The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Burlington, Vermont (VT)

History never tasted so good. Walk back in time to when Burlington was a bustling village, and farm-to-table was a way of life. Take a leisurely two mile walk and eat at five restaurants committed to serving farm-fresh foods. Discover the various cultural groups that built the Queen City.

Sailing cruises on Lake Champlain aboard two beautiful, wooden-rigged sloops: the Friend Ship and Wild Rose. Cruises are two hours and are BYO food and drink. Experienced crew members create a safe and entertaining sailing experience with their wealth of knowledge about the area and Lake Champlain history. Capacity is limited to 6-12 guests per ship which creates a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, not to mention picturesque views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains. Sailing on Lake Champlain is the perfect way to reconnect with friends, family, and the outdoors. Sunset and daytime cruise options are available for public or private charters mid-May through mid-October. Bookings are accepted online and over the phone year-round. Friend Ship and Wild Rose are classic sailing sloops featuring bronze hardware, intricate rigging, and rich, highly detailed woodwork reminiscent of a time gone by. Lake Champlain is exceptional sailing territory for these historic ships.

Located in Burlington, Vermont the Trailside Center provides bike rentals to the public. The Trailside Center's entrance is right on the Burlington Bike path and is a stone throw away from the Burlington Waterfront Park on the shores of Lake Champlain.The Burlington Bike Path is part of the Island Line Trail which leads you north to the Hero Islands via the Local Motion Bike Ferry in Colchester, VT. The Burlington Bike path is open to both cyclists and pedestrians. The Trailside Center provides bike rentals from May to mid-october. 2020 daily operating hours are June 12th - Sept 7th 9:00am - 6:00pm, and September 8th - Mid-October 10:00am - 6:00pm The Trailside Center offers more than 100 bikes to be rented which includes E-bikes, tandems, kid bikes, tagalongs & trailers.

Come get old time photos of you in one of our many sets! Go back in time to the wild west, dustbowl, or prohibition eras! Dress up for a formal victorian photograph or get a little more risque in our tub or boudoir scenes. Perfect activity for family, friends, pets, staff photos, senior photos, Christmas cards, and more! Leave with your prints the same day. Mattes and custom framing available.

Downtown Burlington Vermont's award-winning open air mall is a hub of activity where you'll find historical architecture, year-round festivals, street entertainers, music, over 100 places to shop and dine, and even quiet places to ponder. We invite you find out about exclusive shopping, dining and events in downtown Burlington as well as to explore the area!

New park located south of downtown on the waterfront.

This large, popular park has just about everything for indoor and outdoor fun, including a small beach on Lake Champlain, indoor ice rinks, ball fields, tennis courts, a playground and part of a 7-mile bike path that borders the lake.

Converted from the Central Vermont Railway to a bike path in the 1970s, this easy trail crosses through beaches and parks and offers great views of Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks and the city.

Board the ferry to Port Kent, New York for a one-hour boat ride offering some of the most beautiful mountain and lake views in the world.

This art museum built in 1931 has a mammoth collection of art through the ages, including European and American paintings and prints, paintings by 20th-century Vermont artists, African and Asian art and ancient art objects.