Outside The Hub: Boston→Vermont

Carry-On

Dec 10

Boston has long been revered for its incredible revolutionary history, beautiful fall foliage, competition-crushing sports teams, and its reputation as the Hub of New England. It gets this name from the hub and spokes design of our public transit system (the T) and also from an Atlantic article in 1858 when Oliver Wendell Holmes coined the State House of Massachusetts, conveniently located in downtown Boston, the hub of the universe (#humble).

Turns out, not only are we good at sports (go Sox! Go Pats! Go C’s!), but we are also uniquely suited to be a great jumping off point for road trips.

Many visitors (and locals alike) hop on 93 North and head for the mountains. Conversely, lots of people hop on 93 South and head for Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. In my opinion, heading north on Route 93 gets you more bang for your buck- you’ll visit mountains, beaches, small villages and quirky college towns. Book your rental car, and choose your own adventure from one of these three states below!

Full disclosure, I’m a little biased toward the Green Mountain State. It's home for me, and the location from which I’m currently writing to you. Vermont touches the Massachusetts border, and provides plenty of outdoorsy activities for Boston folks to enjoy. Hop on 93 North and drive through New Hampshire until you cross the Connecticut River and enter Vermont. Southern Vermont offers great hiking and skiing, in places such as Killington, Okemo, and Stratton Mountains. Killington is well-known for its wild nightlife scene and reputation as a hangout of lots of New Yorkers and Bostonians alike. Pro-tip - if NY is playing Boston in any sport, don’t hang out in a public bar where the game is being televised. Unless you want to feel tension like none-other between die-hard NY and Boston fans!

Venture further north on Route 89, and you’ll get up into northern Vermont. Pass through Montpelier, Vermont for lunch (Mad Taco is where it's at) and walk past the golden dome of the Vermont State House. Just don’t plan on stopping by McDonald’s for lunch- this is the only state capitol in the US without the fast food chain in its city limits!

Make Burlington, Vermont your home base for a few days and explore the beautiful lakefront, unique restaurants, and plentiful breweries in town. Burlington is a college town, and in addition to the students, there are tons of young families and young professionals in the area. Stroll up and down Church St, the town’s main downtown district, and check out the local shops, restaurants and bars, and then head down to the city’s newest hotspot, the South End Arts District.

Burlington is your quintessential college town- think quirky shops, breweries, and a fun local music scene. The city is also known for its incredible restaurants and eateries as well! If I were you, I’d post up at the Hotel Vermont, a great boutique hotel located downtown, within easy walking distance to the waterfront and downtown district. The rustic and modern design aesthetic of the hotel feels upscale, yet comfortable. Park your car here and spend the rest of your time exploring the city on foot!
Walk down to the waterfront and swing by The Skinny Pancake for lunch- this Burlington mainstay makes the tastiest crepes this side of the St Lawrence! My favorite is the Veggie Monster, or the Lumberjack crepe, both featuring Vermont made cheddar cheese. After a crepe, cruise down to Foam Brewers for fresh beer, tasty IPAs and an outdoor patio with great views of the lakefront.

Along the lakefront, you’ll find the Burlington Bike Path, a multi-use recreational path that winds along the lakeshore and offers incredible views and access to public beaches. Start the path in Waterfront Park and head north- you’ll pass a rad new skate park, and then walk further north to North Beach, a local hangout for college kids and families alike. If you’re on a bike, keep pedaling north, and you’ll hit Leddy Beach, my favorite beach in Burlington - peep those Adirondack Mountains in the distance!

For a great end to a great day, order tacos from Taco Gordo, and enjoy them on one of the many beaches along the lakefront in Burlington. Grab the chicken tinga tacos, and don't forget chips and guacamole! Pair this with a tasty local brew (I like the Dirty Mayor from Citizen Cider, or the Lone Wolf from Zero Gravity) and you got yourself an epic picnic dinner on the beach. Bon appetit!

Liz Bruner

Liz grew up in a small town in New Jersey, armchair traveling during her youth through books, magazines, and episodes of Carmen Sandiego. In true Gemini fashion, she was always curious about things, and thankfully that trait has followed her into adulthood. Her curiosity has led her to travel through countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and across America. Her favorite thing to do while traveling is to visit local grocery stores and buy snacks (mostly for the cultural experience, but also for the snacks).

Liz has spent the last decade working in the outdoors industry, guiding trips across the United States, instructing skiing in California (yes, they have snow in California), and designing custom trips to Latin America. In her free time, she enjoys browsing online for cool Airbnbs around the world, podcasting (@thefangirlpodcast), and perfecting her homemade margarita recipe. You can see more of her photos at @elizbruner on Instagram.