Burlington

Burlington is a small but vibrant city in northwestern Vermont. It is home to the World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet, Church Street Marketplace, and Bernie Sanders, among others.

Overview Attractions / Activities Food Final Comments

Located approximately 95 miles (153 kilometers) south of Montreal, Canada, the unassuming, humble, and small town of Burlington exists quietly and simply. And although it can’t boast spectacular attractions like its neighbors, Burlington still has its charms.

If, for some reason, you find yourself with a burning desire to visit Burlington, refer to this Burlington Adventure Guide to maximize your time here.

Recommended Duration of Visit

2 days (ideal), 1 day (doable)

Click for some interesting facts about Burlington

Burlington is the most populous city in Vermont.
Before joining Congress, Bernie Sanders was the mayor of Burlington.
Burlington is far as hell from most cool places.
You’re wondering why the hell you even care about Burlington.

Before You Go

Flights / Getting There: While flying directly into Burlington is reasonable, driving to it while visiting other destinations would make the most sense (i.e. on the way to Montreal).

Overview

Climate: Burlington’s climate intuitively follows the normal pattern of North America. There is one distinction: winters (December, January, February) are very cold.

Communication: English is the official language.

Navigation: Traveling by car is, by far, the best way to explore most of what Burlington has to offer. It’s quite far from most other major cities and attractions.

Lodging: Lodging, in general, is relatively inexpensive in a small town such as this.

Activities Planning: Most attractions are free to visit, but some are far enough apart to necessitate driving. Fortunately, most attractions can be easily visited without planning.

Special Considerations

It’s quite easy to include Burlington in your itinerary if you’re driving to Montreal.

General: Winters are especially brutal in this region, but the weather is relatively cold mid-Fall as well. Make sure to bring plenty of cold gear for visits planned during the Fall or Winter.

Peak Seasons: Summer is the ideal and peak season (if there is even such a thing for Burlington) for the simple fact that it’s warmer.

Currency: United States Dollars (USD). Currency Converter.

Things to Do: Attractions and Activities

Most of the time, attractions are paired up based on similarity and/or proximity. All the names provided are easily searchable on Google Maps.

Get Air Trampoline Park: This is a family-friendly trampoline park with legit ninja warrior courses. Nuff said.

Cost: For more information, refer to the official Get Air Trampoline website. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

Reverence (Whales Tails): I don’t really know what to say. It’s just two random Whale Tails next to a highway.

It’s kind of cool I guess. It also lights up around Christmas time.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 20 – 30 minutes.

This attraction is the furthest from central Burlington, so only see it if you’re into this kind of thing.

There is a specific parking lot (searchable on Google Maps) called Whale Tails Parking.

Red Rocks Park: Red Rocks Park is about as good as it gets when it comes to nature in Burlington. It has a public beach, hiking trails, and, for some reason, no red rocks (wtf).

During the winter, Red Rocks Park is supposedly a fun place for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet: The cabinet was built in 2002 to mock the years of delays building a new bypass into downtown Burlington. It is over 40 feet (12.2 meters) tall.

There is actually a squirrel that lives in the filing cabinet. He’s pretty funny.

Cost: Free to visit Recommended Duration of Visit: 10 – 15 minutes.

In order to reach the water, walk alongside the trail on the left edge of the park.

Do not try to climb the cabinet. That shit looks like it can fall over any minute.

Oakledge Park: This is a nice park in Burlington. Not much else besides that.

Oakledge Park features a rocky swimming beach, sports facilities, and a playground.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 15 – 45 minutes.

Forever Young Treehouse: The Forever Young Treehouse (a.k.a. Oakledge Treehouse) is exactly what you think it is—an oversized treehouse.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 15 – 30 minutes.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Waterfront Park: This massive community park features a boardwalk and numerous rental options for sailing, kayaking, and canoeing.

It is a local favorite and a great place to take a leisurely stroll, jog, or bike.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

Church Street Marketplace: This uncovered outdoor pedestrian shopping mall is the commercial artery of Burlington.

It is the most festive region in all of Burlington. During the winter, the street lights and decorations highlight the small-town charm of Burlington.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

I know I’ve been kind of trolling with the other attractions, but this one is actually quite nice. And that’s saying something.

Parking is extremely limited in this area. Most of the time, you'd park slightly off the main road and walk over.