On our way to Burlington, Vermont, we stopped at the southern end of Lake Champlain to have lunch and explore a museum in the town of Ferrisburgh, a suburb of Vergennes. We were just passing through, but the area had that welcoming small-city vibe — the kind of place that makes you want to linger and come back for more.

Vergennes, home to the Abenaki people, had European settlers as early as 1766, though most of the town’s growth came after 1783. Thanks to its falls and a creek that feeds into Lake Champlain, it became an important milling and shipping hub. In 1788, Vergennes became the third city in the United States — and the first in Vermont.

The town thrived as a lake and rail trade center through the late 1800s, but as canal shipping declined, Vergennes gradually became more agricultural through the 1900s. Then in the late 1990s, the Vergennes Partnership, a nonprofit downtown organization, began preserving the town’s historical charm to spark new economic growth.

This museum is completely free to visit daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. — so I’ll admit, I expected a small exhibit and was mostly hoping to get my first glimpse of Lake Champlain. But I was pleasantly surprised to find there was so much more to see!

We began at the Visitor and Education Center, where we registered and chatted with the friendly staff, while browsing the museum store. Then we headed over to the Hazelett Watercraft Center. Inside were dozens of small boats — from hand-dug canoes to fishing craft — and its main attraction: a magnificent ice yacht named Storm King.

Storm King was built by George Buckout between 1895 and 1903. This 36-foot-long ice boat was designed with a hollow backbone and spars for maximum speed in Class A races. It’s as elegant as it is fast, with luxurious velour cushions and curly maple runners. Originally raced on the Hudson River, Storm King was brought to Lake Champlain in the 1930s and later found in an Apple Barn by the Hazelett family in the 1950s. They restored the yacht and rekindled a local interest in iceboating that lasted for decades.

After that, we explored exhibits about canal life, viewed a massive collection of vintage outboard motors, peeked inside a cabin from Camp Marbury, and admired artwork from the Abenaki people who have lived in this area for over 12,000 years. There was even a bright yellow submarine and a full-size replica of a 1776 gunboat called Philadelphia II!

Before leaving, we took a short wooded path down to the lake for our first official look at Lake Champlain — calm, wide, and beautiful. This was definitely a wonderful stop on our way north.

We were traveling on a quiet Monday afternoon, and the main reason I chose this restaurant was simple — it was open and close to the Maritime Museum! As you can see in the photos, it wasn’t very busy, likely because we were just between seasons — too early for “leaf-peeping” and past the summer rush.

The dining room is cozy and decorated with historic photos and vintage memorabilia. Our table had a pretty woods view, and to our surprise, we even got to watch small planes land while we ate.

We ordered a chicken sandwich ($19) and a burger ($20), both delicious and served with lots of waffle fries. Service was friendly and relaxed — perfect for a leisurely lunch.

Sometimes the best travel experiences come from places you visit simply because they’re on your route. Ferrisburgh/Vergennes offered that perfect mix of history, charm, and discovery that makes Vermont so special. It was an ideal start to our trip to Burlington. Next week, I’ll share more about our overnight in Burlington — from staying at a newly opened hotel to exploring a cobblestone shopping area and enjoying a lunch cruise on Lake Champlain.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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