A Weekend in Burlington, Vermont

Vermont is without a doubt one of my favorite states in the US. It might be one of my favorite places in the whole wide world. This weekend itinerary for Burlington is great for a taste of local Vermont hospitality, delicious beer and farm-to-table food, and picturesque New England living at its finest.

Logistics

Burlington is only about 45 minutes south of the Canadian border, making it an excellent weekend destination for Canadians and Americans alike. (I even noticed a bunch of French translations in town as many visitors come from Quebec!)

Driving Times:

From Montreal – 2 hours

From Ottawa – 3.5 hours

From Boston – 3 hours

Where to Stay

Made INN Vermont is my top accommodation choice for Burlington. It’s a boutique luxury B&B with funky, chic decor. It’s run by Linda, an eclectic, very liberal, and very welcoming woman who feels like an immediate friend. She is QUITE the personality, and I genuinely loved chatting with her.

The inn is also very dog friendly, and one of the only places I’ve ever stayed that didn’t charge an additional fee to bring our dog along. When we went out to dinner, Linda kept us updated on his well-being, which I appreciated immensely.

From the cupola at the top of the house, you’re afforded great views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Champlain. The location is excellent, being less than a 10 minute walk to the main downtown area of Burlington.

The rooms are very comfortable and well designed. Some rooms come with its own record player and Linda has vinyl stashed all over the house. Just grab whatever you want and relax with some music in your room!

The inn is all-inclusive, so the snacks and beverages in your room are there to enjoy. Each guest is also given two Heady Toppers upon check-in! (And if you know your Vermont beer, this is QUITE the treat.)

Finally, the breakfast is delicious and changes daily. You can enjoy your breakfast at a table out on the front porch which suited us perfectly.

FRIDAY

Check into Made INN Vermont in the late afternoon. If you have your pup with you, enjoy the sweet touches Linda has made in your room to make sure your dog has as great of a weekend as you will (comfy dog bed, treats, and plenty of scratches behind the ear from Linda herself!).

Now that you’ve got everything settled in your room, it’s time to explore a little! Your first stop is to grab some cocktails and/or whisky flights at Mad River Distillers. Bring your dog! Burlington establishments are wonderfully dog-friendly.

When you’re ready for dinner, head over to Honey Road for Eastern Mediterranean mezze, which are served tapas-style. The flavors and freshness of these dishes are fantastic. Order multiple dishes to share and enjoy as much of this lovely menu as possible! (And don’t skip out on more of the local beer — Heady Topper can be found here, too!) Dogs are allowed on the patio, but of course, not in the restaurant dining room. Reservations recommended.

When you’ve finished your mezze and beer, head down to the shore of Lake Champlain for sunset. The waterfront is such a beautiful part of Burlington and very picturesque at sunset. We had some great colors that first night in town and walked along the lake for about an hour.

After sunset, walk around and enjoy Church Street Marketplace in the evening. This is the pedestrian-only section of downtown and it’s filled with great shops, restaurants, and places to grab a drink. Don’t worry, you’ll have time on Saturday to check out some of those great shops!

SATURDAY

Wake up and enjoy a great breakfast at the inn. Sit on the front porch if possible. Once you’re finished eating, head back downtown with your pup who must be ready for a good walk! Head to Waterfront Park and enjoy a nice morning stroll along the water.

If you like cycling, you could also stop by Local Motion Bike Rentals. The 13-mile Island Line Rail Trail is adjacent to the bike shop and would be a great way to explore the local area along the lake.

After your morning of walking and/or cycling, head over to Foam Brewers. If you’re as big a fan of those delicious, juicy, hazy IPAs as I am, you’re going to love this spot. (In fact, I’ve gone out of my way on other trips around New England just to stop here and stock up on some of their beer!)

Foam has a great patio where you can sit with your dog and enjoy one of the delicious boards of charcuterie and local Vermont cheese. Enjoy a couple beers and boards. You earned them!

If you’re not as into beer, another great option for lunch would be the vegetarian Revolution Kitchen, right off Church Street.

Now’s a great time to hit up some of those shops along Church Street Marketplace. There are bookstores, clothing stores, home goods stores, you name it! Smuggler’s Notch Distilling also has a storefront here where you can stop in and try some of their spirits. So many great local Vermont items on this strip. Take your time and wander!

Once you’ve had your fill of shopping, head back to the inn for some downtime. Listen to some records, take a nap, enjoy the cupola views. Heck, go crazy. Have another Heady Topper!

For tonight’s dinner, you’re heading to Hen of the Wood, arguably one of the best restaurants in Burlington. This beautiful and stylish restaurant serves up seasonal, farm-to-table fare.

In addition to food, they have a nice selection of wines, a great collection of cocktails, and an extensive list of craft beer.

Reservations strongly recommended.

After dinner, enjoy one more sunset by the lake. I also wouldn’t fault you if you wanted to stop at Burlington Bay Cafe for a Maple Creemee. What’s a creemee? Just a Vermonter’s way of identifying soft serve ice cream. 🙂

SUNDAY

Sleep in on Sunday and enjoy your last delicious breakfast at Made INN Vermont. Say goodbye to Linda and promise you’ll return, because now you can’t imagine staying anywhere else in Burlington!

Today’s activities are numerous, depending on your interests and the direction you’re heading. If you’re like me and Josh, you’re going to hit up a bunch more breweries to bring some beer home! Start by heading 10 minutes south to hit up Magic Hat Brewing. Head back north to stop at Switchback Brewing Co., Zero Gravity Brewery, and Queen City Brewery. These are all located very close together. (Check the opening times. It may make sense to stop at Zero Gravity first, as it opens the earliest, at noon.) Finally, when heading north out of Burlington, make one more stop at one of my personal favorites, Four Quarters Brewing.

Beer not as much your thing? How about some ice cream? Ben & Jerry’s is a Vermont staple, and you can take a tour of their factory that’s about 15 minutes southeast of Burlington.

Finally, if you’re heading southeast towards home, your drive is going to take you through multiple state parks with hiking trails of varying difficulty. I did some hiking on a separate Vermont trip, so I’ll post more information about this soon!

Whatever your interests, Burlington has a little bit to offer for everyone!

*Please keep in mind this itinerary was created pre-COVID. As with anything these days, check directly with businesses to inquire about opening hours and any restrictions that may be in place.*