Discover Chittenden: Lake, Mountains and History

Chittenden combines the shores of Lake Champlain with mountains, wildlife observation and an unusual amount of regional history. When choosing a vacation rental for your stay, you can therefore first consider which travel experiences should be the focus: activities by the water, excursions into the mountains, live wild birds or historic sites.

Lake Champlain and Trails by the Water

For walks and active days, the Burlington Greenway provides clear orientation. The paved multi-use trail is 8 miles long and runs along the shore of Lake Champlain. If you are planning a longer tour through the region, the Lake Champlain Byway offers an official 184-mile route that runs through Chittenden County along U.S. Route 7. Both options represent different types of travel: The Greenway focuses on a route by the water, while the Byway takes in regional exploration by road.

Water Works Park is also one of the water-related experiences in Burlington. Along the waterfront, there is a boardwalk, benches and a fishing pier. The ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, is Vermont's science and nature museum on the water. Those who do not want to simply look at Lake Champlain can enjoy group sailing and paddling for groups of 6 to 60 people at the Community Sailing Center.

Mountains, Ridges and Special Landscapes

Chittenden's mountain side has a different character. Mount Philo State Park is located on 968-foot Mount Philo and became Vermont's first state park in 1924. At Underhill State Park, four trails lead to the summit ridge of Mt. Mansfield. The park is located in the 39,837-acre Mt. Mansfield State Forest. The summit ridge itself features alpine tundra with low, stunted vegetation that is rare in New England.

For your accommodation decision, this variety can be a practical consideration: If you are primarily planning walks and water-based experiences, a travel itinerary centered around the waterfront offerings is a good fit. If mountains and landscapes are the focus, destinations at Mt. Mansfield and Mount Philo should be included in your daily planning early on.

Wildlife Observation and Regional History

The Birds of Vermont Museum combines wildlife observation with a special visitor experience. Visitors can observe live wild birds from feeding stations, a walk-in treehouse or a bird-observation stand. The museum's trails are open to walkers of all ages from sunrise to sunset without advance registration and free of charge.

History is presented at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum through a historic house from 1785. The house was the final residence of Vermont folk hero Ethan Allen and provides insight into early American life. Other notable sites include Richmond's Round Church, a 16-sided meetinghouse from 1813 that is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and Jericho's Old Red Mill. This national historic site stands above a gorge on the Browns River.

The Colchester Log Schoolhouse, built in 1815, serves as a visitor information center and museum of local history. It is open seasonally from June through Labor Day, Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Vermont Military Library & Museum complements the historical focus with the Hall of Heroes, where uniforms and exhibits belonging to Vermont residents are displayed, including Wallace M. Greene Jr. The former coal-fired Moran FRAME power plant was transformed into a public park and represents another cultural and historical highlight.

Places to Continue Your Search

For regional travel planning, you can compare Chittenden with Burlington, Essex Junction, Shelburne, South Burlington, Colchester, Williston and Underhill. This allows you to tailor your search for a vacation rental to your preferred mix of lake, mountains, nature and history.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vermont.

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Windham County.