Burlington Vermont

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Greater Burlington area is Vermont’s major economic and metropolitan center. Situated on Lake Champlain with a view of the Adirondack Mountains, Burlington offers a wealth of cultural activities, lovely Victorian architecture, and a well-educated, vibrant community. Here life takes place on a human scale. It is possible to live within walking distance of concerts and the University of Vermont or to opt for a short commute to a pleasant suburban neighborhood. 

Burlington Recreation

The Lake Champlain region provides a variety of recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. There's fishing, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, kayaking, tubing, and scuba diving in the summer; ice-boating, cross-country skiing, skating, ice fishing, and sleigh rides during the winter months.

The Burlington Waterfront Park area makes summer activities easily accessible to all with an eight-mile bike path that curves along the lake. Runners, bikers, rollerbladers, and walkers use this path throughout the milder seasons of northern Vermont.

Within an hour’s drive from Burlington are world-class ski areas: Stowe, Sugarbush, Bolton Valley, Smuggler’s Notch, Jay Peak, and Mad River Glen.

Burlington Past & Present

Burlington is well known for its independent, entrepreneurial nature. After the Revolutionary War, Vermont became its own republic, coined its own money, ran its own militia, and conducted its own foreign trade. At that time, water was the most elegant and convenient form of travel.

Situated perfectly on the Eastern Shore of Lake Champlain, Burlington quickly launched into the new century with one of the nation’s first steamboats, The Vermont. With an energetic timber trade facilitated by easy water travel, Burlington soon became a cultural center and a thriving metropolis.

At present day, Burlington’s entrepreneurial spirit thrives in microbrews and gourmet chocolates. From Phish and Burton Snowboards to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Burlington has a flavor all its own.

Burlington Shopping

The Church Street Marketplace is the heart of downtown Burlington, VT. It's a vibrant pedestrian mall with an array of shops, restaurants and cafes, and department stores. On warm days, it's the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat at one of the cafes and watch the world go by. Whether you're looking to shop, grab a bite to eat, or just take in the Burlington scene, the Church Street Marketplace is a great place to start.

Burlington Arts

The Flynn Theatre for the Performing Arts, a restored art deco theatre located in the Center of Downtown Burlington, is recognized as one of New England’s finest performing centers. It offers the community a range of world-class dance, jazz, and theater events. The University of Vermont’s Robert Hull Fleming Museum provides outstanding traveling and permanent exhibits on UVM’s main campus. The Lane Series presents classical and contemporary music, theatre, and dance to the UVM and Burlington communities.

When it comes to cultural festivals, Burlington’s Vermont Festival Campaign has developed some very successful festivals with the Discover Jazz Festival and the Arts Alive Festival of Fine Arts. Other outstanding festivals include the Vermont International Film Festival, Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival, the Winter Blues Festival, and Burlington’s Summer Theatre Festival. For more information about art programs, opportunities & festivals in Vermont, visit the Vermont Arts Council, or click here to read about more arts, festivals & culture in Vermont!

Burlington Transportation

Burlington International Airport, just three miles from downtown, handles over 375,000 passengers yearly making it the third busiest in New England. Several airlines provide direct service and international connections to and from major cities. Interstate 89 is a toll-free highway between Boston and Montreal. Route 7, a major north/south artery, links western Vermont with Massachusetts and Quebec.

Route 2 bisects Vermont westward to New York State and eastward to New Hampshire and Maine. Public transportation is centered in downtown Burlington with fourteen inter-city and local bus routes connecting Burlington and the surrounding communities.

Burlington Quality of Life

Burlington has the distinction of being voted one of America’s most livable cities by the National Conference of Mayors. In addition, Burlington and the state of Vermont have won a series of awards in recent years from a wide variety of organizations measuring everything from education and business climate to quality of life and clean air. Read more here!