Lake Champlain Islands

Sports and the Outdoors

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. On the mainland east of the Alburg Peninsula, Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge consists of 6,642 acres of federally protected wetlands, meadows, and woods. It's a beautiful area for bird-watching, canoeing, or walking nature trails. 29 Tabor Rd., 36 mi north of Burlington, Swanton, VT, 05488. 802/868-4781. missisquoi.fws.gov.

Sand Bar State Park. Sand Bar State Park has one of Vermont's best swimming beaches, a snack bar, changing room, and boat rental concession. 1215 U.S. 2, South Hero, VT, 05486. 802/893-2825. www.vtstateparks.com/htm/sandbar.htm. $3.50. Mid-May-early-Sept., daily dawn-dusk.

Alburg Dunes State Park. Alburg Dunes State Park has one of the longest sandy beaches on Lake Champlain and some fine examples of rare flora and fauna along the hiking trails. 151 Coon Point Rd., Off U.S. 2, Alburg, VT, 05440. 802/796-4170. www.vtstateparks.com/htm/alburg.htm. $2.50. Mid-May-early-Sept., daily dawn-dusk.

Grand Isle State Park. Grand Isle State Park has a fitness trail, hiking trails, and boat rentals. 36 East Shore South, off U.S. 2, Grand Isle, VT, 05458. 802/372-4300. www.vtstateparks.com/htm/grandisle.cfm. $2.50. Mid-May-mid-Oct., daily dawn-dusk.

North Hero State Park. The 400-acre North Hero State Park holds a swimming beach, nature trail, and campsites and rents rowboats and canoes. 3803 Lakeview Dr., North Hero, VT, 05474. 802/372-8727. www.vtstateparks.com/htm/northhero.cfm. $2.50. Mid-May-early Sept., daily dawn-dusk.

Apple Island Resort. Apple Island Resort rents sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and motorboats. 71 US Rte. 2, South Hero, VT, 05486. 802/372-3800. appleislandresort.com.

Hero's Welcome. Hero's Welcome rents bikes, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats. 3537 U.S. 2, North Hero, VT, 05474. 802/372-4161 or 800/372-4376. heroswelcome.com.