15 Fun Things To Do in Burlington VT in Winter

1. Skiing in Burlington, Vermont

Skiing is one of Vermont’s most popular winter activities, and there are tons of amazing mountains that you can get to from Burlington. Whether you are a lifelong skier or a beginner who needs some lessons on the bunny hill, you’ll find a slope for you in or near Burlington.

Here are some of the mountains and ski centers you should visit in Burlington, Vermont winter:

• Bolton Valley Nordic Center
• Catamount Outdoor Family Center
• Cochran’s Ski Area
• Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Center

Many of these mountains are between Burlington and Montpelier, another one of my favorite cities in Vermont for a winter getaway.

2. Ice Skating at Burlington’s Rinks

Ice skating is a classic winter activity, and it’s a lot of fun in Burlington. You can visit two community rinks: Calahan Park Community Rink and Lakeside Skating Rink.

There is a unique place called Arthur Park that lets you skate on wild ice, which means you are skating on a lake instead of a man-made rink. Skating on wild ice requires a lot of precautions, and there are risks involved. But, from the ice, you get a great view of the Sea Caves.

3. Snowshoeing is one of the best things to do in Burlington VT in winter

Snowshoeing is another fun winter activity you can do in Burlington, VT. One of the prettiest places to snowshoe is North Beach, just north of downtown on the lake.

There are no groomed trails at North Beach, so if you are a beginner, you may want to go to Intervale Community Farm. You can also walk or ski at the Intervale if snowshoeing isn’t for you!

4. Take a Sleigh Ride

Sleigh rides are one of the best winter activities, and you have to take one in Burlington, Vermont, so you can admire the winter scenery.

Shelburne Farms is not only a beautiful place in the winter, but it is the best place to take a sleigh ride in the winter! You can drive to the farm from downtown Burlington in less than 15 minutes. After your sleigh ride, stay on the farm to enjoy other fun activities like the indoor winter Farmers’ market and educational winter farm events.

You can also take sleigh rides in Stowe, Vermont, like at Gentle Giants Sleigh Rides & Carriage Rides or Sterling Mountain Carriage Services. And there are plenty of other awesome things to do in Stowe, VT, in winter.

5. Eat and Shop on Church Street

This is my favorite thing to do in Burlington VT in winter. Church Street is one of the main roads that runs through downtown Burlington, and four blocks of the street make up the pedestrian Church Street Marketplace.

While the marketplace is outdoors, there are plenty of shops along the street to stop in on cold winter days. There are a few chain stores, but most of them are local boutiques unique to Burlington.

If you are here during the holiday season, it’s the perfect place to buy your gifts. Church Street is also where many of the town’s events occur throughout the year, including the Christmas tree lighting at the end of November.

When you’re done shopping, rest and enjoy a meal at one of Burlington’s amazing restaurants. A few popular ones include The Farmhouse, E B Strong’s Steakhouse, and Top of the Block Sandwich Shop, all of which are open in the winter with indoor seating!

PRO-TIP: Church Street is decorated with hundreds of lights between December and April. Even if you are not shopping, you should take some time to walk down the street on a Winter night in Burlington, VT.

6. Drink at Burlington’s Breweries

Did you know that Vermont is the state with the most breweries per capita? And, there are plenty to visit in Burlington where you can spend a cold winter day or night.

Here are the breweries in downtown Burlington.

• Foam Brewers
• The Vermont Pub & Brewery
• Citizen Cider

No matter where you go in downtown Burlington, whether it be a brewery, bar, or restaurant, you will find some craft beer made in Vermont. And there are lots of popular breweries just south of downtown Burlington.

These four breweries are all close together, so you can make a day of hopping between them

• Zero Gravity Brewery
• Queen City Brewery
• Switchback Brewing Co.
• Burlington Beer Company

You can also take a Burlington brewery tour if you want to go to some breweries but don’t want to do the planning yourself. Some brewery tours take you to the most popular breweries and have lots of recommendations for what to try. Or, you can find a tour that lets you pick the breweries, but they handle the transportation for you.

Pro tip: You can also choose to go on a Classic Beer Tour with tasting and lunch to taste the best of Burlington.

7. Game the Night Away at the Archives

Right off of Church St. is The Archives, an arcade bar with vintage games. They have pinball machines, classic video games, and more that can keep you entertained even on the coldest winter days.

When you’re not playing games, you can enjoy craft beer, classic cocktails, and wines from the bar. They also have some unique cocktails, which are usually a spin-off of the classics.

8. Catching a Live Show is a great way to enjoy Burlington in winter

Burlington, Vermont, has a variety of live entertainment, and what better way to spend a winter day than to see a show?

The Flynn is Burlington’s nearly century-old theater with many different local and national performances. The types of shows range from classical music to dance groups to comedy shows. But you never know what kind of show will be at the theater when you’re in Burlington, so check out their calendar and grab some tickets.

If you are looking for a night of laughter, check out the Vermont Comedy Club in downtown Burlington. There are shows most nights of the week, from up-and-coming comedians to open mic nights and trivia nights. There is also a small cafe at the comedy club that is open during the day where you can get some coffee and a fresh breakfast.

Some bars in town have live music. Radio Bean is an intimate bar with live music, theater, poetry, and dancing. They serve local beers, coffee, cocktails, and small plates for you to enjoy during the live shows.

Another fun bar with live music is Nectar’s, a more traditional bar than Radio Bean. They sell food and have a large list of craft and domestic beer, wines, and cocktails.

9. Enjoy the incredible Lake Champlain

This should be on top of the list of the best things to do in Burlington VT in winter. Lake Champlain freezes over in the cold winter, and the frozen water and winter scenery are breathtaking. You should brave the cold and walk along the Burlington Greenway, an eight-mile paved biking and hiking path that runs along the lake.

The city keeps the path plowed and free of snow and ice the best it can to keep it safe for you. However, they do not use any salt or chemicals on the path since it is right next to the lake.

PRO-TIP: If you love Lake Champlain, there are many other pretty outdoor places to see and explore in Vermont in Winter, like covered bridges and Mad River Valley.

10. Explore Burlington Greenway from Waterfront Park To Grand Isle

If you love the outdoors, this is the best thing to do in Burlington in winter. This beautiful paved bike path follows Lake Champlain’s shoreline for 8 miles, connecting many of Burlington’s lakeside parks. If you have time, you can take a bike ferry that crosses a short section all the way to the Island Line Trail further North.

You can rent a bike and cycle it, go for a run, or just walk to appreciate the stunning views along the Greenway Bike Path.

11. Attend a Winter Festival in Burlington

Burlington has events happening year-round, and some of the best ones are in the winter.

One of the most significant events is the Vermont Penguin Plunge. Participants raise money for the Special Olympics leading up to the event, and on the day of the Penguin Plunge, they run and plunge into Lake Champlain. It’s a great event to watch, participate in, and donate to.

And, if you are in Burlington, Vermont, at the start of the winter season, there is a Holiday Parade, a Christmas tree lighting, and a visit with Santa every year around Thanksgiving. The holiday festivities continue throughout December.

There are always new events and festivals popping up too! Attending a festival or event in winter is a great way to meet the locals and learn more about Burlington, Vermont.

12. Visit Sugartree Maple Farm

One of the best parts of visiting Burlington, Vermont in winter is taking a trip to Sugartree Maple Farm. Vermont has a ton of maple trees, and wintertime is the prime sugaring time for the maple industry. The sugaring season usually goes from mid-February to early April.

At Sugartree Maple Farm, you can buy maple foods made with 100% natural maple, like syrup, sugar, and candy. If you visit in the winter, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how the maple tree sap gets made into syrup. And, you can get a sample of fresh maple syrup, which is an indescribable taste in the best way.

13. Take Day Trips from Burlington

Yes, it is true that there are plenty of fun things to do in Burling VT in winter. But I strongly recommend you take some side trips to the nearby areas if you have more time to spend in this area.

A great option is to take a day trip to Stowe. The Alpine-style mountain town offers great options for ski resorts and is one of the most beautiful towns in Vermont. Here you can also drive to search for some of the best-covered bridges in the State, and of course, you cannot miss a visit to the original Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory. You can see more about the best things to do in Stowe to help plan your trip.

Another option for amazing side trips from Burlington is the quaint town of Shelburn, a very charming town that truly captures the essence of Vermont.

And Middlebury, a quaint town with brick and stones buildings and the gently sloping town green and cascading falls of the Otter Creek

14. Lake Champlain Chocolates

Do you still have a sweet tooth after all the maple syrup? How about some chocolate?!

Lake Champlain Chocolates has more than a dozen stores selling their chocolates in the Burlington area, and there’s no better way to warm up in the winter than to have some delicious chocolate.

At the flagship store on Pine St., you can take a self-guided tour of the store, where you will learn about the chocolate-making process and admire the largest chocolate sculpture exhibit in the state.

If you are in downtown Burlington, be sure to stop at the Church St. store and try one of their signature chocolate-dipped marshmallows (the perfect winter treat!). They also sell hot chocolate and espresso to warm you up on a cold winter day.

In the winter, spending time in Burlington, Vermont, is so much fun, and you never run out of things to do and places to see. Whether you want to hit the slopes, try some of Vermont’s best craft beer, or enjoy a live show, there is something for everyone to do in the Burlington, Vermont winter.

There are plenty of awesome things to do in Burlington, VT in winter and you will easily fall in love, just like I did. And I cannot wait to get back in the fall to continue to explore more of this amazing destination.