above: Burlington is nestled into the trees along the shores of Lake Champlain.
People have asked me how and why we choose the places that we visit. There are many answers to that question from a place of historical significance or a natural wonder to just plain visiting family and friends. In the case of Burlington, Vermont, it was a place that I had always wanted to visit but even though I lived only a few hours away for many years, I never made the trip. So, here was my opportunity. And, the bonus was an opportunity to visit an old friend that I had not seen in years.
above: A playground at North Beach.
Burlington sits on the eastern edge of Lake Champlain. The lake, sometimes considered the 6th great lake, provides a border between New York and Vermont with its northern edge bordering Canada. Although small (pop. 42,00), the town has the reputation of being progressive, outdoorsy and “hip”. It is also where the controversial Revolutionary War figure, Ethan Allen, spent his last days.
above: A tour boat on Lake Champlain with the Adirondack mountains of New York in the distance.
Three colleges are located in town which provide the old town (settled in 1783) with a young vibrant personality. The main street downtown has been turned into a busy pedestrian mall with eatery’s becoming outdoor cafes in the summer months. People were running and biking everywhere seeming to make up for the long winters where they are cooped up indoors for what must seem like forever.
above and below: Church St. downtown.
right: “There’s a fly on your nose look”. One of the many painted bears that decorate downtown. The Vermont Teddy Bear factory is in Burlington.
There is also a paved 20 mile bike loop that leads to Malletts Bay and back which we took the opportunity to ride with my old friend, Kim. Kim and her husband Tom actually live in Plattsburg N.Y. across the Lake but it was an easy ferry ride to Burlington.
left: The gang plus Kim ride our bikes on the path along the lake.
We all lived in New Hampshire back in the late 80‘s and early 90‘s and I spent many days aboard their sailboat as Kim (the Skipper) and I trained for and raced in the Women’s World Keelboat Championships. Those were the days as we raced mostly out of Newport, Rhode Island but also trailed the boat all over New England preparing for the big regatta. It was fun to get back together, catch up on our lives and swap old sailing stories.
above: My “Skipper”, Kim and me.
The Magic Hat Brewing Co., one of the Hippygeeks favorite beer company’s, is also located in Burlington. Their factory tour made for a perfect rainy day activity. I applaud their marketing department as one of the most fun and innovative groups I have seen. Everything from their vibrant, clever packaging to the factory tour itself is a step outside the box.
They have a tasting bar where you can sample four of their many unique flavors, including a dandelion flavor, while waiting for the tour to start. They don’t miss any merchandising opportunities either as you can purchase anything from a beer glass to backpacks and they even have a photo booth where you can Email a “Magic Hat” picture of yourself to your buddies back home.
The tour includes an introductory talk about the history of the Magic Hat Co., a film about the history of microbreweries in America and a tour of the facility. The most amazing thing was that they supply the entire country out of this small facility in Burlington. It was also nice that they offered the tour for free. As we have made our way across the country, many factories now charge fees, as much as $40.00, for their tours! Consequently, we haven’t done as many factory tours as we had originally intended.
It was fun to finally make it to Burlington as it is one of those places I have always been curious about. Summertime is beautiful there and provides a lot of recreation but it may require a trip in the winter to complete my “picture” of the place because, as my friend Kim says, “winters are brutal”.
above: Sunset over Lake Champlain.
Vermont is a state I love. I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney, Killington, Mansfield, and Equinox, without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me. It was here that I first saw the light of day; here I received my bride, here my dead lie pillowed on the loving breast of our eternal hills.
I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves to serve others. If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the Union, and support of our institutions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little state of Vermont.
Calvin Coolidge