Burlington

Burlington and the Lake Champlain Region, home to about a quarter of Vermont's population, offer the best of all possible worlds – the ambiance of a sophisticated university town, world-class outdoor recreation in every season, and Vermont's unique, unspoiled character. It's easy to get here by air, rail, or car, and with so much to offer it's no surprise at all that we were featured as Outside Magazine's top "Dream Town."

Burlington has long been known as Vermont's Queen City. It's situated on Lake Champlain, which at 490 square miles (108 miles long) is the sixth largest body of fresh water in the United States. Towns and cities on the shores of Lake Champlain offer opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, scuba diving, and paddling.

Burlington is also the home of the 5th oldest university in New England with the University of Vermont, founded the same year Vermont joined the union in 1791. With over 10,000 college students in the greater Burlington area, this lively city was name one of the top ten college towns in America by The Princeton Review. It was ranked the 2nd Happiest and 4th Healthiest place to live in the U.S. by Self magazine and the 7th most student-friendly U.S. city (pop. under 1 million) by Collegia.

The core of this vibrant city's downtown is the Church Street Marketplace - a cosmopolitan assortment of shops, boutiques, pubs, cafes, and restaurants. Its cross-streets are the meeting place for Burlington, where grand architecture of the past blends with the artistic and commercial vibrancy of the present. Historic buildings, fountains, and brick-paved center provide the backdrop for what the New York Times Magazine calls a Green Mountain version of Paris' Latin Quarter. Street vendors and entertainers keep the atmosphere lively. In warm months outdoor cafes are the perfect spot for people watching, conversing with friends or an informal outdoor meeting.

The Marketplace is alive with festivals and street entertainment throughout the year. The annual First Night Celebration kicks off the year. Then, in March it's time for the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade. Summer festivals include the internationally recognized Discover Jazz Festival and the Chew Chew Fest: A Celebration of Local Farming and Fresh Food.

Burlington's nearby waterfront is home to parks, a walking/bike path, fine restaurants, ferry crossings and cruise boats as well as concerts and annual fireworks.

In the winter, the Burlington region becomes an epicenter of outdoor activity. Within a short drive visitors and residents alike find internationally acclaimed ski resorts with hundreds of trails and thousands of acres of superb terrain, and fresh layers of snow on much of it.

Burlington and the Lake Champlain Region also offer a wide variety of exciting activities and events for off-mountain entertainment as well. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing enthusiasts are finding the trails and backcountry inviting.