If you love being out on the water, boating, fishing, or just enjoying the cool air and sound of water lapping on the shore, this trip has that and more. Stop at unique farm wineries, enjoy spectacular parks, visit a country store and reward yourself with a great fish lunch, all around historic Lake Champlain in northern Vermont.
Samuel de Champlain came upon the lake in 1609 and noted a "20 foot serpent, with a horse shaped head, and body as thick as a keg."
DESTINATION 1 – Shelburne Vineyard
Start off your Water & Wine trip just south of Burlington, VT at Shelburne Vineyard’s tasting room. Enjoy a selection of their destinctive wines. Check the website for tour times.
Shelburne Vineyard has three vineyard sites in Shelburne which include the following varieties: Cayuga, LaCrescent, Louise Swenson, Marquette, St Croix, Riesling, Traminette, Vidal, Vignoles, and Zweigelt. The tasting room is open 11am-5pm 7 days a week. $4/person for a selection of wines.
The Rte 7 location is a 13 acre site, and houses their new, state-of-the-art, winery building. Visit, taste, tour and enjoy the new facility. Located on Shelburne Rd (US Rt 7), the vineyard is just south of the Shelburne Museum and just north of the Vermont Teddy Bear factory, and is near the Shelburne Farm.
Shelburne Vineyard
6308 Shelburne Rd (US Rt 7)
Shelburne, VT 05482
Phone: (802) 985-8222
www.shelburnevineyard.com
DESTINATION 2 – ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington
Now that you’ve had the introduction to wine, let’s move on to water. In case you are thinking of fishing on this trip you may want an introduction to what you may catch.
The Lake Champlain Aquatic Display contains some of the biggest and most impressive fish found both at ECHO and in Lake Champlain. The exhibit is home to two impressive forty pound Lake Sturgeon, as well as two gigantic Channel Catfish that were prize catches in the 2003 Lake Champlain International Father’s Day Fishing Derby. And every sport fisherman will be impressed with ECHO’s massive, stealthy, ever-stalking, mammoth Muskee.
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
One College Street
Burlington, VT 05401
GPS Coordinates:
+44° 28′ 36.51", -73° 13′ 14.37"
www.echovermont.org
See the website for information about arriving by ferry or by your own boat.
DESTINATION 3 – Lake Champlain Cruises
Now that you’ve seen what’s in the lake, let take a quick cruise to get the feel of things on the water. Later maybe you will wrap up the day in Burlington with a meal and overnight. Or, maybe you will be resume the trip and head north to Grand Isle.
Northern Lights Boat Tours
1 King Street
Burlington, VT 05401-5275
Phone: (802) 864-9669
www.lakechamplaincruises.com
Northern Lights Lake Champlain Boat Tours was recently rated one of "35 Things To Do This Summer" by Yankee magazine.
Daily Cruises (noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm), Sunset Dinner cruises (6:30 – 9:00 pm), and special Concert cruises (see website for details).
Cash bar and snack bar available on all cruises, Lunch may be added on the12:00 pm cruise
DESTINATION 4 – Sand bar state park
Now its time to get into the water, or at least up to your ankles, and to start boating yourself. Less than a half hour north of your cruise in Burlington is the Sand Bar State Park.
A day use only park, it has a 2000′ sand beach, swimming, canoe and kayak rentals, food concession, and shaded or open picnic grounds with tables and cooking grills as well as a play area. The marshland south and east of the park is part of the 1,000 acre Sand Bar Wildlife Refuge, established in 1920 and managed by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. Home to beaver, muskrats, raccoons, and turtles, it’s a seasonal stopover for a great variety of migratory waterfowl and other birds, a waterfowl nesting area, and spawning grounds for many of the lake’s fish. Hunting, fishing, and trapping are not allowed on refuge land.
Sand Bar State Park
1215 US Rt. 2
Milton, Vermont 05468
Park Phone: 802-893-2825
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/sandbar.htm
Open for day use: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM or Official Sunset. Memorial Day – Labor Day
Directions: From I-89, Exit #17 (Champlain Islands): Go 4 mi. N on U.S. 2.
STAY TIPS:
There are lots of options for an overnight stay that you can research before you go. From hotels in Burlington, to camping, to B&B’s. Here are a couple that may be of interest.
Apple Island Resort
Apple Island Resortis 188 acre property with a marina, campground, cabins, general store, and lots of activities. They even have a golf course and you can play 9 holes for $10 on weekdays. The marina offers mooring for your own boat, or rentals of pontoon and power boats, canoes and kayaks. Adorable cottages are available for rent. Or, the ‘Rustic’ cabins have a lot character.
71 US Route 2
South Hero, VT 05486
Office 1-802-372-3800
appleislandresort.com
getinfo@appleislandresort.com
airsales@uniprop.com
The Orchards B&B at Allenholm Farm
If you want a charming and quaint B&B, try the Orchards and stay with InnKeepers Pam and Ray Allen. They even have an an airport for private planes and a Justice of the Peace on-site.
A country breakfast featuring apples, of course, and Vermont products is served at your convenience. Join us in our dining room for coffee and conversation or enjoy a romantic breakfast on the patio.
150 South Street
South Hero, VT
Phone: 802-372-5566
www.allenholm.com/OrchardsBB.html
Additionally, here is a list of accommodations from the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce
The State Parks in the area have a variety of accommodations, including tenting sites, pavilions, and cottages. Reservations: www.vtstateparks.com
Hero’s Welcome General Store has some links to share for places to stay on Grand Isle. http://heroswelcome.com/Links.html
DESTINATION 5 – Snow Farm Winery
If you’ve stayed overnight and enjoyed some morning fishing or kayaking, and hopefully a Vermont breakfast with maple syrup, its time to move on to your next destination, Snow Farm winery.
From the winery website:
Because Snow Farm is situated on an island in the middle of Lake Champlain and therefore able to enjoy the micro-climate created by the U.S.’ sixth largest lake, Snow Farm’s growing season is identical to Burgundy, France.
This permits Snow Farm to grow cooler climate vinifera grapes, such as Pinot Noir and Riesling, as well as the more cold hardy French Hybrids, such as Vidal Blanc and Baco Noir. However, thanks to Vermont’s cold winter temperatures, in addition to producing table wines, Snow Farm produces, among other dessert wines, an ice wine, a product that cannot be made in many other places in the world.”
Thursday evening live concert music series from June to September.
Snow Farm Winery
190 West Shore Rd
South Hero, VT 05486
Phone: (802) 372-9463
www.snowfarm.com
DESTINATION 6 – Ed Weed Fish Culture Station & Visitor Center
Have you ever been to a fish hatchery? It’s fascinating to peer into the hatching pens and see a variety of fish swimming in circles, waiting for their chance to be freed into the open waters of local lakes and streams.
The station raises over one-half million brook, brown, lake, rainbows, steelhead and landlocked Atlantic salmon yearlings (6 to 12 inches in length) for statewide stocking. It is also the home of the Vermont Trophy Trout. Groups may call ahead for a guided tour, individuals pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour. The visitor center is located off Vermont route 314, across from the Lake Champlain Transportation Company ferry to Plattsburgh, New York.
Ed Weed Fish Culture Station & Visitor Center
14 Bell Hill Road
Grand Isle, VT 05458-2023
Phone: (802) 372-3171
Open daily from 8am – 4pm
East Shore Vineyard
Karen Wark photo
Near the fish station is the lovely East Shore Vineyard.
From the winery website:
Lake Champlain helps make ESV an excellent place for growing grapes. The deep lake waters provide us with a micro climate favorable for growing winter hardy cultivars capable of producing world class wines.
East Shore Vineyard
69 East Shore North,
Grand Isle VT 05458
Phone: (877) 378-8466
eastshorevineyard.com
DESTINATION 7 – Hero’s Welcome General Store
Next on the agenda might be a day on the water with a picnic lunch. Or a walk around nearby Knight Point State Park. Pick up some sandwiches and drinks at the old Hero’s Welcome General Store and ask the locals about the area history.
The store is located in a century-old building on the shore of Lake Champlain in the village of North Hero, Vermont, which was founded in 1788 by the Revolutionary War “heroes” from Ethan and Ira Allen’s famed Green Mountain Boys.
The property includes a bakery, cafe, marina, boat landing, post office and general store.
Tip: pick up a Navionics Lake Champlain Chart for $19.99
Bike and Boat Rentals: heroswelcome.com
We rent cruising kayaks…with open cockpits, wide and stable. Price includes Helmets, Life Vests and Paddles.
Hero’s Welcome General Store
3537 U.S. 2, North Hero, VT 05474
Phone:(802) 372-4161
email: info@heroswelcome.com
www.heroswelcome.com
DESTINATION 8 – Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
From the website:
A great variety of fish abound in the waters in and surrounding Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. Walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, bullhead, white perch and yellow perch are the most sought after fish on the delta.
Boats and canoes may be launched from Louie’s Landing all season. A second boat ramp, on Mac’s Bend Road, is open from September – November. Boating is permitted along the Missisquoi River and in Lake Champlain where it borders the refuge.
Visitor Center – Open 8am to 4:30pm, Monday – Friday & 10am to 2pm on Saturdays from mid-May through mid-October. Please call the refuge to confirm Saturday openings. Outdoor facilities are open daily, dawn to dusk year ’round.
Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
29 Tabor Road
Swanton, VT 05488
Phone:(802) 868-4781
www.fws.gov
DESTINATION 9 – Jeff’s Maine Seafood
It may be time to come out of the wilderness, dry off and have a civilized meal. Treat yourself at a table at Jeff’s on the Green in Historic Downtown St. Albans, VT
“Jeff’s offers fresh fish and locally produced foods with great value and friendly service that prompted Yankee Magazine’s travel guide editor to select Jeff’s as one the outstanding reasons to visit New England.”
Here’s a sample of appetizers from the menu:
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Smoked Fish Sampler, Salmon, Trout Mousse plus Duck Liver and Truffle Paté, Dill/Caper creme
- Chilled Shrimp, Cocktail Sauce, Lemon
- Oysters on the 1⁄2 shell with Cocktail Sauce
- Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels White Wine & Garlic
- Maine Crabcakes. Fresh Mango and Jalepeno Tartar Sauce
- Fried Calamari with Roasted Red Pepper Remoulade
- Artichoke & Parmesan Dip with Garlic Pita Chips
Jeff’s Maine Seafood
65 Main St., St Albans VT 05478
Reservations: 802-524-6135
www.jeffsmaineseafoodrestaurant.com
Next stop may be Boyden Valley Winery, or back to the lake for more paddling and fishing at Burton Island State Park. By now you may even be thinking how you can make this area home permanently.
DESTINATION 10 – Boyden Valley Winery
From the winery website:
Located in a restored 1875 carriage barn on our family farm, the Boyden Valley Winery is steeped in the culture and agricultural heritage of Vermont’s Green Mountains.
From 8000 grapevines and 100 acres of maple trees, lovingly tended by our family for four generations, we craft wines that feature only the finest locally grown fruit from the loamy soils of the Lamoille River Valley. The care with which we’ve nurtured the Boyden Farm for 100 years lends itself to traditional winemaking techniques, producing wines clean to the palate and balanced.
All of our wines are fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks to produce elegant, lively whites, and medium bodied reds full with character. Aged in time–honored French Oak casks our cellars yield mature, European–style wines.
Boyden Valley Winery
70 Vermont 104
Cambridge VT 05444
Phone: (802) 644-8151
www.boydenvalley.com
Open May 1st – December 31st
10 am – 5pm Daily
January 1st – April 31st
10 am – 5pm Friday – Sunday
Travel to Lake Champlain:
- From Boston: 223 mi – about 3 hours 51 mins
- From Albany, NY: 142 mi – about 2 hours 52 mins
- Total trip: 102 mi – about 2 hours 30 mins
ADDITIONAL SIGHTS IN REGION
Shelburne Farms & Inn is a 1400-acre working farm, national historic site and nonprofit environmental education center located on the shores of Lake Champlain.
1611 Harbor Road
Shelburne, VT 05482
Phone: 802-985-8686
Inn Reservations: 802-985-8498
ww.shelburnefarms.org
Shelburne Museum
5555 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482-7491
Phone: (802) 985-3346
www.shelburnemuseum.org
Vermont Teddy Bear Co Inc
6655 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482-6910
(802) 985-1319
www.vermontteddybear.com
Buy Fishing license
If you plan to fish it might make sense to get your license online before you go.
www.vtfwdsales.com
Knight Point State Park
44 Knight Point Rd.
North Hero, Vermont 05474
Park Phone: 802-372-8389
N44° 46.299′ W73° 17.680′
Open for day use: 10am – 9pm or Official Sunset
www.vtstateparks.com
The facilities include a sandy swimming beach and boat rentals. Shaded and open picnic areas include cooking grills. The 20′ x 40′ open-air shelter may be reserved for group functions.
Grand Isle State Park
36 East Shore South
Grand Isle, Vermont 05458
Park Phone: 802-372-4300
Season: Mid-May – Columbus Day Weekend
www.vtstateparks.com
Burton Island State Park
St. Albans Bay, Vermont 05481
Park Phone: 802-524-6353
Open for day use: 10am – 9pm or Official Sunset
www.vtstateparks.com
