Burlington

1. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center

Lake Champlain is vast, magnificent, and mysterious, and the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center has a goal of unveiling its mysteries. It hopes to share its knowledge of the lake and its inhabitants with Vermont visitors and residents and to protect the lake’s fragile ecosystems. The center, one of the top Burlington attractions, is a 36,000 square foot facility with over 100 interactive exhibits and exciting science education programs.

The Center is home to more than 70 species of fish, invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles.

There is even an exhibition of the legendary creature called Champ, a mysterious twenty-foot serpent that is supposedly living in the lake. The Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is a 2.2-acre environmental campus located on the Burlington Waterfront.

College St, Burlington, VT 05401

2. The Fleming Museum of Art

Since the day it was opened in 1931, The Fleming Museum of Art was considered a place where people of all ages could gain practical knowledge. This vibrant museum of art and anthropology is located at the University of Vermont, and its collection contains more than 25,000 art and artifacts from the dawn of the civilization to present times from almost all continents.

The Fleming Museum of Art is one of the best things to do in Burlington, Vermont for art lovers. It offers visitors a unique interpretation of the world’s cultural heritage and history through its permanent collection, and it also boasts visiting exhibitions and numerous education programs for children and adults. If you are wondering what to see in Burlington, the Fleming Museum of Art is a great place to visit for art lovers. The museum offers free movies, workshops, and lectures every Saturday, and it has a popular traveling exhibit for schools.

61 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT, Phone: 802-656-0750

3. Church Street Marketplace

There is always something happening in downtown Burlington. The entire area between Church, Pearl, and Main Streets is closed for traffic. The Church Street Marketplace is a delightful mix of historic buildings, great shops, various kinds of food, street entertainers, bookstores, and a lot of music.

It is the heart of Burlington, bustling with youth from the local University, tourists, and locals who are enjoying the city together, regardless of the weather. If you are wondering what to do in Burlington VT today, this is a great place to start exploring. No snowstorm ever kept the Market empty.

131 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401, Phone: 802-863-1648

4. Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

If there is a performing art event happening in Burlington, it is probably happening at the Flynn. The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts is quite literally a home for the performing arts in the area. It houses the Vermont Stage Company, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the UVM Lane Series, the Vermont Youth Orchestra, the Lyric Theatre, and many smaller local and visiting groups.

Everything necessary for a successful performance is there, including a 1,411-seat auditorium, a 180-seat delightful cabaret space, a gallery with constantly changing exhibits from local artists, and two studios for education activities. You can also see the Burlington annual Jazz Festival, visiting Broadway shows, or take a dance course at Flynn.

153 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-863-5966, Instagram

5. Burlington Farmers' Market

Every Saturday morning, hundreds of people descend on City Hall Park for some fabulous treats, because Saturday is the day of the Burlington Farmers' Market. During the colder season, the whole crew moves to the indoor space on Saint Paul Street.

The Market is the best place to meet Vermont farmers, cheese makers, bread bakers, artists, and artisans. Try their products, talk to them about their lives, and learn about the Vermont lifestyle from the source. Don’t forget to load up on homemade brownies, cookies, pickles, cider, maple syrup, and other fun items. You also have the chance to try rich ethnic food from diverse places such as Nepal, Jamaica, Mexico, China, Morocco, and Tibet. If you are looking for date ideas in Burlington, the farmers' market is a great spot.

Pine St, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-310-5172

6. Hen of the Wood

Hen of the Wood is romantic, and elegant, and its two roaring fireplaces make the place feel warm and inviting. Wood stacked along the walls reminds you that you are in Vermont where the winters are long and fire is not for decoration only. The restaurant’s leather seats are luxurious and comfortable and the ceiling beams add a charming rustic touch.

You can watch the drama unfold in the open kitchen and observe the staff move around as though they are participating in a grand ballet. The menu is simple, short, and tempting, and it changes daily. All ingredients come from the local suppliers in the Champlain Valley or Green Mountain.

Meat is the king at Hen of the Wood, and it is always succulent and perfectly cooked by the expert kitchen staff. Try Rabbit Loin wrapped in ham with apples, kohlrabi, and fresh cream. The wine list is spectacular and the beer has been carefully selected.

Address: Hen of the Wood, 55 Cherry Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-540-0534

7. North Beach Park

From May through Labor Day, you can go swimming on a small but lovely sandy North Beach Park on Lake Champlain, located just off a bike path near the high school. You can also rent a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or bike. There is a patch of grass with a few barbecues if you are an enthusiastic cook and a fully stocked snack bar if you prefer having someone else do the cooking.

You can also take advantage of a well-organized campground next door if you decide to spend the night at the North Beach Park, a worthwhile experience on clear nights when the stars are particularly spectacular. If you are looking for things to do in Burlington with the whole family, visit this unique park. The beach has a lifeguard during the summer, and while it is closed in the winter, you can still come by and make a snowman or have a snowball fight.

8. Pizzeria Verita

You know that you are going to eat a great pizza as soon as you walk through the doors of Pizzeria Verita and see the pizza oven in the middle of the room. It is a magnificent 6,000-pound masterpiece imported from Italy, too beautiful to put in the back of the restaurant.

It makes pizzas in 90 seconds, and they come out perfectly every time, bursting with flavors, the way real Neapolitan pizza should. The restaurant, located in downtown Burlington a block from City Hall, is spacious and beautifully decorated, and an entire wall behind the bar is lined with some very fine wines. Even the stacks of wood look like sculptures.

You can try many delicious Italian dishes from the menu, but pizzas are the hottest items on the menu. Pizzeria Verita even makes its own mozzarella every day.

Address: Pizzeria Verita, 156 St. Paul Street, Burlington, Vermont, Phone: 802-489-5644