Visiting Burlington and Lake Champlain Valley

Bordered by the Green Mountains on the west and Lake Champlain in the northwest, Vermont is a small and relatively peaceful place, the second least populous U.S. state after Wyoming. Gorgeous green foliage covers the region during the spring and summer months, while during the fall the changing leaves bring visitors from near and far to admire their fiery shades. Maple syrup is a favorite local commodity, as is world-renowned Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and the one-of-a-kind Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

Burlington

Burlington, Vermont's largest city, is a hub of cultural activity. Home to an award-winning pedestrian marketplace, hundreds of restaurants, specialty shops, and arts venues, as well as the University of Vermont; Burlington far exceeds the expectations of most towns its size (about 39,000 people call the city home). Summer festivals are many, and include the Chew Chew festival, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, and the annual Marketplace Sidewalk Sale.

The heart of the city and the central area for Burlington shopping is the Church Street Marketplace, four blocks extending south from the elegant 1816 Unitarian church. An array of street performers makes the marketplace a unique place for shopping combined with the Burlington Town Center with over 50 stores to choose from. Funky homegrown stores and used bookshops alternate with national chains. For more mainstream shopping, be sure to check out South Burlington's University Mall, Vermont's largest enclosed shopping center.

Burlington's nearby waterfront is home to parks, fine restaurants, ferry crossings, cruise boats tours, and local festivals and events throughout the year. The nearby Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Burlington Schooner Project is located at the Burlington Shipyard, and the cutting-edge ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center showcases the importance of Lake Champlain to the economic and natural history of Burlington. Enjoy over 100 hands-on exhibits!

Colchester

Lone Pine Campsites is located minutes from downtown Colchester, a quaint town located on the shores of Malletts Bay on Lake Champlain, only 15 minutes from Burlington. Colchester enjoys access to boating, fishing, swimming, and water skiing, as well as a variety of other outdoor activities in its many parks and nearby recreation areas. The Green Mountains to the east offer great hiking, skiing, hunting, and nature tourism as well.

Colchester is also home to St. Michael’s College, the Vermont Youth Orchestra, and Vermont Public Radio.