Activities Galore Visiting the Eclectic City of Burlington
Church Street Market Place, located in downtown Burlington, is a must for anyone planning to visit this unique city. It is a city street that is entirely blocked off to automobiles and is only opened to pedestrians on foot, bike, skateboard, etc. On this beautiful, tree lined street you will find all kinds of sidewalk cafes and excellent shopping. One funky cafe I visited is called The Red Onion. I stopped in for a coffee and chocolate chip cookie, which was fabulous. While enjoying my scrumptious baked good, I perused the menu and learned that they offer all kinds of salads, sandwiches and dishes to please anyone from meat eaters to vegans. The atmosphere was hip with artwork lining the walls and an adorable patio in the back.
After resting in the Red Onion, I hit Church Street for some serious shopping. The street is lined with adorable shops from, clothing boutiques to artisan galleries. I even found a store dedicated to selling just socks. Besides the usual chain stores such as Eddie Bauer, Old Navy, The Body Shop and Urban Outfitters (I am a huge fan of Urban Outfitters), one can find smaller boutiques carrying hip and smaller labels. One store that I became particularly fond of was Sweet Lady Jane located at 40 Church St.. The shop carried funky women’s clothing that you just can’t find anywhere.
After shopping you’ll want to find a place to eat. Deciding which restaurant to try was difficult because they all look so inviting with their large, open windows and sidewalk tables. Finally I settled on a restaurant called Three Tomatoes Trattoria, located at 83 Church St.. I am a huge fan of Italian cuisine and the pasta dishes were calling to me. I sat in the outside seating area so I never got a chance to take a glimpse at the indoor decor, but the food was delicious and the service was wonderful!
Before heading home I had to head down to Burlington’s’ vibrant waterfront. Here you will find a relaxing park, the Lake Champlain ECHO Center and a fabulous bike path that runs for seven miles along the lake. While strolling along the waterfront you will enjoy the stunning view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Unfortunately, I did not bring my bicycle, as it seems that this activity is very popular amongst the locals. I now know to bring it on my next visit.
I did not have time to experience any of Burlington’s’ popular “night spots”, since I was only there for the day, but I do hear that it is booming. Burlington is a college town, which probably is a contributing factor to its lively nightlife. Recently the small city was found on the “top ten college towns to visit” list.
Burlington made for an excellent day trip. If you would like to visit Burlington, Vermont but can stay longer then one day, there is plenty more to see and do. The mountainous region is popular for all kinds of outdoor activities such as; hiking, biking, boating and more. If you are an ice cream fan like me than taking a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory might be a choice activity. Magic Hat Brewing Company is also located in Burlington, so after sampling some flavors at Ben & Jerry’s you can head over to Magic Hat to find out how there beer is brewed.
There are plenty of excellent activities to enjoy so consider Burlington, Vermont a place for your next vacation! For more information on what Burlington has to offer you, you can visit vermont.org. To find out more about Church Street Marketplace and all of the fun activities going on in the downtown neighborhoods, you can visit churchstmarketplace.com.
