Vermont is a lovely, cozy place that makes you think of fresh air, mountains, and plaid shirts. There are many small towns here that are great for skiing in the winter, like Stowe, but there are some other spots that we can't miss out on when we want to find a new city that we can explore. People who love to travel also love food, walking around for hours, and finding local breweries who are doing cool things. This city has it all: Burlington, Vermont.

Here's why Burlington, Vermont should be on your travel radar.

The Waterfront Is Epic

girl walking on boardwalk and waterfront sunset
both images are via Trip Advisor

Burlington, Vermont has an amazing waterfront and will totally relax you when you visit this city. With the view of both the mountains and Lake Champlain, you won't be able to resist pulling out your phone to snap tons of photos.

A happy traveler shared on Trip Advisor that there is some great food to be found here as well as beautiful views. They wrote, "Went to Waterfront Park to grab some crepes as directed by The Skinny Pancake stand in Church Street Marketplace. Crepes were delicious. Being in Vermont we saw ads for maple creemees so, of course, we had to have one there, basically soft ice cream of maple and vanilla, good."

These Breweries Are Doing An Awesome Job

outside of citizen cider and two women with cider
both images are via Trip Advisor

Citizen Cider is such a cool spot in Burlington, Vermont, and it's another reason why this place should be on your travel radar. It's been around since 2010 and is located on Pine Street, which is one of the best and most adorable names for a street ever. Kris Nelson, Bryan Holmes, and Justin Heilenbach founded the company together, and according to the Citizen Cider website, the cider gets pressed at Happy Valley Orchard in Middlebury, Vermont.

The menu offers some really cool ciders: there's Unified Press, which has a clean and delicious apple flavor, along with Tulsi which is made from basil and For Shore which has sea salt and coriander salt. That's not your typical cider and that's what makes this brewery so special. You can also order amazing food: Buffalo Blue Pretzels, Curried Lamb Stew, Duck Taco Trio, and the Mushroom Chicken Wrap are just some delicious things on the menu.

beer on table and charcuterie board
both images are via Trip Advisor

Foam Brewers is the place to be when you want to sit outside on a gorgeous patio that totally feels like you're in the English countryside, and when you want some cool craft beer and a charcuterie board, too. The place is known for its meat and cheese boards along with, of course, its delicious beer. A review on Trip Advisor is super positive about this place: "The charcuterie board and other food offerings are all made fresh to order-they slice the meat right there behind the counter! To top it all off they had live music that was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. There is indoor and outdoor seating and the atmosphere is great!" Many people who have been here will say it's a great spot to sit and chill, and that sounds totally perfect when you're on vacation.

The Restaurant Scene Is Versatile

El Cortijo Taqueria Burlington is just one restaurant in Burlington, Vermont that makes it clear that there are some really great, versatile places to grab a bite when traveling here. When you think of the food scene in Vermont, you might not think of a place to get epic tacos, so this restaurant is fun and unexpected. You can get tacos, burritos, nachos, chips and salsa, and more. Reviews on Yelp mention that there are some vegetarian options and that it's small so it might not work for a large party of people, but the food is really good.

The Daily Planet is another awesome spot. It's located on Center Street, which is super close to downtown, and the menu is healthy yet gourmet. Try the Mushroom and Fennel Salad which has "arugula, grilled asparagus, poached egg, parmesan, truffle oil" or Neil's Nachos which is described on the menu as having "house tortilla chips, chorizo, cheddar sauce, house-pickled jalapeños, salsa taquera, pork belly, scallions, cilantro." You can find something here whether you're vegan or a meat-eater, as there are plant-based and beef burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, ahi tuna tacos, and more.

In the mood for tacos? A plant-based burger? Some cool cider, a nice walk along the waterfront, and some time to explore a cool city? Burlington, Vermont should definitely be on your travel radar as it will be a calm place to enjoy some good food, good drinks, and beautiful water and mountain views.