Lake Champlain Byway: Explore Vermont's West Coast

our roadsides, meadows and woodlands a a woodlands and meadows roadsides, our

springtime wildflowers grow in profusion, making making profusion, in grow wildflowers springtime

summer; in winter, snowy mountains and fields are are fields and mountains snowy winter, in summer; to pancake breakfasts and strawberry festivals. In In festivals. strawberry and breakfasts pancake to

hiking and biking are favorite pastimes in the the in pastimes favorite are biking and hiking from concerts, museums and community plays plays community and museums concerts, from

Forest make it a desirable destination. Golf, tennis, tennis, Golf, destination. desirable a it make Forest with an array of social and cultural opportunities— cultural and social of array an with

round recreation in the Green Mountain National National Mountain Green the in recreation round

along the Byway offers glimpses of its past along along past its of glimpses offers Byway the along

Photo: Shelburne Bay/Robert Lyons Bay/Robert Shelburne Photo:

The area’s proximity to Lake Champlain and year- and Champlain Lake to proximity area’s The beauty. History comes alive and each community community each and alive comes History beauty.

Byway’s website at www.lakechamplainbyway.com. at website Byway’s

most spectacular in the world. the in spectacular most L County is rich in lake, pastoral and mountain mountain and pastoral lake, in rich is County its intrinsic qualities. For more information, visit the the visit information, more For qualities. intrinsic its

West Coast West

life by preserving, protecting, interpreting, and promoting promoting and interpreting, protecting, preserving, by life autumn make fall foliage some of the the of some foliage fall make autumn holes, hike the trails or camp under a sea of stars. stars. of sea a under camp or trails the hike holes, the Green Mountains to the east, Addison Addison east, the to Mountains Green the

unique travel experiences and enhance local quality of of quality local enhance and experiences travel unique

as snowshoeing. The golds and reds of of reds and golds The snowshoeing. as lakes invite you to pack a picnic, enjoy swimming swimming enjoy picnic, a pack to you invite lakes bordered by the Adirondacks to the west and and west the to Adirondacks the by bordered

America’s memorable roads. The Byway works to support support to works Byway The roads. memorable America’s

Explore Vermont’s Vermont’s Explore

perfect for Alpine and Nordic skiing as well well as skiing Nordic and Alpine for perfect welcoming garden. Nearby mountains, forests and and forests mountains, Nearby garden. welcoming ocated in the lower Champlain Valley Valley Champlain lower the in ocated T which promotes the recognition and enjoyment of of enjoyment and recognition the promotes which

Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program Program Byways Scenic National Administration’s

Chamber of Commerce of Chamber

Highway Administration. The Byway works with the the with works Byway The Administration. Highway Middlebury Farmers Market/Addison County Chamber of Commerce of Chamber County Market/Addison Farmers Middlebury Vergennes Basin/Addison County Chamber of Commerce of Chamber County Basin/Addison Vergennes Fall Foliage/Addison County Chamber of Commerce of Chamber County Foliage/Addison Fall Otter Creek Falls, Middlebury/Addison County County Middlebury/Addison Falls, Creek Otter

his brochure was funded in part by the Federal Federal the by part in funded was brochure his

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around Labor Day and numerous other events events other numerous and Day Labor around

industrial heritage. The downtown is is downtown The heritage. industrial Exposition which hosts a traditional country fair fair country traditional a hosts which Exposition

brick and stone buildings reflective of its its of reflective buildings stone and brick and performance venue, the Champlain Valley Valley Champlain the venue, performance and

Winooski, an historic mill city, boasts numerous numerous boasts city, mill historic an Winooski, also home to the state’s largest outdoor cultural cultural outdoor largest state’s the to home also

the Byway’s only Amtrak passenger station. It is is It station. passenger Amtrak only Byway’s the

city’s famed bikepath that fronts Lake Champlain. Lake fronts that bikepath famed city’s Essex Junction is a compact village that hosts hosts that village compact a is Junction Essex

boating center of Mallett’s Bay in Colchester. in Bay Mallett’s of center boating easily on foot, by public transportation or use the the use or transportation public by foot, on easily

in Charlotte, Sandbar State Park in Milton and the the and Milton in Park State Sandbar Charlotte, in lakeside parks and beaches. You can get around around get can You beaches. and parks lakeside path system. system. path

Museum and Shelburne Farms, Mt. Philo State Park Park State Philo Mt. Farms, Shelburne and Museum and arts and entertainment venues and several several and venues entertainment and arts and natural areas all linked by an extensive recreation recreation extensive an by linked all areas natural

local museums. Of particular interest are Shelburne Shelburne are interest particular Of museums. local small city downtown with its numerous museums museums numerous its with downtown city small community but has several excellent parks and and parks excellent several has but community

village architecture and tour several well-regarded well-regarded several tour and architecture village Burlington is the hub for the region having a classic classic a having region the for hub the is Burlington South Burlington is a newer, growing suburban suburban growing newer, a is Burlington South

The traveler can experience classic New England England New classic experience can traveler The

and natural areas, rivers, ponds and hiking trails. trails. hiking and ponds rivers, areas, natural and suburban areas and areas that remain rural. rural. remain that areas and areas suburban fishing holes. holes. fishing

opportunities for outdoor recreation such as parks parks as such recreation outdoor for opportunities T includes densely populated urban areas, growing growing areas, urban populated densely includes fine local museums, quiet nature trails and great great and trails nature quiet museums, local fine

y and other traditional industries. They host many many host They industries. traditional other and L menu of opportunities for the traveler. It It traveler. the for opportunities of menu along the roaring Winooski River as well as two two as well as River Winooski roaring the along

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p Colchester have histories based upon agriculture agriculture upon based histories have Colchester greater Burlington area present a diverse diverse a present area Burlington greater streets and pocket parks and includes a boardwalk boardwalk a includes and parks pocket and streets h a m

The towns of Shelburne, Charlotte, Milton and and Milton Charlotte, Shelburne, of towns The he eight byway communities of the the of communities byway eight he completely redeveloped with pedestrian-friendly pedestrian-friendly with redeveloped completely

Church Street, Burlington/CCRPC Street, Church Burlington Bikepath/Local Motion Bikepath/Local Burlington Holmes Creek Bridge, Charlotte/CCRPC Bridge, Creek Holmes Steamboat Ticonderoga/Shelburne Museum Ticonderoga/Shelburne Steamboat

European to visit the

region. Settlement and

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w after the Revolutionary

G The first and foremost characteristic of the Byway w

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r War followed by m is its ready access to Lake Champlain, the rivers

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. which flow into it and numerous locations to o r

g he Lake Champlain explore nature. There are several state parks, numerous shipping and solitude you crave. you solitude Byway is a Scenic

marinas, public boat launches, public beaches mill towns along the Courtesy of KB Compliments the fun and recreation you desire, as well as the the as well as desire, you recreation and fun the BywayT designated by the State and other points of access, making it easy for region’s waterways. Like

with four historic villages along the Byway, and all all and Byway, the along villages historic four with of Vermont located in the northwest travelers to get out on the Adirondacks of New York, Lake Champlain ample camping opportunities. camping ample

lake in the United States. They are 30 miles long, long, miles 30 are They States. United the in lake portion of the state. From north to the water. Activities became known for its nature-oriented tourism. Islands also host five Vermont State Parks providing providing Parks State Vermont five host also Islands to be here. be to

Canadian border amidst the sixth largest freshwater freshwater largest sixth the amidst border Canadian south, the formal route is 134 miles include power boating, sand dunes, farmstead cheese and chocolates. The The chocolates. and cheese farmstead dunes, sand Welcome to the Lake Champlain Islands. It’s good good It’s Islands. Champlain Lake the to Welcome

Adirondacks of New York, the Islands sit below the the below sit Islands the York, New of Adirondacks (215 km) long and consists of U.S. Route 2 sailing, canoeing, The area features several museums, both large Alburgh, on the Canadian border, has bike trails and and trails bike has border, Canadian the on Alburgh, from Québec, or coming North from Burlington. Burlington. from North coming or Québec, from

Nestled between Vermont’s Green Mountains and the the and Mountains Green Vermont’s between Nestled through the Champlain Islands, U.S. Route kayaking, swimming, and small, to teach us about the Abenaki, French

after season, whether you are entering the Byway Byway the entering are you whether season, after 7 through the city of Burlington and several fishing, scuba diving settlers, rugged Yankees and others who made the lakeside inns and cottages, and several marinas. marinas. several and cottages, and inns lakeside The Lake Champlain Islands welcome you season season you welcome Islands Champlain Lake The

Champlain Islands. Islands. Champlain surrounding towns, and then south to seven

VDTM, Dennis Curran and windsurfing. Lake Champlain region their home. Vermont’s fishing and lake skating. There are historic sites, sites, historic are There skating. lake and fishing

its own unforgettable introduction to the Lake Lake the to introduction unforgettable own its different communities in Addison County

B largest city, Burlington, hosts several cultural favorite activities. Or visit in the winter for ice ice for winter the in visit Or activities. favorite and vineyards are open in season. in open are vineyards and

mainland. There are a few ways to get here, each each here, get to ways few a are There mainland. including Middlebury and Vergennes. The region also has numerous parks and natural festivals while the Byway’s smaller communities Apple picking and leaf-peeping are some of fall’s fall’s of some are leaf-peeping and picking Apple Vermont’s oldest, and South Hero’s apple orchards orchards apple Hero’s South and oldest, Vermont’s

causeways or bridges that connect us to the the to us connect that bridges or causeways areas with hiking and biking trails and campsites. offer the traveler unique experiences such as boating, biking, and beaches come summertime. summertime. come beaches and biking, boating, outdoor theater. Grand Isle’s Hyde Log Cabin is is Cabin Log Hyde Isle’s Grand theater. outdoor

Isle ferry or driving across one of the scenic scenic the of one across driving or ferry Isle A Byway is designated for Bike touring along its country roads or designated French-heritage days, farmers’ markets, fall harvest See the apple blossoms bloom in the spring. Enjoy Enjoy spring. the in bloom blossoms apple the See North Hero has lakeside inns with fine dining and and dining fine with inns lakeside has Hero North

asking in the sun on the bow of the Grand Grand the of bow the on sun the in asking its unique intrinsic qualities recreation paths is also popular. Even the Byway’s festivals, and community suppers and dances.

or resources. The Lake

Allenholm Farm Allenholm Bike Ferry/Local Motion Ferry/Local Bike Vermont Shakespeare Company/John Nagle, Sr. Nagle, Company/John Shakespeare Vermont Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce of Chamber Islands Champlain Lake most populous communities contain several Champlain Byway is notable pristine areas conserved in perpetuity to enable for its scenic, natural, resident and visitors the chance to relax in nature. recreational, historic and cultural resources. Coast

Sherri Potvin Although quieter in the winter, the region offers est

several locations to enjoy cross-country skiing, W

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k Throughout the Byway, the scenery is spectacular sports like Nordic skating and kiteboarding. e

no matter where you are. Views of Lake

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p V n York’s Adirondack mountains are always around

a Native American Abenaki were the l

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I a you (many times all three at once!). The Byway’s s l h a n c . d w s region’s original inhabitants. In w - re w working landscape of farms and forests —whether 1609, French explorer, Samuel lo bathed in spring and summer green, fall colors or de Champlain was the first winter’s white blanket— brings the traveler a sense xp E of connection to the land. Bicyclist at sunset photo above by Carolyn Bates, Courtesy of Lake Champlain Bikeways