BurlingtonOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

From Frontier Outpost to Lumber Capital

Burlington was granted on June 7, 1763, by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire. The city's name likely comes from the Burling family, prominent landowners from Westchester County, New York, with connections to nearby towns. While early settlers arrived in 1773, permanent settlement was delayed by the American Revolution. After the war, growth resumed, with Ira Allen surveying the town and laying out lots in 1772. In 1786, Allen built a sawmill at Winooski Falls, using the river's power. The early 19th century saw Burlington become a trading center, especially after the Champlain Canal opened in 1823. This canal connected Lake Champlain to the Hudson River, facilitating the trade of lumber and other goods.

The Rise and Fall of Industry

By the mid-1800s, lumber became Burlington's most important commodity, making it, at one point, the third-largest lumber port in the United States. Logs from Eastern Canada and northern New England were shipped to Burlington, then transported down the Hudson River to markets along the East Coast. The arrival of trains, however, marked a new era in transportation, reducing the lake's importance as a commercial route. In the mid-20th century, the industrial waterfront fell into disuse until a civic effort in the latter half of the century reclaimed it for public use. Today, the city retains its historic character, with many residences and public buildings from its mid-19th-century boom still standing.

• —Waterfront Park — This park offers views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. It provides access to the Burlington Greenway, a 7.5-mile path along the lake, and is a point for water activities.
• —Church Street Marketplace — A pedestrian-only promenade, this marketplace has historic facades, local shops, restaurants, and street performers. It is an area for dining, shopping, and observing street activity.
• —Ethan Allen Homestead Museum — This museum contains the restored 18th-century home of Vermont patriot Ethan Allen, located in the Winooski River floodplain. It offers information on early American life and has riverside walking trails.
• —University of Vermont, Old Mill Building — This building is part of the University of Vermont campus, founded in 1791. The campus displays various architectural styles and sculptures.
• —Battery Park — This park overlooks Lake Champlain and served as a military station during the War of 1812, seeing engagements between British warships and land batteries. It offers views and historical context.
• —ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain — This science and nature museum on the waterfront focuses on the Lake Champlain Basin's ecosystem with interactive exhibits and live animal displays.

For warm weather activities, visit Burlington from mid-June to mid-September, when daily high temperatures are above 70°F and Lake Champlain is warm enough for swimming. July and August offer the warmest conditions, with average highs around 81°F. Fall, particularly late September into early October, is suitable for viewing foliage, with daytime temperatures between 59°F and 71°F. This period is also crowded. Winter, from December to March, is cold and snowy, with average lows around 14°F in January, suitable for skiing but less for general sightseeing. Spring (March-May) can be muddy and temperatures vary. Avoid late spring if you prefer green foliage, as this is often called "stick season."

Burlington is served by Burlington International Airport (BTV), located about 3 miles east of downtown. Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express service terminates at Burlington Union Station, located at 1 Main Street, offering regional train travel. The station is unstaffed; tickets should be booked online. Downtown Burlington is walkable, especially the pedestrian-friendly Church Street Marketplace. For wider exploration, the Burlington Greenway offers a bike path along Lake Champlain. Parking is available in city-owned garages like the Downtown Garage and Marketplace Garage, with the first two hours often free at the Downtown Garage from Monday to Saturday. On-street parking meters can be paid via the ParkMobile app. Sundays and holidays offer free parking at all city-owned facilities. The Burlington Farmers Market runs every Saturday from May through October, and on select dates in winter, in the South End. The BTV Market is held in City Hall Park every Saturday from June through September.