Downtown Burlington

What we love: Sunsets at the waterfront

 

Downtown Burlington has a little bit of everything. From the pedestrian-only Church Street Marketplace to the Lake Champlain waterfront and Flynn Theater, Downtown is undoubtedly the heart of the city. While Downtown is full of hotels, retail, and office space, there are numerous opportunities to live and play. Single-family homes blend seamlessly with multi-story condo units to create a dynamic Downtown area.  

Vermonters love to support small businesses and Downtown Burlington is a testament to that. The shopping and dining options are numerous with live music and outdoor seating the norm in the summer months. Some of our favorites include our neighbors A Single Pebble on Bank Street and Honey Road on Church.

CityPlace Burlington is a developing project that will redefine the landscape of Downtown Burlington. Following years of development issues, the project has been reinvigorated by a new ownership team of Vermonters. The landmark complex will offer 426 housing units in the heart of Downtown, with street level retail, public art installations, and a rooftop observation deck and restaurant. 

City Market is Downtown’s only grocery store. This member-owned Co-op is a staple of the community, offering local, organic, and conventional products. City Market also provides a great selection of beer and wine, and offers classes throughout the year to support a healthy lifestyle.

Waterfront

Burlington’s sprawling waterfront is home to numerous restaurants and marinas, offers space to play and relax, and is home to the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Waterfront Park and the Community Sailing Center give residents plenty of opportunity to enjoy Lake Champlain during the warm months. Jump on the Burlington Bike Path at the waterfront to get an afternoon jog or bike ride in. The path starts at the border of South Burlington and continues all the way to the Champlain Islands in South Hero. Views from the path of sunsets over Lake Champlain and the Adirondack are some of the best in the world. 

Want to enjoy the sunset after dinner or with a fresh, Vermont beer in hand? The Waterfront has so many dining options. Spot on the Dock and Splash feature the best views of the Lake and Adirondacks, while Foam Brewers on the other side of the park is one of Vermont’s top breweries. The Skinny Pancake is the place to go for locally sourced ingredients packaged in a tasty crepe for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The Waterfront is also home to multiple private and public, transient and seasonal marinas. Perkins Pier offers seasonal slips with a convenient location and plenty of parking. The Burlington Community Boathouse Marina, which houses Splash, the Spirit of Ethan Allen, and Whistling Man Schooner, offers transient slips for day and overnight use. Ferry Dock Marina, home to Spot on the Dock, offers seasonal and transient slips for those looking to store their boat over the summer, or just visit Burlington for the day. Burlington’s newest marina, the Burlington Harbor Marina also provides seasonal and transient slips with plenty of services and amenities. 

Amtrak service to New York City via the Ethan Allen Express is now available in Burlington. Union Station, at the foot of Main Street and Waterfront Park will be the northern terminus for the train, with stops in Vergennes, Middlebury, Rutland, and New York City. Future plans include extended service north to Montreal. While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly slowed progress on the extension, we expect to see rail service begin sometime in 2021.