Vacation in Burlington VT in July

[dundee]

Hello friends, we are thinking of a week long vacation in Burlington VT in July. We like to spend time on the lake (but will not have a boat), and spend time outdoors hiking the trails. All 4 or 5 adults. We picked Burlington because it seemed to have all of that.

Do you have any recommendations - do's or don'ts? Are there any other locations around that area that you can suggest? Do you suggest any outdoor activities while there?

Please let us know. Thank you.

[snic]

Hello friends, we are thinking of a week long vacation in Burlington VT in July. We like to spend time on the lake (but will not have a boat), and spend time outdoors hiking the trails. All 4 or 5 adults. We picked Burlington because it seemed to have all of that.

Do you have any recommendations - do's or don'ts? Are there any other locations around that area that you can suggest? Do you suggest any outdoor activities while there?

Please let us know. Thank you.

There's a lot of really good hiking in the area within a short drive. It's also fun to rent bikes and bike the causeway trail. There's a cute little bike ferry to cross a short gap in the causeway. It's a beautiful ride.

Vermont is reknown for its cheeses and farm produce. If you like that sort of thing, it's fun finding the small farm shops peppered throughout the area. Or you can skip the hunt and just go to City Market, which is a co-op that has several branches in the area. They have a lot of local produce, meats, cheeses, and breads. Speaking of bread, check out O Bread, a bakery in Shelburne Farm, for delicious artisanal breads. Shelburne Farms itself is also worth a visit.

There are boat tours of Lake Champlain in several varieties (dinner, sunset, etc) and probably some way to rent a boat for a day. I was there in late autumn so there wasn't much by way of watersports, but I'm sure it really picks up in summer.

[UM70]

Always enjoyed visiting the Shelburne Museum when based in Stowe for a vacation.

[lakja]

My wife and I did a similar vacation staying in Burlington.

Stowe is a quick drive, and we did a day at the spa at Top Notch Resort. It was a great time. We got there early, worked out and then did cardio. Got in the shower and used the pool, saunas before our treatments. Hit up the Alchemist on the way back to Burlington if you like beer.

Also, Montpellier isn’t too far either, and we enjoyed walking around down town and walking throughout the capital building, entering both the house and senate chambers.

Our favorite spots in Burlington were the 126 - great cocktails and live music. For food, Hen of the Wood by a mile - ate there twice. Everything we tried was top notch and outstanding service. Honey Road was a good Mediterranean stop, but we preferred its sister restaurant The Grey Jay for breakfast/lunch. Skip Trattoria Delia - wasn’t very good and poor service. Cafe Dim Sum and the Asian Noodle Shop were outstanding - give the nod to the Asiana Noodle Shop.

You can walk all along the city, go into the shops, people watch, it’s close to the East Coast Portland - the people are weird. The Science Museum was a good stop too. Recommend going to a sugary, learning the process and how they get the sugar from the trees, and buy some maple syrup to take back.

[alpenglow]

+1 for the Causeway bike path.

Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield aren't far if you are looking for a more serious hike to get above tree-line. You can also take the gondola up Mansfield and then explore up top without the major climb.

Do you like beer? Vermont has lots of outstanding breweries. Foam is my favorite in town, but there are many good ones around. If you are a beer nerd, it would probably be worth the trek to Hill Farmstead (but it is in NEK).

[Grump99]

It's a great place to visit if you like beer. And Ben and Jerry's is close by.

[tonyclifton]

We were there around that timeframe for a family vacation and had a great time fishing. Be on the lookout for “Champ”.

[jabbahop]

We live in South Hero at the far end of the bike ferry Causeway through Lake Champlain. If weather/wind is good I recommend going across the bike ferry (covers a 100’ gap where a railroad swinging bridge used to operate) and ride another couple of miles up to Sebs (a local snackbar with great french fries and creemies (softserve icecream), a couple of apple orchards, or snowfarm winery.

Hiking Camel’s Hump is a challenge but worth the views @ the end. Visiting some of the nearby towns mountain like Middlebury and Waitsfield are nice and not quite as crazy as Stowe. The burlington farmers market is nice and check and see if there is going to be any events down on the burlington waterfront.

[alpenglow]

We live in South Hero at the far end of the bike ferry Causeway through Lake Champlain.

What a beautiful place to live!

[jabbahop]

We live in South Hero at the far end of the bike ferry Causeway through Lake Champlain.

What a beautiful place to live!

It is a lovely place to live but the winters are too much for us so we spend the rest of the time here in Southern Utah where there is lots of sun and easier to get outside everyday.

[billfromct]

Full Day Trip (or quick trip to Mt Philo State Park & back to Burlington)

*Mt Philo State Park: about 12 miles south of Burlington off of Rt 7 through Shelburne, VT; drive up to the top of the mountain with beautiful views of Lake Champlain & NY State to the West
*from Mt Philo drive over to Lincoln Gap (27 miles) with Mad River Glen Ski Area then Sugarbush Ski Area on the other side; then head through Waitsfield/Warren
*from the Waitsfield/Warren area, head north on RT 100 to Stowe, then head to Stowe Ski Area then over Smugglers Notch; once over “the Notch” drive past Smugglers Notch Ski Area (a.k.a. Madonna Ski Area in the late 1960s) then through Jeffersonville & back to Burlington

Thankful for google maps & Waze!

bill

[dknightd]

the Shelburne Museum

Seconded. The entrance ticket is good for two days. Don't be surprised if you decide to use both days.

[AlmostThereCT]

Vermont in the summer is spectacular. So much to do and see, most of it at a very relaxing pace.

Seeing that you will be there for a week, a day trip or overnight to Montreal is worth considering. Easy drive of less than 2 hours.

[jebmke]

Vermont in the summer is spectacular. So much to do and see, most of it at a very relaxing pace.

Seeing that you will be there for a week, a day trip or overnight to Montreal is worth considering. Easy drive of less than 2 hours.

The dollar is strengthening, too. I am examining whether to re-wire a birding trip tentatively planned this spring. Instead of US locations, many of the same migratory birds end up in Quebec -- just a few days later. It wouldn't be that much more effort to go there instead of the US. There are a lot of interesting historical sites that could also be interspersed.

[Tamalak]

A true boglehead wouldn't vacation anywhere else

[eddot98]

Smugglers’ Notch. The drive through it is spectacular. There are several hiking trails in the Park, just don’t go there on a sunny weekend day.

[Sidney]

The dollar is strengthening, too.

I noticed that as well. We had plans to trade our car this year but I may put that off and go for a trip to Europe in the fall instead. The car is a little long in the tooth but otherwise serviceable.

[mrmass]

Hello friends, we are thinking of a week long vacation in Burlington VT in July. We like to spend time on the lake (but will not have a boat), and spend time outdoors hiking the trails. All 4 or 5 adults. We picked Burlington because it seemed to have all of that.

Do you have any recommendations - do's or don'ts? Are there any other locations around that area that you can suggest? Do you suggest any outdoor activities while there?

Please let us know. Thank you.

They have some nice fireworks on July 3rd over the lake. There are 2 hotels you can watch from a room, or their common area. It's quite popular.

[KevinC]

Have enjoyed the Burlington and Stowe areas many time in both summer and winter.

-The Hilton Garden Inn or Hotel Vermont offer an easy walk to downtown and the lake/bike trails
-Lots of options to stay in Stowe, Lodge at Spruce Peak is nice (if pricy) for more hiking focused stay
-Hiking Mt. Mansfield, Smuggler's Notch Sterling Pond Trail and the easy Rock Point Trail loop near Burlington all fun
-Biking Burlington Greenway and Island Line Trail was great
-Lots of good beer/brewery options
-Hen of the Woods for dinner, highly recommend
-My family liked the Skinny Pancake by the waterfront for breakfast (but have not been there in long time)
-Farmers market if there is one that weekend

Enjoy

[Padlin]

We enjoy biking on Grand Isle.

[StartedAt22]

This is officially the first post I am 100% qualified to comment on as a native Vermonter from Chittenden County!

Outdoor activities:

- Hiking (ofc) Camels Hump and Sterling Pond are my favorites. Sterling pond is short (25min to the top) but beautiful pond and clean and you can swim. Camels hump is a longer hike (2.5 - 3 hrs), but the view is impeccable and great sense of accomplishment. I suggest bringing a headlamp and doing a sunrise hike.

- Spend some time in downtown burlington on the waterfront. There's a good brewery that is usually packed and "popping"

- There is a really long and nice bikepath extending from Burlington into the surrounding towns. It's very scenic and suggest biking / walking

- Cliff diving at Niquette's bay or Red Rocks. Good spots with varying heights.

- Visit the ben and jerrys factory for the tour. It's kind of lame but there is a novelty to it. Plus, "free" ice cream

- Visit cold hollow cider mill in Stowe -- amazing donuts and cider.

- Check out the worlds tallest filing cabinet in Burlington, VT!

- Mountain biking at killington

- Von Trapp lodge is an amazing little brewery with some fascinating history, good beers, and interesting taxidermy. Cool spot.

I can't believe that someone would want to vacation to Vermont!!! I couldn't wait to leave. Too many old people.

[StartedAt22]

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