Ali's Local Guidebook
Sips - Breweries, Wineries & More
Vermont is known for our food and drink - here are some of the best sips around (from our view!)
One of the best vineyards/wineries in the region - all biodynamic and natural wines from grapes grown in the lake champlain islands, surrounded by sheep. Their wines aren't the typical sweet dessert wines that historically was expected in Vermont - they're incredible. Call or signup for a tasting! Great views of the lake and mount mansfield from the vineyard also.
Ellison Estate Vineyard
69 E Shore NOne of the best vineyards/wineries in the region - all biodynamic and natural wines from grapes grown in the lake champlain islands, surrounded by sheep. Their wines aren't the typical sweet dessert wines that historically was expected in Vermont - they're incredible. Call or signup for a tasting! Great views of the lake and mount mansfield from the vineyard also.
Some of the best beer in Vermont, especially the IPAs. Right on the Burlington waterfront with plenty of outdoor seating in front and behind the brewery, often has great live music. Only has small food offerings like local charcuterie.
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Foam Brewers - Burlington Waterfront
112 Lake StSome of the best beer in Vermont, especially the IPAs. Right on the Burlington waterfront with plenty of outdoor seating in front and behind the brewery, often has great live music. Only has small food offerings like local charcuterie.
Voted one of the best breweries in the world consistently. They cut down access during covid, so look on their website ahead before traveling out there. Incredible beer and in a very beautiful rural spot out by Bread and Puppet in Glover (highly recommended) and Caspian Lake in Greensboro (great clean water lake)
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Hill Farmstead Brewery
403 Hill RdVoted one of the best breweries in the world consistently. They cut down access during covid, so look on their website ahead before traveling out there. Incredible beer and in a very beautiful rural spot out by Bread and Puppet in Glover (highly recommended) and Caspian Lake in Greensboro (great clean water lake)
The Alchemist
100 Cottage Club RdHeady Topper, b corp - enough said!
Good food (high quality bar food and higher end foodie dishes), good beer, fun energy - literally right down the street from our house. Lots of outdoor seating
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Zero Gravity Brewery
716 Birchcliff PkwyGood food (high quality bar food and higher end foodie dishes), good beer, fun energy - literally right down the street from our house. Lots of outdoor seating
Great beer, indoor and outdoor seating! In Winooski - our home town for 12 years and considered the "Brooklyn" of Burlington
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Four Quarters Brewing
70 Main StGreat beer, indoor and outdoor seating! In Winooski - our home town for 12 years and considered the "Brooklyn" of Burlington
We are part of their wine club and adore their wines, market and small plates. Come grab a few bottles of wine or some high end special cheese at the market or grab a glass of wine at the bar, and enjoy the ambiance
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Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar
388 Pine StWe are part of their wine club and adore their wines, market and small plates. Come grab a few bottles of wine or some high end special cheese at the market or grab a glass of wine at the bar, and enjoy the ambiance
A Burlington institution - artsy, small music venue cafe bar with eclectic furnishings people and conversation
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Radio Bean Coffeehouse
8 N Winooski AveA Burlington institution - artsy, small music venue cafe bar with eclectic furnishings people and conversation
Incredible beer list from all over, good higher end bar food, nice outdoor seating
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Mule Bar
38 Main StIncredible beer list from all over, good higher end bar food, nice outdoor seating
This is a great local brewer that just moved their tasting room just a short walk from our house! The space is incredible and has a ton of history. Beers are consistently tasty, especially their IPAs, and food is generally really good. Their merchandise is also incredible if you want to get something locally (nearby Zero Gravity also has some great merch). Walk down the road after to Switchback, just around the corner, and try one of the area's original micro breweries.
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Burlington Beer Company
180 Flynn AvenueThis is a great local brewer that just moved their tasting room just a short walk from our house! The space is incredible and has a ton of history. Beers are consistently tasty, especially their IPAs, and food is generally really good. Their merchandise is also incredible if you want to get something locally (nearby Zero Gravity also has some great merch). Walk down the road after to Switchback, just around the corner, and try one of the area's original micro breweries.
Woman-owned natural wine store right downtown with extremely well curated wines to pick up for your night at home or on your adventure.
Wilder Wines
146 Cherry StreetWoman-owned natural wine store right downtown with extremely well curated wines to pick up for your night at home or on your adventure.
Food scene
Our family and friends love tasty snacks - we love to find the best restaurants and food around the world and call our adventures the “plan of a-snack”
Tasty and creative middle eastern, (quality ingredients) food on Church Street
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Honey Road
156 Church StTasty and creative middle eastern, (quality ingredients) food on Church Street
One of the best restaurants in the states - currently operating as a market and sandwiches during covid. They are opening another dinner restaurant in the same area as we speak!
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Misery Loves Co.
46 Main StOne of the best restaurants in the states - currently operating as a market and sandwiches during covid. They are opening another dinner restaurant in the same area as we speak!
Incredible views from a historic mill on the Winooski river, with great drinks and food, along with the views.
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Waterworks Food + Drink
20 Winooski Falls WayIncredible views from a historic mill on the Winooski river, with great drinks and food, along with the views.
Fun, great energy, young restaurant with small plates in Burlington. Wine list isn't spectacular but they have some great mixed drinks and legit food
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Restaurant Poco
55 Main StFun, great energy, young restaurant with small plates in Burlington. Wine list isn't spectacular but they have some great mixed drinks and legit food
This is one of the best food co-op grocery stores in the country and is a must visit for food lovers (and where to get your groceries!). Visit the downtown Burlington location or newer south end location
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City Market/Onion River Co-op
82 S Winooski AveThis is one of the best food co-op grocery stores in the country and is a must visit for food lovers (and where to get your groceries!). Visit the downtown Burlington location or newer south end location
Consistent thai food in Winooski - takeout only during covid. Call ahead early (wait has been up to an hour lately)
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Tiny Thai Restaurant
293 Main StConsistent thai food in Winooski - takeout only during covid. Call ahead early (wait has been up to an hour lately)
Cash only - legendary sandwich maker of global creativity in a hole in the wall spot. No descriptions on the sandwich menu, just jump off the high dive into the deep end and enjoy what you discover!
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Four Corners of the Earth
310 Pine StCash only - legendary sandwich maker of global creativity in a hole in the wall spot. No descriptions on the sandwich menu, just jump off the high dive into the deep end and enjoy what you discover!
The restaurant with probably the best views in Burlington - summer only. It's right on the water downtown with great views out onto the lake. Boats can pull up and dock here. Food is not anything to write home about, but the views are untouchable (and they often have live music/DJs in summer). Come for the views and atmosphere, not the best meal of your life. And it's a great bike ride almost entirely along the lake!
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Spot on the Dock
1 King StThe restaurant with probably the best views in Burlington - summer only. It's right on the water downtown with great views out onto the lake. Boats can pull up and dock here. Food is not anything to write home about, but the views are untouchable (and they often have live music/DJs in summer). Come for the views and atmosphere, not the best meal of your life. And it's a great bike ride almost entirely along the lake!
Kids and Fun
Amazing local environment museum right on the waterfront - fun for kids and kids at heart from age 2 and up
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ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
1 College StAmazing local environment museum right on the waterfront - fun for kids and kids at heart from age 2 and up
If it’s raining and you have active kids, take them to this indoor trampoline park to jump off some steam
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Get Air Trampoline Park
25 Omega DrIf it’s raining and you have active kids, take them to this indoor trampoline park to jump off some steam
Get outside!
Come here for the day and enjoy incredible views. Rent a windsurf board, paddleboard or just hang by the water. Beach volleyball and great sand - a doable walk from the house and easy bike ride along the water to get there. A day pass is something like $15.
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Burlington Surf Club (WND & WVS)
50 Lakeside AveCome here for the day and enjoy incredible views. Rent a windsurf board, paddleboard or just hang by the water. Beach volleyball and great sand - a doable walk from the house and easy bike ride along the water to get there. A day pass is something like $15.
Take a long bike ride down the Burlington bike path, out across the lake on the beautiful causeway. This bike ferry can then get you across the gap and into the islands for a day excursion. Rent bikes at Local Motion right downtown!
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South Hero Bike Ferry
Island Line Rail TrailTake a long bike ride down the Burlington bike path, out across the lake on the beautiful causeway. This bike ferry can then get you across the gap and into the islands for a day excursion. Rent bikes at Local Motion right downtown!