A few weeks ago, we stayed overnight in Burlington, Vermont. I got the idea for this trip while browsing the Yankee Trails Bus Trips. We’ve been considering taking one—hoping to meet people and explore a bit. They offered a one-day trip to Burlington, with a lunch cruise on Lake Champlain as the highlight.

The catch? You had to meet the bus at 7 a.m. in Albany and return around 7 p.m. If we lived closer to Albany it might have been doable, but that sounded like a long day to be enjoyable.

I had some Marriott points that were about to expire, so I used that as an excuse to pitch an overnight trip to my husband. And voilà—trip booked and taken!

Before Samuel de Champlain discovered “Pitawbagw”—later renamed Lake Champlain—the area was already inhabited by the Abenaki Algonquian people. Burlington itself was settled by Europeans shortly after the Revolutionary War, in the mid-1780s. The Allen brothers, Ethan and Ira, were among the early settlers and deeply involved in both the war and Vermont’s early politics. The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, just a short drive from downtown Burlington, tells their story.

In the 1800s, lumber shipping and textile manufacturing were Burlington’s main industries. But as trains became the dominant mode of transportation, the lake’s role in shipping declined. In the late 1900s, the city experienced a cultural revival, leading to today’s lively waterfront and the pedestrian-only Church Street Marketplace.

Now, Burlington is a vibrant college town with plenty to offer. So let’s explore!

I chose the AC Hotel by Marriott because I had enough points to cover a night—and it turned out to be brand-new, which was a nice surprise. However, since it’s so new, Google Maps actually sent us to a construction site on the next block!

Once we found the entrance, we valeted the car and checked in. The room was clean and comfortable, but our view overlooked more construction. If you plan to stay here, try booking a room with a lake view—the hallway view toward Lake Champlain was lovely.

It’s about an eight-minute walk downhill to the lake and only three minutes to Church Street, where you can browse shops or grab a bite. We were still full from lunch, so we stopped for drinks and dessert on Church Street, then finished the evening with a nightcap in the hotel lounge. They currently offer a small bites menu—I couldn’t resist the roasted cauliflower for $10!

The bartender was friendly and explained that the hotel was designed in a European style: modern with streamlined amenities. She also mentioned the shared balcony on the third floor, which we checked out the next morning. It’s a bit weird sitting outside near someone else’s room, but the third-floor view was lovely.

Rooms range from about $175–$425 per night, with higher rates during leaf-peeping season and summer, and lower in winter. I’d consider staying here again for its location, service, and comfort.

After checking in, I wandered down to Lake Champlain. The lakeside park is beautiful, with swings overlooking the water—perfect for watching the sunset. Even on a Monday evening, it was lively with walkers, bikers, and families out enjoying the weather.

Then I headed over to Church Street to scope out the area. This pedestrian-only district is packed with locally owned shops, cafés, and restaurants. My husband joined me here, and we stopped for a pint at Rí Rá Irish Pub. We chatted with the bartender, who’s attending college in the area. We mentioned how surprised we were that the place wasn’t busy, and he lamented that the last year hasn’t been nearly as busy as it used to be. But he did hope that things picked up again soon.

We weren’t hungry for dinner, but dessert sounded perfect—so we ended up at Insomnia Cookies for cookies and ice cream. After our little adventure, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for the main event.

The highlight of our trip was the Spirit of Ethan Allen lunch cruise. I figured we’d be well-fed on board, so before check-out I grabbed a latte and some pastries from Kestrel Coffee. They were almost out of baked goods by 8:30 a.m., but the coffee was good!

After exploring Burlington a bit more, we boarded around 11:30 a.m. and were pleased with our seats. For an extra $5 each, we reserved a window table—totally worth it. It was a quiet Monday in late September, just before peak leaf season, so the boat wasn’t crowded at all.

The cruise narration struck the perfect balance—just enough history and points of interest information to be interesting. Lunch was served in small courses: soup, salad, bread, chicken, pasta, vegan sides, and finally, a brownie. Plenty of food, nicely paced, with the last half-hour free to relax and take in the scenery.

Cruises run from May through October, with options like narrated tours, brunch, lunch, and sunset or dinner cruises. If you enjoy a narrated tour and pretty lake views, definitely put this one on your list.

Before heading home, we made one quirky stop—the World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet. I love visiting odd things like this!

Built in 2002 by artist Bren Alvarez, it’s made of 38 stacked filing drawers, each representing a year of delay since the “Southern Connector” roadway was proposed in 1965. The sculpture was relocated in 2020, when the project was supposedly set to begin—but the road was never completed.

Technically, it’s not the world’s tallest (California holds that title), but I love that it’s a creative protest as well as a roadside oddity.

It was a perfect trip to get away and discover some new things, in a new place. Next week, I’ll share about a historic home I finally visited, after living near it for over 20 years.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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