I will be in Burlinton VT for a weekend in mid-April. Will be busy with other activites until early afternoon both days, but will then have the rest of my day/evening free.

Any suggestions for sites to see in Burlington, walking tour of the city, neat places/shops/scenic spots not to miss?

Also looking for suggestions for restaurants for dinner, I like good food (no chains please) but prefer a casual, comfortable atmosphere and am open to all types of cuisine.

Thanks for your help.
Jennifer

Sometime ago I read a great post here on suggestions what to do in Burlington, VT while on business trip. Try to do a text search

While this entire thread doesn't necessarily apply to you, I made some suggestions about Middlebury and then the 40 min drive from there to Burlington, with things to see along the way as well as in Burlington - so you can read that at :

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34742153

In Burlington, for restaurants:
Neci: The New England Culinary Institute is a great place for dinner on Church St (near the top)
Also on Church Street: Sweet Water for dinner and Sweet Tomato Trattoria is casual italian, but nice for lunch or early casual bite.

Outside of Burlington, should you drive say to Middlebury to see some things along the way , is Starry Night -

In Middlebury is Storm Cafe - and Middleubry is quaint NE town, Middlebury College is there and often has concerts, plays, etc open to public and you can check what is there on their web page www.middlebury.edu

Both have excellent food, and are very casual

In Vergennes, is Black Sheep Bistro, which is fabulous - at the above two restaurants you defnitely need to make a rezzie if you want to plan on eating there and not playing it by ear

Church St and surrounding area on Burlington is full of shops and restaurants - always active with tons of people including college kids from UVM and Middlebury
You can find these thru google and look at menu/prices/etc

THere is a great second hand clothing store in Burlington, I can't for hte life of me remember the name, but ifyou askk anyone around Church St shops they will know - it is right around the area.

NECI Commons (New England Culinary Inst) is closed. Bummer.
Other restaurant recommendations: A Single Pebble - some of the best chinese food you'll ever have. American Flatbread. Smokejacks. Rocque's Mexican.
Burlington is a casual city. Fleece rules here!
Be sure to walk along Church Street. Lots of great shops, restaurants and bars. Check out Higher Ground in South Burlington and see if they have any good shows - www.highergroundmusic.com
Take a tour of the Magic Hat Brewery.
Walk around the UVM campus and/or along the bikepath along the waterfront.
Hope you have a good trip!

Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

That's where we picked up Lester Addison the Third - and he has travelled with us all over the US!

Oh, forgot to mention the restaurants.

If you are going to Middlebury, our favorite restaurant there is the Fire and Ice. Then there's Tully and Marie's down on Otter Creek. Up north, before you reach Middlebury is the Dog Team Tavern.

If you go a bit further south of Middlebury, there's the Cafe Provence in Brandon. Awesome French cuisine.

One more place to visit: just slightly south of Burlington is Sherburne Farms. It closes early so check their open hours.

Enjoy!

I know that you only asked about Burlington but the other Posters are right. Remember that you have daylight until at least 7:45PM and the drive to Middlebury is vintage VT. The Dog Team Tavern alone is worth the drive.

sorry, I forgot to add that a few minutes at a maple syrup "still" would be fascinating. Check a map - my favorite is Ridge View? - between Orwell and Mt. Independence. Even the site of one as it glows at nite is memorable!

I agree--Dog Team Tavern IS worth the drive. But, make sure you are hungry. Also, in Middlebury a good, casual restuarant is Mister Up's.

Escargot mentioned Sweet Tomato Trattoria but I believe it's actually called Three Tomatoes Trattoria. It's very good, simple Italian food. Church St. is probably your best bet for eating. Be sure to visit the waterfront. There are some good restaurants there as well. It's only a block or so from Church St.

What a bummer about NECI !! What happened???

And yes, I keep forgetting Sweet Tomato changed its name to Three tomatoes a few years ago...old habits die hard.

I am thinking i fyou google you can likely find many of the restaurants mentioned and prcies/menus.

While I have eaten at the Middlebury restaurants mentioned many times, I have to say, that personally, I would go to Fire and Ice over Mr Ups which I think is just mediocre - it's casual and ok for nachos or salad and a burger, but I think you have better options - and Dog Team Tavern, which can be fun, isn't in my top three - sorry to be the lone dissenter thinking it isn't worth the drive - and definitely check Middlebury web page first to see if that is a busy week on campus and get a rezzie at Dog Team, if there is anything going on at the college, big team sport, theater, etc - tons head out to Dog Team in large groups with parents especially if they are in town for an event or game - Dog Team has a funky decor with lots of memorabilia about, but to me it is a place to eat with a large group the way they serve and it sounded to me like you will be alone or maybe with a few business people?

Tully & Maries I prefer for brunch over dinner.
If you end up in Middlebury during the day, Otter Creek Bakery is fabulous, and Noonie's for sandwiches - also American Flatbread in the Marbleworks I would prefer for dinner over Ups or Fire and Ice

- the downtown is quaint, a few nice shops, the falls, and if you like shopping check out
Dia's Sweaters (you can google to see first, dia sweaters, middlebury, vt) and also Geiger has an outlet a few minutes before you'd reach the downtown Middlebury area - great outlet for coats, skirts, pants, all their clothing -
and Vermont Soap works, for discount (mildly irregular cut) soaps, lotions, etc.

The scenery on the way to Middlebury is nice, and if you get there, drive straight thru the main st going up and then down hill of the campus - take a right into where the glass walled science center is for nice sunset if that works.

You can even eat at the Grill on campus, they make good burgers. If you were in downtown, my fav is the Storm cafe and the starry night cafe - also a good spot for an afternoon break

here's a good article including about starry night and also about Ferrisburg if you like art - it's all between Burlington and Middlebury

If you want to venture further, you could hit Woodstock, Vt which is adorable and very NE small charm, about 80 minutes from Burlington

Re: NECI. They sold the building. I guess they needed the $$$?

bm: sad to hear that - does that mean the school closed ? have you or anyone heard they moved elsewhere? what a shame, food was fabulous.

The school is open and they still run their restaurants in Montpelier and Essex.

thanks bm, good to know.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!

I'm surprised that nobody mentions the great Shelburne museum(open air)in Shelburne.Paul

Paul - The Shelburne Museum is great, but unfortunately they don't open until May.