Burlington, Vermont, with Kids

Burlington’s setting on a hillside overlooking Lake Champlain gives the city a spacious, open feel, and the presence of the state university within an easy walk of downtown gives it a young, easy vibe, perfect for family travelers.

In the center of Burlington, the traffic-free Church Street Marketplace is always filled with activity. Festivals, concerts, seasonal decorations, a jazz festival, the Festival of Fools, sidewalk sales, parades and open-air cafés keep it lively, while frequent buskers provide more music and entertainment. Kids love the metal Fish Fountain and the mural “Everyone Loves a Parade!”

On the lake shore, ECHO Leahy Center is one of New England’s best nature centers for children, focusing on Lake Champlain’s habitat, marine life, geology, weather and native peoples. Interactive and static exhibits are designed to appeal to all ages. Favorites include the frogs from around the world, including the world’s most poisonous frog (safely behind glass). Kids love seeing themselves on TV as they become a weather reporter in the studio, and small tots have a separate discovery area of their own.

The lake also offers lots of opportunities, from swimming to boat rides. There’s a beach with lifeguards at North Beach Park, where you’ll also find a playground, a bathhouse, picnic tables and barbecue grills. The Spirit of Ethan Allen III offers sightseeing cruises with narration on Lake Champlain’s role in the Revolutionary War. You can also ride the ferry across the lake to New York and back.

The lakeshore is almost one solid park, connected by a level and paved bike path, making it especially kid-friendly. Waterfront Park is the site of frequent music and food festivals, and the bike path is wide enough to become a promenade, with benches under the trees for relaxing moments.

At Oakledge Park, also along the shore of Lake Champlain, there’s a playground with a special area for children with limited physical abilities. The highlight of the park for most kids is the treehouse.