Burlington might be a small town but it sure does not lack in activities or engagements. They are varied and range from visiting museums to kayaking along Lake Champlain. Burlington is the perfect getaway spot and has something for all sorts of tastes and preferences. You can come up here for a week with your friends and family and spend quality time with them by taking part in a lot of fun activities. You can go for a picnic, catch a show, visit museums, learn about the ecosystem, visit a brewery, appreciate street art and many more. All these myriad experiences provided by one small town! So pack your bags this instant and check out the top things to do in Burlington, North Carolina.
1. Lay out a picnic spread in the Waterfront Park
You can’t spend quality time with your family and friends effectively without a picnic at a picturesque location. That is why a picnic spread at the Waterfront Park is an absolute must-do. This community park is located on the lake and features a boardwalk. There are also kayak and canoe rental facilities as well as sailing lessons available here. The spot is ideal for you and your company to spend a day enjoying the waterfront views, the cool breeze, and some light conversation to enable complete relaxation. So pack some delicious sandwiches and prepare for a picnic at the Waterfront Park in Burlington.
Waterfront Park
Address: 20 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Opening hours: 24/7
2. Catch a show at the Flynn Center for Performing Arts
The Flynn Centre for Performing Arts is a prime theatre situated in downtown Burlington and showcases international, national and regional cultural events of the finest kind. The establishment has a main theatre and FlynnSpace which is a private venue with 150 seats. The interior decor of this theatre is reminiscent of 1930s art deco and thus takes you back in time. It hosts a variety of live performances ranging from dance shows to reading sessions. You can spend an evening here watching a show that you would really enjoy.
Flynn Centre for Performing Arts
Address: 153 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm
Price: 3.50 USD
3. Discover public art in downtown Burlington
Burlington is a small city and its downtown area does not reflect the chaos and business that is usually found in metropolitan cities. Thus, you can take a tranquil walk or enjoy witnessing the flow of life in a small city while sipping coffee at a cafe. Speaking of walks in downtown Burlington, you can discover amazing pieces of public art while doing so. Like their celebrated counterparts in New York City, the murals in downtown Burlington are visually striking, thought-provoking and artistically sublime. If you happen to take an art walk tour in this part of Burlington, you will have nothing to complain about.
Downtown Burlington
Address: Burlington, NC 27215, USA
Opening hours: 24/7
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4. Spend some family time exploring the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Centre
The ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Centre is a unique and innovative museum that showcases the ecosystem of Lake Champlain. The main purpose of this establishment is to spread awareness about the fragile marine ecosystem. It is a great place to visit if you happen to be inclined to pick up some great and useful knowledge while on your tour. Settled in the bustling neighborhood of the Waterfront area, this museum is designed to attract kids especially and has a lot to offer for the interest of young minds like the saltwater petting tank and the frog exhibit. So if you have kids in your tour group, you know where to visit to give them a memorable experience.
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Centre
Address: 1 College St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 10-14 USD
5. Go golfing at the Indian Valley Golf Course
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
People who love playing golf will not be deprived of an opportunity to swing their golf clubs in Burlington, thanks to the Indian Valley Golf Course. This expansive golf course was built in 1968 and is an 18-hole, par-70 one. It was designed by Ellis Maples. The golf course is situated on the banks of the Haw River thus the avid golfer not only gets to be part of his/her favorite exercise but also can enjoy aesthetic water views.
Indian Valley Golf Course
Address: 1005 Indian Valley Dr, Burlington, NC 27217, USA
Opening hours: 8am - 7pm (daily)
Price: 120-300 USD
6. Kayaking at Lake Champlain
Kayaking is a salubrious activity. Not only does it give your body some much-needed exercise but also refreshes your mind. Kayaking on the calm waters of Lake Champlain will be an experience that you would remember fondly for a long time. There are as many as 40 locations on the kayaking trail of this lake that gives access to 600 shore and island campsites. Kayaking on such an expansive trail will be an adventure for you and your friends. So give it a try when you are in Burlington.
Lake Chaplain
Address: Vermont,USA
Opening hours: 24/7
7. Sip on some quality beers at Foam Brewers
Who doesn’t like beer? It is the perfect refreshment both after a hard and exhausting day as well as during a party. Foam Brewers is a state-of-the-art, unique and innovative beer bar that you just cannot miss while in Burlington. They serve a selection of beers that vary according to the season and their current inspiration. So no matter how many times you visit, you are always in for a surprise!
Foam Brewers
Address: 112 Lake St Burlington, VT 05401
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 12pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 11pm; Sun: 11am - 7pm
Price: 11-30 USD
8. Browse through the out-of-print as well as lesser-known titles at the Crow Bookshop
Book worms would love this store - not only does this store offer popular books but also those that are out-of-print. The books belong to various genres like cookbooks, science fiction, psychology, graphic novels, gardening books, children’s books; you name it they have it. There is probably no book under the sun that they cannot provide. They sell both new and old books and offer attractive discounts on them. Besides buying books, the Crow Bookshop is an integral part of Burlington’s culture and a visit to it is a must.
Crow Bookshop
Address: 14 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 10am - 9pm; Thu - Sat: 10am - 10pm; Sun: 10am - 8pm
9. Attend a baseball game at the Burlington Athletic Stadium
The Burlington Athletic Stadium is situated in Fairchild Park and is a historic ballpark with old-school charm. Built in 1960, it acts as a host to Burlington Royals, a Minor League baseball team. The stadium was also home to the Cleveland Indians and hosted the Carolina League during the 60s and the 70s. Famous players like Manny Ramirez, Luis Tiant, and Jim Thorne have graced this stadium when they played Minor League games. The movie “Bull Durham” was filmed in this location. So while you are in Burlington, why not drop in here for a baseball game?
Burlington Athletic Stadium
Address: 1450 Graham St, Burlington, NC 27217, USA
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm
Price: 7-9 USD
10. Stroll along the bustling Church Street Marketplace
The existing culture of a place is most often truly sensed in a market of that area. Burlington is no exception to this rule. The Church Street Marketplace is a bustling area for local businesses and you must visit to experience the local culture. The marketplace spans four blocks and is an uncovered pedestrian mall that has shopping centers as well as restaurants. You can just walk through the bustling marketplace, dine in one of the restaurants to get a taste of the regional fare or buy some souvenirs from the shops for your friends and family back home.
Church Street Marketplace
Address: 2 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 6pm
11. Get a taste of Burlington’s most celebrated farm-to-table cooking at Hen of the Wood
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
A visit to Burlington is incomplete without dining at Hen of the Wood. This unique restaurant is built on the promise of providing delicious food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Every ingredient used in this restaurant is organic and sourced locally contributing to the great taste of the food. They serve the most vibrant local food and wine. You will be experiencing Burlington on a plate in this establishment. So while in Burlington, a gastronomic tour of this place is a must.
Hen of the Wood
Address: 55 Cherry St Burlington, VT 05401
Opening hours: 4pm - 11pm (daily)
Price: 31-60 USD
12. Try University of Vermont's signature ice cream at UVM Dairy Bar
The UVM Dairy Bar is an inspirational venture that provides food that is locally produced, is organic, is fairly traded and humanely organized. The Bar serves a variety of food and beverages but their signature item is ice cream. There is not much to say about ice cream only that it is great any time of the day. More so when the ice cream is made with organic ingredients and is a part of an institution that keeps human integrity in mind. So an ice cream from this place means more than just satisfying a craving.
UVM Dairy Bar
Address: University of Vermont,
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 8pm; Fri: 10am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: 11-30 USD
13. Go round and round the carousel at Burlington City Park
Carousel rides are fun and more so if an interesting bit of history is associated with the carousel that you are riding on. The carousel in Burlington City Park was built between 1906 and 1910 by the Dentzel Carousel Company. The carousel consists of three rows with 46 hand-carved animals. This includes horses, ostriches, rabbits, pigs, giraffes, reindeers, lions, tigers and chariots. The animals are hand carved in wood and lauded for their realistic look. On the third weekend of September every year, the Park celebrates this carousel in the Carousel Festival.
Burlington City Park
Address: 1388 S Main St, Burlington, NC 27215, USA
Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 8pm; Sun: 1pm - 7pm (closed Mon-Fri)
Price: 1-8 USD
14. Follow the hiking trails and discover the Ethan Allen Homestead
This house was built in 1787 by Ethan Allen and right now serves as a museum which is open to the public from the months of May to October. This house is located in a secluded area and can be reached after a bit of adventure. You can follow the hiking trails and come upon this establishment. The museum gives you an insight into the living status of the people of that time. Know how they ate, slept and went about their day. Discover the many nooks and crannies of the house and enjoy an exciting adventure.
Ethan Allen Homestead
Address: 1 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, VT 05408, USA
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
Price: 10 USD
15. Discover the Shelburne Museum on the outskirts of Burlington
The Shelburne Museum is a large museum dedicated to American culture and history. It is located on the outskirts of Burlington and has as many as 39 exhibition buildings. It showcases more than 150,000 pieces of the art and design from the American genre. This sprawling museum provides information, facts and interesting trivia about art. A day out to discover this museum should be a must when you visit Burlington.
Shelburne Museum
Address: 6000 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482, USA
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 12-24 USD
16. Visit the Fleming Museum of Art
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Stunning sunset over the Fleming this evening.
Posted by Fleming Museum of Art on Monday, November 9, 2020
The Fleming Museum of Art is an anthropological and art museum and is situated in the University of Vermont. The museum consists of a vast number of antique items collected from across various eras and places. A visit to this place will surely take you back in time and you can see how ancient civilizations functioned. Not just that, you also get to know about various ethnic cultures and how they were instrumental in shaping the modern world. The cultural immersion you will subject yourself to will be a time that you will cherish for a long time.
Fleming Museum of Art
Address:61 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 10am - 4pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 3 USD
Dynamic engagements in Burlington
Burlington is that sort of a place that has something for every taste and preference. Activities, available in this town range from aesthetics to sports. So gear up for a busy and exciting holiday here.
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