Burlington is a university town and thoroughly charming 365 days a year. In the winter things are cold but cozy. In the summer there’s lots of biking and exploring along the water. The abundance of college kids ensure a plethora of bars and restaurants. The close Canadian border means everyone’s friendly. Oh, and there’s the skiing.
Burlington is one of those glorious places that has both lots to do and nothing to do. If you don’t know how to relax, this is the place to actually get a little vacation in your vacation. Walk around. Drink a lot. Pace yourself.
Where to explore
The Church Street pedestrian mall is the heart of this little city. It’s the place to see and be seen, and also a place where you can buy a flannel or fur thong. It’s a liberal city.
If you’re into shopping, Burlington has plenty of records, books, consignment shops, and art galleries.
Be sure to see what’s on at the Fleming Museum and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.
The Burlington Bike Path is mandatory. If you don’t want to get wheels, you can walk the water’s edge on foot.
ECHO is not the most exciting science center. It’s pretty small and geared to the elementary age set. If the weather is bad or you have little ones with you, it’s worth going. Worst case scenario you hang out at the touch tanks and poke some frogs.
When your feet are tired, check out Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas for a break.
Where to work
The last time I was in Vermont was an exceptionally cold, face-freezing week. Nothing brings the workaholic in me like cold weather. Most of the coffee shops right downtown feel more or less like Starbucks. There are both pros and cons to that.
I loved Maglianero. It’s designed for bikers (and right on the bike path) but it’s an industrial gem that is basically a coworking space. This is the spot if you’re obsessed with kombucha.
Radio Bean was much less refined, but was a cozy space to work. Assuming there isn’t a performance going on. This is the center of a community.
Where to eat
I once went to Shalimar of India on Thanksgiving. It was one of the best meals I’ve had in Burlington. Everyone else is getting takeout, but dining in is great, too.
The Skinny Pancake is a good spot for a light meal. If it’s not too crowded, it’s also a good spot to get a little work done. Just don’t hog the table for too long.
The Farm House and Red Onion are always good choices. Penny Cluse is great for breakfast, if you can get a table.
Let’s have a moment of silence for the grand classic, Bove’s. RIP.
Where to drink
Apparently there is a winery/alpaca farm in Vermont, which would totally be my jam, but no one I’ve talked to is quite sure where it is. This includes numerous strangers, one of whom was wearing a bathrobe in a cafe. Please let me know if you can direct me to this xanadu.
Burlington is a land of breweries, wineries, and distilleries. I cannot think of another meadery anywhere. Burlington has two.
- Switchback Brewing
- Foam Brewers
- Citizen Cider
- Queen City Brewery
- Mad River Distillers
- Zero Gravity Brewpub
- Four Quarters Brewing
- Three Needs Brewery
- Magic Hat
- Simple Roots
- Groennfell Meadery
- Burlington Beer Company
- Goodwater Brewery
- Colchester’s Mead Hall
- Farmham Ale & Lager
Once you get outside of downtown, there’s SILO, Vermont Spirits, Appalachian Gap, Barr Hill, Lake George, Mad River, and Stonecutter Spirits.
If you’re doing your drinking downtown, my favorite place is The Other Place. It’s the first choice of the old men drinking alone, which means it’s the spot for me.
If you’re a bit more social, Three Needs Taproom is popular with normal people. And bros. I prefer my bars empty, but I can see why everyone else likes this place.
Practical matters
Taking the train to or from Burlington near a holiday is a mistake. I can promise you the train will be packed with college kids and it will be an unpleasant, wifi-less journey. Burlington does still technically have a downtown train station, but it’s only used for amusement rides. The Amtrak stop is quite a bit outside the city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN7by4Kgw0Z/?taken-at=216107348
One of my favorite things about Burlington is that you can walk to the airport. It’s so cute! Or, if you’re not up for the walk, there’s always Uber.
Thanks to Chris Massa and Sass and Sivan at Stonecutter for their suggestions!
Before anything, I would like to admire you for being a digital nomad. Anyway, this guide is truly helpful to anyone who wishes to visit this place. I like how you transmit your idea on this. Very well written.
My home town!! You definitely can’t walk to the airport, although that would be pretty cool. I do agree that it’s a good spot for drinking (coffee or the hard stuff), and I always get my work done at Muddy Waters.
Walking to the airport is 100% possible, since we did it. It takes about 90 minutes and there are sidewalks the whole way.
So amazing. I have noticed university towns have the best cafes to work at. I think coz students need them to work/research etc in. So I agree Burlington makes for an excellent place for nomads. oh btw did you get authentic Indian food at shalimar of India?
Burlington comes across as a charming place. I love university towns, they have a special vibrancy and a totally different ambience which is so endearing. The bike path by the edge of the water looks really inviting.
I haven’t been, but I have always wanted to visit as I’m a huge fan of the band Phish – from Burlington, VT. Those mountains are so gorgeous and I’m currently dreaming of that cashew milk cappuccino with cinnamon on top. GIMME 😛
I love university towns — they are always so home-y! And Burlington looks like an amazing weekend getaway spot. I’d love to hit the slopes and then visit a winery afterwards!
I’ve yet to visit Vermont! It makes me realize we need to do more stateside travel! I would love to visit in the winter and go skiing here. I would also check out that cafe as I love kombucha!
I’m sorry to say that I’ve never been to Burlington, VT, but your photos and descriptions make it sound like a “must visit.” I’m not much for the cold, but it looks like there are plenty of warm, cozy inside options when you get there — plus pretty delightful food and drink options. Would love to see that pedestrian mall for myself and take a ride along the path (once it warms up, of course). Thanks for sharing!
I didn’t realise you could ski up there but it is a part of the States I don’t know very well. It sounds very diverse though and is a shorter flight for me
Really? You can walk to the airport? I thought San Diego was the only city where you could do that 🙂 I busted out laughing when you mentioned a fur thong. That sounds so itchy! lol. I really enjoy your style of writing. I felt like we were chitchatting at a coffee shop.
This is great! I’m going to be in Vermont to go skiing next week and now I know what to do when I’m passing through Burlington. I can live without going to the Ben & Jerry’s factory again.