Katherine Welles/ShutterstockHow to Spend 24 Incredible Hours in Burlington, Vermont Ainsley Robertson July 20, 2015 Trending Stories 4 Comments What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Vermont? There’s a good chance you either think of maple syrup, snow, or flannels. While Vermonters do take pride in all three of those things, there’s so much more to this awesome place! Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, has unlimited fun year-round, despite the cold. Ainsley Robertson Yeah, we weren’t kidding. You get used to it, though… we promise. When it’s not feeling like the tundra, Burlington has beautiful weather! Hit the town like a local with this 24-hour day trip to Burlington! A day is incomplete without brunch. Ainsley Robertson The best spots for brunch in Burlington are Magnolia Bistro and Penny Cluse Café. No questions asked. Try the eggs benedict at Magnolia’s and be sure to get a side of banana bread at Penny Cluse. You won’t be disappointed. And if you add a mimosa into the mix? Now that’s what we call a good start to the day. Head out on a hike! Ainsley Robertson Mt. Philo state park offers amazing views of Lake Champlain. See? No snow! Only a 30-minute drive from the center of town, a visit to Mt. Philo is a must when visiting. In about an hour, you can hike up to the Summit Trail (it’s only 1 mile). It’s open from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, so get out there while you can! Walk around campus. Ainsley Robertson At the top of the hill sits the University of Vermont. Its abbreviation, UVM, comes from Universitas Virdis Montis, Latin for University of the Green Mountains. With amazing mountain views from every angle of campus, the name couldn’t be more fitting. UVM is also rich with history. Founded in 1791, it’s the fifth oldest university in the Northeast, following Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown. NOTE: The Williams Hall (pictured above) fire escape provides the best sunset views in town. Need a treat? Ainsley Robertson Grab some Ben & Jerry’s! Eat your ice cream and enjoy some people watching – what’s better than that? No complaints here. They have all the flavors you could possibly want. NOTE: The Ben & Jerry’s factory is in Waterbury, VT, a 30-minute drive from Burlington. You can take a tour and everything! See where all the pints you’ve ever bought come from and how they’re made. Explore the B&J’s homeland. Hit the lake. Ainsley Robertson Still wanting more? Lucky for you, Burlington is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. In the summer, grab a drink down at Splash At The Boathouse, a bar-restaurant located right on the docks. Looking for more of an adventure? Ride along the bike path, which spans up to 8 miles long. There are tons of other things to do on the lake, including stand-up paddling (SUP) and sailing. Don’t know how to sail? Check out the Community Sailing Center! Hungry for dinner? Ainsley Robertson Grab some sushi at Asiana House on Pearl Street – you won’t be disappointed. Not in the mood for sushi? Head to Burlington’s iconic Church Street and we’re more than positive that you’ll find food that you like. With endless restaurants and shopping, Church Street is the place to be. Room for dessert? Ainsley Robertson There’s nothing wrong with getting ice cream twice in one day. We’re not judging you. Plus, you had hard-serve before. And we all know calories don’t count when you’re on vacation. Burlington Bay Market & Café offers the best creemees in town (soft-serve, that is). If you don’t call it a creemee, it’s a dead giveaway that you’re from out of town. They offer classics like chocolate and vanilla, but we recommend trying the more exotic maple or black raspberry flavors. Watch the sunset. Ainsley Robertson Burlington’s got the best sunsets in America. It may not be scientifically proven or an official fact, but we’re serious. Watch it from the Williams Hall fire escape back up on campus or head down to the waterfront. The sun sets so perfectly over the mountains on the other side of Lake Champlain that you’ll want to rewind it and watch again. Don’t believe us? Check it out: Ainsley Robertson Ainsley Robertson Ainsley Robertson Enough said. Looking for nightlife? Ainsley Robertson The Church Street area has it all. Head to Red Square – there’s live music outside and two DJs inside! If you’re looking for a true college experience, head to Rasputin’s for a wild night. Other great options include What Ale’s You, Ruben James, Club Metronome, Manhattan’s, Drink, and many more! You seriously can’t go wrong when it comes to nightlife in Burlington. Time for bed! That’s how the locals do it! Like what you see? Check it out for yourself! With Burlington’s views, food, shopping, and overall aura, we’re sure that you’ll fall in love with it as much as we have! What’s your favorite thing about Burlington? Let us know in the comments section below!
