Greater Burlington in the Spring
Top Picks in the Greater Burlington Region
In the spring, Vermont’s landscapes wake up from their long winter’s slumber into the riot and color of renewal. Maple sap flows in forests, warm days make for sunny spring skiing, and trees and flowers begin to bud. Hand-picked by the editors of Yankee Magazine, these 5 highlights are just some of what the Greater Burlington region offers as the Green Mountains come alive.
Huntington, Vermont
Birds of Vermont Museum
Part art museum, part natural history museum, this under-the-radar attraction educates and fascinates on multiple levels. More than 500 finely detailed wooden birds fill the museum founded by naturalist and master carver Bob Spear, who crafted almost all of them over his lifetime. Dioramas showcase the birds in their native Vermont habitats; outside, there are feeders, a treehouse, and a bird blind that let visitors watch live wild birds in action. Located next to the Green Mountain Audubon Center, the museum holds events throughout the year, including weekly bird walks in late spring. Open May to October, and by appointment from November to April.
Burlington, Vermont
City Brew Tours
The East Coast’s first brewery tour company was founded in Burlington in 2008 by a beer-loving UVM college student named Chad Brodsky. It has since grown into a business with tours in close to 20 cities. But the Burlington remains City Brew Tours’ first—and many would say best—sudsy treasure hunt. Each 3½-hour tour gives participants an inside look at the beermaking process during visits to three local breweries. Among the possible destinations: 1st Republic, Queen City, Zero Gravity, and Fiddlehead. Included in the tour are beer samples, snacks, transportation, and an overview of brewing history from ancient times to the modern day.
Charlotte, Vermont
Lake Champlain Ferries
The best reason to hop a Lake Champlain Ferries vessel isn’t to shave time off a drive to New York state. It’s to take a budget-friendly cruise on New England’s largest lake, admiring its sparkling waters as well as the natural skyscrapers of two mountain ranges. To the west are the Adirondacks, which are particularly lovely at sunset; to the east are Vermont’s own majestic Green Mountains. Keep your eyes on the lake surface, too: Snap a photo of the rumored lake monster, Champ, and you’ll earn lifelong fame. The Charlotte-to-Essex route lasts an hour round-trip; kids younger than six ride free.
FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
– Burlington, Vermont
The last of Burlington’s movie palaces has been beautifully restored to its Art Deco splendor and now serves as the region’s most distinguished venue for music, theater, and dance. Among its highlights are performances by Vermont Symphony Orchestra and the Vermont Youth Orchestra, a Broadway series, and the annual Discover Jazz Festival. On select Saturday nights, the Flynn’s black-box theater, Flynn Space, welcomes everyone to join in on an LGBTQIA+ dance night called Hot Butter. Adding to the Flynn’s inclusive spirit: sensory-friendly performances and American Sign Language interpretation for certain events.
THE ESSEX EXPERIENCE
– Essex, Vermont
One of Vermont’s newest centers of entrepreneurship and craft can be found in a former outlet mall, where 20-plus independently owned businesses represent everything from arts and craft to music and wellness. This is where to discover the state’s largest art gallery, ArtHound Gallery, which is owned by bestselling children’s book authors John and Jennifer Churchman and which showcases the work of more than 350 Vermont makers. It’s also home to Black Flannel, the state’s first combination brewery and distillery. For live music and film, there’s the Double E cultural hub and the Essex Cinema, Vermont’s only large-format theater. The Experience is located next to the Essex Resort & Spa, making it easy for visitors to stay and explore as long as they like.
More to See and Do
Places to Visit In the Spring
Yankee Magazine’s editors hand-picked 5 places to visit in each Vermont region. Explore things to do in spring statewide.
