day
Take a quick 10 minute Island Runner ferry (check the times online) from St. Albans to Burton Island State Park with great camping, walking trails and a beach. The island does not have cars, so you can bring your bikes on the ferry if you would like. There is a small restaurant on the island as well. Caroline camped here as a kid with her friends!