Suggestions for Vermont Attractions...
 

Hello.

We are traveling to Vermont over the holiday weekend and will be styaing in Burlington all 3 nights.

We are 25 years old, traveling without children, and up for just about anything.

Do you have any recommendations as far as sight seeing, local attractions, tours, shopping, dinning? (We are open to short road trips in the area.)

Also any advice on Manchester, Vermont? We would like to go shopping in town. Perhaps you could recommend something along the way?

Thanks in advance for your help.

If you are traveling north on Rt 89 from NH (you have Boston in your ID), I would aim to have lunch at Simon Pierce in Queechee VT. You can watch glassblowers and potters, buy their products and have a wonderful lunch overlooking the waterfall that powers their hydroelectric generator. If you like baking and cooking, I would make a side trip to Norwich (near Queechee) for a visit to King Arthur Flour. They have wonderful products.
Church Street in Burlington is a place to spend a few hours browsing the shops. I like the cafe operated by the Culinary Institute for lunch. The street is closed to traffic. There is a brewery tour you can take. If you are gardeners, just north of Burlington is Gardener's Supply, a well known catalog company. They have a huge store.
A visit to the Vermont Country Store is always fun. We always find some gadget we can't live without. There are two stores. Check the hours because I don't think the original store in the old building is open on Sundays and may be closed on a holiday Monday. They also have a catalog. Neither store is near Burlington but you might stop coming or going. The VT rest areas with tourist info have great free Vermont Guides. Check the events guide in the local paper. With all those colleges, there must be a lot going on unless it's too soon after Christmas break.

Regarding Manchester, it's a good 2.5 hours south of Burlington, so unless you're coming up from that direction, I would'nt bother. There is plenty of good shopping in Burlington and environs. As mentioned above, Church Street Marketplace and surround streets downtown has lots of shops. If you'd like to do the big box thing, you can go to Williston. Also, the Essex Shops in Essex Junction have a good (but small) mix of outlets and local shops.
About 45 minutes south of Burlington is Middlebury and would make a nice day trip. Some nice shops downtown there. Also, Stowe makes a nice day trip.
As far as local attractions/dining etc, check out the Echo Center on the waterfront. UVM men's hockey has a game Saturday night and the men's basketball team has a game on Sunday at noon, but both are sold out. You could try and get tickets outside the door from scalpers if it's something you'd like to do.
Dining-A Single Pebble is great as is Smokejacks. We really like American Flatbread. For breakfast try Henry's Diner, the Oasis, or Penny Cluse. For lunch, the Red Onion is great-be sure to have the Red Onion sandwich.

South of Burlington in Shelburne is the Shelburne Museum. It's fantastic!

If we are spelling it correctly consider the Shelbourne Museum, a drive to Middlebury for shopping and dinner at the Dog Team Tavern. Non sports foans would love a hockey game at UVM or Middlebury College.Depending on the weather and snowfall, Mount Independence will be closed but still an interesting story and views of the Lake. It's a great, understated example of US history.

Will the Shelburne Museum be open?

I agree, skip Manchester. Burlington's Church St. Marketplace is much more fun.

Unfortunately, the Shelburne Museum is closed for the winter.

Downtown Burlington - Church Street Marketplace - has some interesting little art galleries and shops, good restaurants (all of those mentioned above are good, as is Trattoria Delia on St Paul Street, if you like great Italian food), and some bars/pubs/clubs.

The ECHO Center at the Waterfront (four blocks from Church Street, downhill toward Lake Champlain) is an interesting marine/science museum. Try the following web page for more info, as well as links to other Burlington area attractions: http://www.echovermont.org/visit/destination.html

For live music just a mile or two from downtown, check out http://www.highergroundmusic.com/

If you want to take a drive to the Stowe/Waterbury area (about 45 minutes from Burlington), you can go to the Ben & Jerry's Factory and take their tour. Stowe has a lot of small shops and restaurants as well.

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you. This gives me quite a few options.