Whether you’re headed to Vermont for fall leaf peeping, winter skiing, or spring and summer outdoors activities you’ll find a warm welcome in Burlington. The town loves visitors.

Photograph of Church Street Burlington, Vermont

Burlington boasts a true New England climate. Burlington has long, snowy winters and mild summers that seldom require air conditioning. January has average highs of 25 and average lows of 8 F. July is the warmest month with an average high of 81 and an average low of 59. Burlington enjoys an average of 80 inches of snow during the winter season. The combination of lake effect weather and the nearby mountains make Burlington one of the cloudiest cities in the USA.

Vermont welcomes over one million guests each fall. Sitting on the shores of Lake Champlain with the Adirondack Mountains as a backdrop, Burlington offers some exquisite in-town walks along the lake front boardwalk or through the Church Street Market, home of specialty shops and European style cafes. You can sample a cider donut, check out the beach, or rent a bike or Roller Blades. But a car is essential to really enjoy the entire area. If you fly into Burlington you’ll find that Avis, Budget, Dollar, National, and Hertz all have Burlington locations. Amtrak also serves the city.

Lake Champlain Ferries provides service between New York and Vermont; you can call them at (802) 864-9804. For a romantic cruise on Lake Champlain during your sojourn in Burlington call (802) 862-8300 for information. Lake Champlain offers a lot to do starting with boating, fishing, sailing or cruising. The lakefront is lined with benches, swings, and grassy areas. The Lake Champlain Basin Science Center is a kid-friendly facility teaching children about Lake Champlain and the birds, fish, and animals that live there. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum at Basin Harbor displays the cultural and economic history of the lake starting with the Revolutionary War to its use as a trade route from Southern New York to the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Home to the University of Vermont main campus, Burlington is the largest city in Vermont. The views of Lake Champlain and the Green and Adirondack mountains combined with a 7-mile lakeside bike path for walkers, bladers, runners and cyclists and off-road trails for mountain bikers and hikers give the city a small town outdoorsy ambiance. The area’s excellent restaurants give Burlington a bit of urban spice. Try Pauline's, 1834 Shelburne Rd, Route 7, South Burlington, VT Phone: 802-862-1081 for an incredible Sunday brunch. In the Church Street Market area stop by Leunig's Bistro - An Old World Cafe, 115 Church St., Burlington, VT Phone: 802-863-3579, it’s open daily for breakfast lunch and dinner. Leunig’s features live jazz from 7:30 until 10:30, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For lake view dining on scrumptious seafood visit Shanty on the Shore, 181 Battery St., Burlington, VT Phone: 802-864-0238.

Burlington is only 25-60 minutes to ski resorts, including Bolton Valley, Stowe, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen and Smuggler's Notch. Golf courses surround the city. It’s 200 miles northwest of Boston and 100 miles southeast of Montreal.

Area attractions include:

Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions of Austria, Lake Champlain Islands, VT. Phone: (802) 372-5683.Open July 10 through Aug 24. Performances Thurs & Fri 6 p.m.; Sat & Sun 2:30 p.m.

Ethan Allen Homestead, off Route 127, Burlington, VT. Phone: (802) 865-4556. Open May 11 through Oct 18. Call for hours and more information.

Spirit of Ethan Allen II, Spirit Landing, College St, Burlington, VT. Phone: (802) 862-8300.

Shelburne Farms, Bay Roads, Shelburne, VT Phone: (802) 985-8686.

Shelburne Museum, Rte 7, Shelburne, VT Phone: (802) 985-3346. Open every day 10 - 5, late May through Mid October.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, RT 7, Shelburne, VT Phone: (802) 985-3001 ex 1800.

Vermont Wildflower Farm, Box VAA, Rte 7, Shelburne, VT Phone: (802) 985-9455.

Open daily May 1st through late Oct.

UVM Morgan Horse Farm, RD 1, Middlebury, VT Phone: (802) 388-2011.

Rokeby Museum, Rte 7, Ferrisburgh, VT Phone: (802) 877-3406.

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Rte 22A at Vergennes to Basin Harbor, VT Phone: (802) 475-2022. Open May 5 - Oct 19.

Factory Marketplace at Kennedy Brothers, 11 Main Street, Vergennes, VT 05491. Phone: (802) 877-2975. Open daily year round.

Robert Compton Pottery, Rte 116, Bristol, VT Phone: (802) 3453-3778.

Dakin Farm, Rte 7, Ferrisburgh, VT Phone: (800) 993-2546. Open 7 days a week year round.