The Burlington Greenway connects the lakefront with several parks, nature preserves and public beaches. The paved multi-use path along Lake Champlain is eight miles long. Its route and endpoints give Burlington a distinct scenic character—and provide a concrete reference point for anyone looking to combine time outdoors with a stay in the city.
Exploring Lake Champlain
The Greenway begins just before Oakledge Park in Burlington’s South End and ends at the pedestrian link bridge over the Winooski River. It is part of the Island Line Trail. The trail’s gravel-topped causeway on Lake Champlain has a seasonal bike ferry to the Champlain Islands. If you plan to take the ferry, check the schedule for your travel dates.
The route connects different sections of the shoreline with parks, nature preserves and public beaches. This means the Greenway is notable not only for its length, but also for its role as a multi-use route along the lake. The stated endpoints help place its course within Burlington; the seasonal ferry adds another time-dependent option on the Island Line Trail.
City Life and Seasonal Events
West of downtown, Waterfront Park is a large regional park on the shore of Lake Champlain. It hosts several major events in spring, summer and fall. The Church Street Marketplace offers a different event calendar: Burlington’s pedestrian street hosts events and entertainment year-round and has more than 100 shops and restaurants.
Within the four blocks of the Church Street Marketplace are more than 30 local restaurants. This brings together dining options and a pedestrian street where shops and events are also part of the local scene. If you’re choosing when to visit Burlington, you can compare these year-round offerings with the seasonal events at Waterfront Park.
The Burlington Farmers Market has been held every Saturday since 1980, from late spring through fall. Exact dates vary from year to year, so it’s worth checking the dates for your planned trip. Together with the events at Waterfront Park, it offers a seasonal program, while the Church Street Marketplace hosts events year-round.
Museums, Wildlife and Chocolate
The Fleming Museum of Art opened in 1931, bringing together collections of fine art, geology, archaeology, anthropology and Vermontiana for public display, education and research. Its collections include about 25,000 works of art and cultural heritage objects. A public online research tool lets you search records for more than 20,000 works. The collection’s subjects span art, natural sciences, archaeology and regional heritage.
At ECHO, visitors can see native wildlife up close in the exhibition Into the Lake. The exhibition includes a 15,000-gallon Lake Tank, Vermont’s largest freshwater aquarium. ECHO also offers hands-on, behind-the-scenes tours as part of its Back-of-House Tours program. Animal care demonstrations are held at the center daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Program details and times can change, so check the latest information when planning a visit.
Chocolate offers another way to explore Burlington’s attractions. Lake Champlain Chocolates offers a tasting at its flagship store on Pine Street. It includes information about how chocolate is made, the characteristics of high-quality chocolate and how to taste it like an expert, as well as a selection of chocolate confections. If you’d like to make the tasting a set part of your trip, check the latest offering details in advance.
Discover more destinations: South Burlington, Colchester, Underhill, Essex Junction, Williston, Shelburne.
For the broader travel overview: Chittenden.
