Tucked along the shore of Lake Champlain with the Adirondacks to the west and the Green Mountains to the east, Burlington is Vermont’s largest city while still feeling like a friendly small town. It’s a place where you can kayak on the lake in the morning, wander a pedestrian marketplace in the afternoon, and watch the sun set behind the mountains in the evening. Whether you’re coming for fall foliage, a summer on the water, or a winter ski trip, Burlington makes an ideal home base.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Most visitors fly into Burlington International Airport (BTV), which is remarkably close to everything. From our downtown-area apartments on Park Street, the airport is about an 11-minute drive, and from our Ethan Allen Parkway properties it’s roughly 17 minutes. Once you’ve arrived, much of Burlington is walkable, and a car is handy for exploring the surrounding lake towns and mountain trails.
On the Water: Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is the heart of summer in Burlington. The waterfront has a paved bike path, public beaches, and boat rentals, and the ferry across to New York is a scenic half-day adventure. Sunset over the lake, with the Adirondacks silhouetted across the water, is the view people remember most.
Downtown and Church Street Marketplace
The Church Street Marketplace is a brick-paved, pedestrian-only stretch of local shops, restaurants, cafes, and street performers. It’s the social center of the city and an easy place to spend an afternoon. Burlington’s food scene punches well above its weight, with farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries, and a beloved farmers’ market.
Family-Friendly Activities
Burlington is a wonderful place to travel with kids. The waterfront bike path is stroller- and bike-friendly and runs for miles along the lake. Families love the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, a hands-on science and nature museum right on the waterfront, and a lake cruise or ferry ride is always a hit with younger travelers. Nearby you’ll find pick-your-own farms, easy nature trails, and plenty of ice cream stops. In winter, gentle sledding hills and beginner ski slopes make for an easy introduction to Vermont snow.
Skiing and Winter Sports
Burlington is one of the best ski-trip home bases in the Northeast, with five well-loved mountains within easy reach. Bolton Valley is the closest and a favorite for families and night skiing. Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch offer big-mountain terrain and classic Vermont village charm. Mad River Glen is a throwback for purists who love steep, natural terrain, and Sugarbush rounds out the list with extensive trails for all levels. Staying with us means you can pick a different mountain each day and come home to a cozy, full-size place to thaw out.
Season by Season
Summer brings the lake, festivals, and long golden evenings. Fall delivers some of the best foliage in the country, with peak color usually in early-to-mid October. Winter is for skiing and riding at the nearby resorts. Spring is quieter, with maple-sugaring season and the city waking back up.
Where to Stay: Queen City Stay
Our collection of Burlington vacation rentals gives you a comfortable, local home base instead of a generic hotel room. We offer newly built cottages near Ethan Allen Park, a spacious four-bedroom bungalow that sleeps eight, and pet-friendly mid-term apartments near downtown for longer stays and relocations. Each is set up with full kitchens and the comforts of home, and we always welcome direct bookings.