Things To Do With Kids

Burlington doesn't take a season off when it comes to kids. Warm months mean bike paths, beaches, and the Community Sailing Center; once the snow flies, trade the sails for snowshoes, skates, or a sled run down Callahan Park. Rainy day or bluebird sky, there's a real answer either way.

Start with ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain for hands-on science and a lake monster, or add a factory tour at Vermont Teddy Bear or Burton Snowboards. Cruise the lake aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, wander the Shelburne Museum, or just walk the waterfront and see what the day turns into. Here's the full list, organized by the kind of day you're having.

IDEAS TO GET STARTED

Outside, Warm Weather

• Take off South down the Burlington Bike Path, stop at Oakledge Park for the accessible treehouse (built right into an oak tree, ramp and all), or walk North in the opposite direction to North Beach or Leddy Park and stretch out on the sand.
• Rent bikes and ride the Island Line Trail out onto the old causeway, lake on both sides. Catch the bike ferry across the gap and let the kids feel like they're pedaling on water.
• Pack a picnic for Waterfront Park, watch the sailboats come in, then walk it off on Church Street with a creemee in hand.
• Explore ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, then grab a creemee at Champ's Legendary Creemee Stand right outside. Ask about Champ, the lake monster, while you're in there.
• Catch the South End Get Down, Burlington's Friday night food truck block party. Stroller-friendly and genuinely fun for kids, but it draws a crowd and gets loud as the night goes on, so show up early if littles are along.

Rainy Day, Any Day

• Swing by Fletcher Free Library, or the South Burlington Public Library, for storytime and an afternoon of exploring. Ask about a Museum Pass at Fletcher Free, cardholders can borrow free or discounted admission to ECHO and a few other Vermont museums.
• Post up at The Boardroom downtown, order lunch, and let the kids pick a new board game off the shelf.
• Bowl a few frames and hit the arcade at Spare Time in Colchester, complete with laser tag and a full menu for whenever hunger strikes.
• Catch a matinee at Majestic 10 in Williston, Essex Cinemas, or PartizanFilm. All three run family-friendly showtimes and none of them require a raincoat.
• Swing a club (or a mini simulator round) at The Nine Indoor Golf Lounge in South Burlington. Bays work for beginners and kids alike, no green fees, no weather delays. (They also have other sports games available as well!)
• Spend an afternoon at Zachary's Pizza playing arcade games, diving into the ball pit, or working the skee-ball machines. Pizza for everyone, and the adults get to sit down for a minute.

Winter

• Bundle up for public skate at Leddy Park's arena, or lace up outdoors at one of the neighborhood rinks (Battery and Callahan both flood once it's cold enough).
• Grab sleds and head for Callahan Park's hill. It empties into a ball field, so nobody's stopping short of a fence.
• Snowshoe the river trails at Ethan Allen Homestead, then warm up with hot chocolate back downtown. You can also find rentals and trails available the Catamount Outdoor Center in Williston. 
• Head to Williston for some trampoline time at Get Air Trampoline Park. Let the kids bounce out all the energy they've been building up and enjoy a peaceful evening!

Anytime, Any Weather

• South Burlington Public Library runs its own kids' programming and story times, a solid backup when Fletcher Free is booked or you're staying on that side of town.
• Zachary's Pizza or Spare Time both double as easy answers for a friend get-together, since the games do most of the entertaining.
• Stroll Church Street Marketplace. No car, no plan, just shops, street performers, and something to eat around every corner.
• Cool off at the splash pad in City Hall Park, right next to Church Street, LED-lit fountain jets and all.
• Skate or scooter at the Andy A. Dog Williams Skatepark on the waterfront, part of the same stretch as the bike path and Community Sailing Center.
• Try sailing, kayaking, or paddleboarding at the Community Sailing Center, with lessons for kids as young as six. There's also a fishing pier right next door for anyone who'd rather just cast a line.
• Climb the Ethan Allen Tower at Ethan Allen Park for one of the best views in the city, especially around sunset.
• Cruise the lake on the Spirit of Ethan Allen, a narrated sightseeing boat that covers the history and the views without anyone needing to hold a paddle.
• Explore Shelburne Museum, an eclectic campus of historic buildings, art, and a real steamboat, built for wandering at whatever pace your kids set.
• Tour Craig's, Burton Snowboards' prototype facility at their Burlington headquarters. Free, kid-friendly, and a real look at how a board goes from sketch to finished product, right in their own backyard.
• Take the factory tour at Vermont Teddy Bear in Shelburne, then let the kids build their own bear to bring home. Free for kids 12 and under.

Worth the Short Drive

• Hike or drive to the summit of Mt. Philo, Vermont's oldest state park. The trail up is under a mile, or take the road if little legs need a break, either way you get one of the best lake views around.
• Spend a few hours at Shelburne Farms, a working farm with animals, walking trails, and lake views a few minutes south of the city.