You might hear people describe summer nights on the waterfront, enjoying 4th of July fireworks, or perhaps watching the first snowfall on Church Street. But more often than not, Noah Kahan's famed "stick season" goes unmentioned. The rolling mountains come into clearer view once the leaves have fallen, and the crowds begin to dissipate. Stick season happens twice a year, once at the very beginning of spring between the last snow and flowers blooming, and once in the last moments of fall between the last leaves falling and the first fall of snow. Stick season is unlike any other season in Vermont and can truly be Burlington's hidden gem.
Burlington, and the entirety of Vermont, gets to enjoy a season that can be nonexistent in other states and places across the world. Some towns have warmth or cold all year round, but Burlington has stick season. At first glance, this time of year can be underappreciated because of its contrast to Burlington’s other popular seasons, but stick season allows for a reflection of the previous months and hopes for future months to come. In the fall, Vermonters cherish these few weeks after the leaf-peeping crowds to both explore and gear up for the cold. In the spring, locals enjoy the first few warm days of the season and get outside!
Burlington is bare in the sense of leafless trees but continues to be a hub for locals and visitors alike. Depending on your interests, experience the greater Burlington area during a more quiet time of year. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Ethan Allen Homestead Trail and Mount Philo State Park provide unobstructed, panoramic views of Lake Champlain while not being all that busy. For wildlife seekers, view aquatic birds migrating south for the winter at Shelburne Bay Park and throughout Burlington’s Intervale.
Burlington’s food scene is the perfect haven to take a break from the weather outside. Take a seat at American Flatbread in downtown Burlington for pizza made with locally sourced produce and cooked right from their wood-fired oven, or enjoy limited-edition, seasonal IPAs at Burlington Beer Company in the South End. A variety of coffee shops and cafes will satisfy all of your fall drink cravings. Try a Leaf Peeper or Autumn Fog at Black Cap Coffee on Church Street while exploring downtown. Burlington’s beloved but hidden stick season is sometimes short-lived but allows for a moment of peace before the bustling seasons ahead.
For now, let's embrace our final warm days before the snow begins to fall!
