Family Fun with Teens in Burlington, VT

University of Vermont - courtesy State of VT

The Burlington, VT area  is home to a number of colleges and universities including University of Vermont, Champlain College, Burlington College, Saint Michael’s College, and more.  If you plan to spend a couple of days in the area checking out these beautiful New England schools try to fit in some family fun time on Lake Champlain, in downtown Burlington, or having an outdoor family adventure.  

     Start your family fun with lunch and a stroll through the outdoor Church Street Marketplace which has a number of shops, restaurants and boutiques.  Don’t forget to stop at Ben and Jerry’s for some real Vermont ice cream!

Church Street Marketplace, Burlington VT - courtesy State of VT

     From the marketplace, make your way to the Lake Champlain waterfront.  The area has evolved from its hardscrabble working port roots dating back to the mid-1800s when Burlington was the third largest lumber port in the country.   In the 1900s, as lumbering declined,  it served as a petroleum shipping port. At one time more than 80 above ground storage tanks dominated the area.  The waterfront was contaminated with petroleum waste products.  It was virtually inaccessible to the public and was an uninviting area.

Take a boat tour of Lake Champlain - courtesy State of VT

     Today, the public waterfront  has been transformed into an attractive, active place thanks to reclamation and redevelopment efforts that began in the late 1980s. Today, you’ll find green spaces, open views of the Lake, a dog park, a skate park,  the Burlington Community Boathouse marina, and the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center.   You’ll also find a number of Lake Champlain ferry and boat tours available at the King Street Dock.  In the spring, summer and fall Lake Champlain Cruises and the Spirit of Ethan Allen offer one and a half hour scenic cruises or longer dinner or sunset cruises.  If you are a sailor and want to get out on the water yourself, boat and canoe rentals are available via the Community Sailing Center on the northern end of the waterfront.

Teens go ice climbing - courtesy Northen Lights Rock and Ice

 If you have the time and want to explore beyond downtown, check out Northern Lights Rock and Ice located at the Essex Resort and Spa in nearby Essex Junction.  Open year-round, they host  a wide range of action adventures suitable for families.  In winter you can experience ice wall climbing while in summer there are high and low ropes courses, GPS driven treasure hunts and more.  The “Taste of Northern Lights” package lets you check out several experiences in a couple of hours.  If you are touring colleges and need something for younger siblings to do consider the multi-day adventure camps.  They have nighttime adventures as well. 

     Finally, don’t forget about Shelburne Museum (see our previous article) and remember that any time of year Vermont is an outdoor paradise with lots of options for hiking, skiing and leaf peeping in the fall. 

     This is one in a series of articles about fun family activities to add onto college visits in order to turn them into mini family vacations.  Check the full list here.