These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things

Burlington is a city with an unlimited amount of things to do, and there is something for just about everyone. For the sports fan, Burlington has a minor league baseball team, the Lake Monsters, in addition to all of the sports UVM has to offer (no football, though). For the culinary adventurer, there are dozens and dozens of restaurants, coffee shops and bars with food ranging from local diner food to authentic Himalayan cuisine. For the social butterfly, there seems to be a new festival every week, as well as the weekly farmers' market. For those who love the arts, there are theaters in town, in addition to a drive-in theater just outside of it, not to mention all of the concert venues and art galleries. And finally, for the outdoor explorer, there are countless trails, not just one but TWO mountain ranges for hiking, a beautiful river, and an expansive lake.
It is easy to see how it can almost be overwhelming to a couple who has just moved here. What restaurant do we try first? (Leonardo's Pizza: an excellent choice). Should we go to the farmers' market or the Festival of Fools? (We did both). Is it too far to walk to the beach? (Nope!).  But after being here a month, we have been able to do a LOT, and even on a budget. Below is a list of six places that we are enjoying the most since we've moved here.

1. Lake Champlain

This lake, by far, is the best part of this city. It is BEAUTIFUL and can be seen from most parts of town. It is also MASSIVE; an astounding 14 miles wide and over 125 miles long. There is actually a push here for it to be named the Sixth Great Lake. Regardless of the success of that campaign, it will always be GREAT to us (commence eye roll).
Whether it's just sitting near the water to admire the view, or
strolling along one of the lake's beaches, or taking a ride on a sailboat, there are plenty of ways to enjoy what this lake has to offer. We have not been on a boat in the lake yet, but are hoping to go out this week. There are cruises offered at almost any time of the day, but for the more frugal sailors (us) we are probably just going to take a ferry. These are used for commuters to travel across the lake to New York, but since we won't have a car, it will be very cheap.
From our apartment, a walk to the waterfront takes about a half hour. In another half hour, we can reach a little beach that is dog friendly, and usually not very crowded. We are trying to squeeze in as many visits as possible to this while it's still warm enough to do so.

2. Church Street 

Church Street Yoga

Bloody's and Street Performers

This spot is by far the most touristy of our list. Church Street is the center, the hub of downtown Burlington. The four blocks that make up this street, in addition to its side streets, are where you can find most of Burlington's most infamous and remarkable restaurants. Almost all of them offer outdoor seating, and give you plenty of opportunities for people watching. The restaurants, of course, are a little more expensive, and for someone on a budget, just merely walking down Church Street can be entertainment itself. In addition to its restaurants, Church Street also has three coffee shops, over a dozen bars, and a multitude of shops (including two bookstores!). There is also never a shortage of street performers or sidewalk sales, so Church Street is definitely one to avoid if you are in a hurry.

 

3. Sunset Theater  

Going to a drive-in theater has been at the top of my Must-Do list for as long as I can remember. They are so simple and make me nostalgic for a time that I never personally experienced, but always romanticized about. But since I've never lived in or near a town that has had one, I never really had a chance. Until now.
The Sunset Drive-In Theater is located just outside of Burlington, in a town called Colchester. It has been around since 1948 and, if its crowds are any indicator, won't be going away any time soon. It offers the quintessential drive-in experience, with old-timey music playing over the speakers and a concession stand that looks like it's been around since its conception. But it also offers some very enjoyable modern additions as well, like a playground for children before the movie, the allowance of grills and coolers (let's barbecue while we watch this blockbuster movie!) and the fact that the movie comes in through the car's radio.
Clint and I (along with Norm) have now gone to two movies at this gem of a theater. We have loved it (Norm loves sleeping through it) and we look forward to many more movies to come.

4. University of Vermont

I was very hesitant when I first came to Vermont in March to visit Burlington and decide if it was really worth traveling across the country for my master's degree. I could get my master's anywhere, right? Why did it have to be so far away? It was easy to love the town right away, but it was seeing the campus that solidified my decision to actually pack up and call this place home. My first thought when I came across the campus was, "This looks like something from Harry Potter!", and since then, I have come across several other students or prospective students who have thought the same thing. And how can you argue? The campus was built the same year the state of Vermont was ratified, 1791, making it one of the oldest institutions in the country. Because the school itself is relatively small (there are only 10,000 undergrad and 1,500 grad and doctoral students), and the campus is pretty contained, it has a noticeably more personal, intimate feel than other larger campuses.
The campus is only a ten minute walk from my apartment, so even if I wasn't a student, I would try to make my way over to campus as often as possible. I know I should be more nervous about starting grad school, but mostly I'm just excited to be on such a beautiful campus.

5. Unitarian Universalist Church

This is the church after which Church Street is named. It has been around almost as long as Burlington itself, and is one of the city's greatest icons. If you were to search "Burlington, VT", an image of this church would undoubtedly appear.
Clint and I started attending a Universalist Church in Des Moines shortly before we moved, and we were hoping to find one when we moved to Burlington. Considering how liberal Burlingtonians are, we weren't all that worried. What a pleasant surprise to learn just how iconic the Unitarian church was to this town! The church's members have played a very important role to the town of Burlington, often the most involved in social justice and charity around the city. We have been three times so far, but already feel right at home.

6. Burlington Farmers' Market

For a truly excellent Vermont experience, it really doesn't get much better than an outdoor market that features delicious food from local farmers and chefs. And Burlington's Farmers' Market is no exception. It runs Saturday mornings, and offers food, drinks, and crafts from all over Vermont. You can come for one an ingredient (which we've done) or you can come for an entire meal (which we've also done). Like most farmers' markets, there is no shortage of excellent people watching and, if you're very lucky, you may even run into a local celebrity like Vermont's senator, Bernie Sanders.


This list will continue to grow and change the longer we live here, but for now, we have been very lucky to have had the time that we have to explore and enjoy this incredible town.