School is out and summer has begun!! Which means it’s only a matter of time until you hear those words that can drive any momma crazy – “I’m bored.”

We are here to rescue you from those dreadful words with our ABC’s of Summer! We’ve done the research and we’re taking you straight through the alphabet with 85+ summer outings for your Burlington summer bucket list. We’ve even created a handy, free printable to hang on your refrigerator, so when your kids utter those words, “I’m bored,” just pick an outing for some summer fun! See how many of our outings on the list you can hit, and while your out and about, snap some shots and share them with us at #bvtmbfamilyfun!

Print out our ABC’s of Burlington Area Activities Printable to keep track of your summer outings:

PDF Printable

A

Al’s French Frys– A Burlington staple. Go enjoy some kid-friendly food, cremees, and fun on their playground

Airport Park– A great park in Colchester with a toddler AND a big kid playground! Close to the bike path for additional fun

American Girl’s Tea at Basin Harbor Club– Super fun tea party on July 23 for all American Girl Doll lovers

B

BVTMB Park Hopping– We are hosting a Park Hopping play date series this summer and will be visiting 9 different local parks throughout the summer. Join us for some fun!

Ben and Jerry’s Factory– Grab the kids and take the factory tour, enjoy some ice cream, let them loose on-site playground and visit the ice cream flavor graveyard. On weekends they often have additional activities for the kids.

 

Burlington Farmer’s Market– Looking for some fun on a Saturday? Head down to the Burlington Farmer’s Market to grab some local products, enjoy the live music, and grab a bite to eat!

Bread and Butter Farm Burger Night– Every Friday night you can head over to Bread and Butter Farm for their Burger Night. Enjoy some delicious burgers and food, music fun and more!

Billings Farm– Take a day trip up to the Woodstock area and visit Billings Farm. Explore the barns and check out the exhibits to learn about 19th Century rural Vermont life.

Burlington Bike Path– Hop on your bikes and travel along the Burlington Bike Path for some family fun and beautiful views.

Battery Park Free Concert Series– Thursday evenings in July you can enjoy a free concert down at Battery Park- perfect for the whole family.

Berry Picking- Visit one of the many berry farms to pick strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and more. Two of our favorites are Sam Mazza’s Farm and Adam’s Berry Farm. You can also check out this comprehensive list of farms around VT.

Buttered Noodles– They have a great play room for everyday, but they also have great events throughout the week. Always something fun going on!

Branbury State Park– This state park has a beautiful beach and great swimming in the crystal-clear Lake Dunmore. It also has some great hiking!

Bayside State Park– A great playground, beach access, and an awesome skate park

Bead Crazy– Go experience a fun class and learn how to make something beautiful! Located in Williston in the same shopping center as Once Upon a Child.

C

Catamount Outdoor Center– You can by day passes or a summer pass to this fabulous outdoor center that’s great for the whole family. Mountain biking, hiking, trail running and more!

Cookie Decorating at Barrio Bakery– Every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30. Enjoy some cookie decorating fun!

Creative Habitat Kids Craft– Every Saturday from 1-3pm you can come create a craft with your kiddos. Creative Habitat supplies everything you need for just $5.

Circus Smirkus– With dates in June, July, and August around VT, this Circus is sure to provide some great family memories and fun!

Church St.- Church St. can provide a ton of fun for the whole family, especially during summer. Catch one of the many street performers, let the kids run up and down, grab a delicious bite to eat at one of the fabulous restaurants, finish it off with some ice cream and browse the shops.

Champlain Valley Fair– August 22-31 at the Champlain Valley Expo center. Tons of family fun to be had!

City Hall Park Concert Series– Every Wednesday and Friday at noon you can catch a free concert at City Hall Park!

Cold Hollow Cider– This is a can’t miss during the fall, but can still be lots of fun to visit any time.

Chillax Kidspa at Stoweflake Resort- Get some mother, daughter pampering at this kid spa at Stoweflake Resort!

D

Dragon Boat Festival– Sunday, August 3 on Lake Champlain at the waterfront. Tons of fun to watch with kids. They will love the drumbeats 🙂

E

ECHO– Especially perfect for those rainy days. Kids can get out some energy as they run around exploring the different exhibits and having some hands-on fun.

Evolution Yoga Kid’s drop in classes- This summer their kid’s yoga classes will all be drop-in and will have different themes. Your kids will love these classes!

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum and Park– located off of North Ave. in the New North End, there is a great playground, hiking trails and picnic spots along the river, and a museum and tours.

Essex Cinemas– A family movie is always fun and Essex Cinemas is one of our favorites!

F

Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium– This one is a bit of a drive but a lot of fun! Located in St. Johnsbury, this natural history museum has great hands-on exhibits.

Festival of Fools on Church St.– August 1-3 on Church St. is full of family fun with the Festival of Fools! Great street performances and fun for all.

Family Fun Day! {BVTMB}- Our second annual Family Fun Day will be on Saturday, August 16! You can read more about  last year’s family fun day here.

G

Green Mountain Glaze Paint Your Own Pottery– Looking to explore your artistic side? Grab the kids and paint some pottery at this cute shop in Waterbury Center!

H

Healthy Living “Kids in the Kitchen” Cooking Classes- So many fun options from Tie Dye Smoothies to Sweet and Zesty BBQ wings! Whatever you choose, you and your kids are sure to have fun!

Hiking- There are an endless supply of hiking trails to choose from around the area! Check out our top top 6 hikes for families around the area.

I

Island Line Trail– Travel along and over Lake Champlain on this stunning 14 mile trail! Stunning views and lots of fun.

Indian Brook Park– This park in Essex has a beautiful reservoir and and hiking trails that are perfect for the whole family.

Intervale’s Summervale– This is one of our family’s favorite summer activities. Summervale happens each Thursday night and features live music, great food from local vendors, kids activities, and beautiful grounds for the kids to wander around and explore.

 

J

Jay Peak Resort– Get in some gorgeous hikes and visit the Pump House indoor waterpark for some serious fun! You can also take a summer tram ride and experience stunning views.

K 

Kids City– Rainy day? Come hang out at Kids City and let your little ones play with the train table and toys set out throughout the store. You can also check out Music with Ellie on July 30 and August 20!

Kayaking- Kayaking as a family can be a lot of fun. You can rent kayaks at Canoe Imports and enjoy Lake Champlain for a few hours while enjoying the gorgeous views.

Kids Cruise 2014– Grab your ticket for a morning of fun on the Spirit of Ethan Allen! Lots of activities at $10 per person.

L

Leddy Beach– A Burlington family favorite, enjoy a day at the beach at Leddy Park.

Library- Join a Summer Reading Program! The Burlington Public Library has a fabulous program with prizes that kids can earn throughout the summer.

Lowe’s Build and Grow Program– These kid’s clinics occur on select Saturday mornings and involve building different projects.

Lake Monster’s Baseball Game- A family favorite, Lake Monster’s games are tons of fun! They always have something fun going on at home games, so be sure to check their schedule.

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum– Open daily from 10-5pm, this museum shares the history of Lake Champlain in a fun and interactive way.

Lake Iroquois– This small lake in Williston offers a great beach.

Lake Willoughby– This beautiful glacial lake located in the Northeast Kingdom provides stunning views and lake fun and hiking for the whole family.

 

M

Maple Street Park and Pool– Another family favorite, this park located in Essex Junction offers a great playground, and pool area with an area perfect for younger kids and non-swimmers!

Moon-lit Campfire at Shelburne Farms– On August 12 head to Shelburne Farms for a campfire on a warm summer evening, fun activities, s’mores, and a visit from a live owl.

Montshire Museum of Science– This is a great, hands-on museum in Norwich, Vermont. Visit Sue the T-Rex, explore the different exhibits, and enjoy some water fun outside!

Mt. Philo– This is a must during the summer! Perfect for the whole family (and is even stroller friendly!) and provides some amazing views!

Majestic 10 Theater– Rainy day? Grab the kids and watch a movie at another great local theater, Majestic 10 in Williston.

N

North Beach– Another great, Burlington are beach! There is also a great playground.

Northern Lights Rock and Ice– Located at the Essex Resort and Spa, this facility has some amazing outdoor adventures like a rock climbing wall, zip wires, rock climbing pinnacle, and more!

O

Oakledge Park– Another fabulous Burlington area park with a great playground, beach, and treehouse!

Outdoor movie night at Ben and Jerry’s– These free movies start at 8pm at the Church St. location and happen each Saturday. Here is the schedule:

On the Rise Bakery– This bakery in Richmond is delicious and is made even more fun by the playground located directly next to it!

P

Phoenix Books Story Time– Check out the Saturday story time at Phoenix Books at the Burlington location!

Petra Cliffs– Are your kids climbing the walls? Bring them to Petra Cliffs and let them climb a rock wall instead!

Palace 9 Theater– Another great local theater located in South Burlington. Watch a movie and enjoy some popcorn and treats!

Q

Quechee Gorge– Located right outside of Woodstock, this beautiful gorge offers stunning views and a great campground for family-friendly camping.

Quarry – Tour the granite quarry, Rock of Ages, that is over 600 feet deep! Located near Barre.

R

Regal Gymnastics Open Gym– Perfect for a rainy day, let the kids run off some energy at Regal Gymnastics open gym!

Red Rock Park– Several scenic overlooks and great hiking trails, this park will create lots of family fun!

S

Shelburne Farms– Check out all the animals, chase some chickens, sample delicious cheese and have fun in their play area. Tons of fun to be had!

 

Shelburne Museum– This is great for a sunny or rainy day, as you can duck in and out of the different exhibits. Kids love roaming the grounds and parents love that it is fun and informational. Don’t forget to hop on the merry-go-round!

Sandbar State Park– A great state park with a beautiful beach that is shallow and great for all ages! Located between South Hero and Grand Isle.

 

Stowe Recreation Path– Walk or bike along this 5+ mile path in Stowe.

Snowfarm Vineyard Free Concert Series– These free concerts are held every Thursday evening from June through September. Picnicking begins at 5 and music starts at 6:30.

Swimming Holes- A visit to a local swimming hole can be loads of fun! Some favorites are Foster’s natural swimming hole, Bristol Falls Swimming Hole, and the Swimming Hole in Stowe that has a water slide!

Sunset Drive-in– Experience a classic drive-in with the family at this theater in Colchester.

Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival– July 11-13 in Stowe. 25 hot air balloons take to the sky and children’s activities keep families happy throughout the festival!

Sam Mazza’s Farm– Visit the Sam Mazza’s farm stand and be sure to check out their schedule of events this summer. Lots of fun things going on!

South End Kitchen Cooking Classes– Kid’s Cook classes through the summer. Everything from chocolate truffles to make your own pasta!

Spare Time Bowling– Grab the kids and head to Spare Time to go bowling or play in the arcade.

Sun Mountain Adventure Park– This one is a bit of a drive but is loads of fun! Alpine slide, climbing wall, mini golf, water slide, ropes course, zip lines and bridges, and more!

T

{Vermont} Teddy Bear Factory– Go experience one of their factory tours and send a bear through their Teddy Express Delivery Service!

Thayer Beach– Located in Colchester, this quiet beach is great for kids and families! Park in the parking lot area and then it is a walk back through a forested path to get to the beach.

U

UVM– I know this may seem like an odd one, but I have been known to take a rambunctious three year old down to UVM and let her run around and get some energy out. With wide open spaces and beautiful buildings, it can be a fun afternoon and change of scenery!

V

Village Scoop– This yummy ice cream shop located off of Main St. in Colchester is a great place to grab some delicious ice cream, and they have tables and a chairs outside for you to sit and enjoy it together.

Vermont Cookie Love– By far some of the best creemees in Vermont plus some delicious cookies makes this a must visit and the perfect combination for any kid!

Very Merry Theatre– Check out one of the multiple performances taking place this summer throughout the Burlington area. Their traveling wagon tours are fun for all!

W

Waterfront– Take a walk along the waterfront, bring a blanket for a picnic lunch, some balls or a frisbee for some play on the large, open areas, and let the kids throw some rocks into the lake. A perfect afternoon!

 

Waterbury Reservoir– Perfect for some summer fun. A great beach area for play and swimming. You can rent kayaks and canoes to explore the reservoir.

X

X marks “The Spot”– OK, so I had to get a bit creative with this one. The Spot located in Burlington is a great spot for families to enjoy a bite to eat. It has a fun atmosphere, great food, and a fish tank that can distract restless little ones.

Y

YMCA Myers Memorial Pool– This outdoor pool located in Winooski can be great on those hot days. YMCA members can go all summer for free, but you can also buy a day pass or a season pass even if you aren’t a member.

Z

Zip lines– Head to Smuggler’s Notch and experience the zip line canopy tours as you sore through the Green Mountains of Vermont. Perfect for older kids looking for a great adventure!

 

Have fun exploring Vermont this summer!