How to spend a weekend in Burlington, VT: Food & Breweries
Burlington, VT is a great long weekend destination. Lots of food and breweries in walking distance. Check out my blog post on the best food and drink spots in Burlington, VT.
My first trip to Burlington, VT was a few years ago. I couldn't believe I hadn't made a trip to this great city. There are lots of breweries, food, and outdoor activities. You could walk pretty much everywhere. In the summer, there are farmers markets and food trucks. I really enjoyed my stay but it was short. My girlfriend, Nichole, had never been and I thought it was a great weekend trip idea. Also, I have been wanting to stay at Hotel Vermont and they have a sweet black friday deal. And, it is a perfect location to walk around and Lake Champlain is across the street. Hotel Vermont was only a mile or two from everywhere we went, it was a great central location to stay. If you read the blog, you know we really get after it when we travel to new cities. And, Burlington was no different. We went to as many breweries as possible and ate our faces off. I did all the work for you! Here is a list of the best places to eat and drink in Burlington. If I missed any, please comment. I will be back.
The Food
Farmhouse Tap & Grill was the first meal we had in Burlington. This was the typical fancier local restaurant. It is always super busy. We had to wait over an hour for a table, given it was a Friday night. They have a great beer menu. The food is actually pretty good, especially the burgers. However, it is a bit pricey to me. There is a big farm to table presence in Burlington and that drives the price up.
The Swingin' Pinwheel Café Bakery was the surprise of the weekend. Do not pass up this breakfast when you walk by. The hostess was hilarious and friendly. The menu has so many good options. It is a smaller spot so be mindful. The decor definitely had that western and cowboy feel. They are known for their Wafflini, which is a waffle made with pastry dough and pressed like a panini, and they have multiple types. We had to get one and it was phenomenal. We started with a popover and ate it so fast, I didn't even get a picture!
Red Onion was recommended to me by someone from the area. They told me, the sandwiches sound weird but go with it. It was quite an interesting little spot on Church Street (main area for shops/restaurants). I ordered the Red Onion sandwich, which consisted of turkey, vt cheddar, red onion, granny smith apple slices, and sun-dried tomato mayo on honey oat bread. The bread was like an inch thick! Nichole got the spinach melt. This consisted of a TON of fresh baby spinach, mushrooms, red onions, sharp cheddar, and garlic mayo on honey oat. They were both delicious. If you need a quick bite, I definitely would suggest the Red Onion.
There is surprisingly a fair amount of Mexican dishes and restaurants in Burlington. For that reason we were craving Mexican and chose El Cortijo Taqueria Y Cantina as it was the closest with the best ratings. And, they were a sister company of the Farmhouse Tap & Grill. This is a very small location. Luckily, we got seated right away but the dinner crowd hit and the front of the restaurant was overly crowded and flowed near the tables. It was a bit uncomfortable eating with people on top of you waiting to be called. And, the food was just ok. Nichole enjoyed her margarita but the rest was less memorable.
And you know we hit up Ben & Jerry's for dessert.
Monarch and the Milkweed was another great breakfast find. This was a quaint, trendy shop in the town center that fits maybe 15-20 people. One of the reasons I chose there was because they make donuts, mini but I don't discriminate. The donuts were ehh but the breakfast was awesome. I had the fried chicken sandwich with gruyère cheese, red onions, and some aoli that reminded me of Big Mac sauce. Nichole had the pancake stack and they were really good and cooked perfectly.
Fortunately, on the way home, we made a surprising delicious stop, only 20 minutes outside of Burlington. We mentioned to some people we met along the way, we were going to Fiddlehead Brewing. Every person said you have to go to the pizza place next door, and that was Folino's Wood Fire Pizza. No one has to twist my arm to have some pizza. This place gets really packed from the Fiddlehead crowd. You will be seated by someone but you have to do everything else, get your own plates, order at the cashier, etc. Aside from that tidbit, the pizza was awesome. Maybe the best buffalo chicken pizza I have ever had. Everything just worked. Make this part of your to-do list.
The Breweries
On the way up from CT, our first beer stop was at Burlington Beer Company. This was only 20 minutes or so outside of Burlington. This was in a cool industrial location. The inside was cool and trendy. They had old school video game systems. They offer a lengthy list of beers, including IPAs, Porters, and Stouts. The beer was good. A little hoppier for my taste but I see why they are popular. They fit into the craft beer scene perfectly.
Switchback Brewery was first on the list of our brewery crawl and the furthest, 2 mile walk but it actually wasn't bad. I have been before and really like their beers. Their Connector IPA is my favorite. The inside is pretty nice and feels inviting. And, the world's largest filing cabinet is on the way! Seriously, it exists.
Queen City Brewery was our favorite brewery. I don't recall seeing it last time I was here. It was tucked away behind a local printing business. It is close to Zero Gravity. They had a big wall of beers and there was an old truck on the the very top of the bar once inside. They had 13 beers to choose from and I liked most of them. My favorite was a tripel Belgian named Monk of Underhill. This isn't a place if you want hoppy beers. They had mostly porters, stouts, and lagers. I am not even a porter guy and I enjoyed their version of that. The bartender was really nice and it was just a good atmosphere.
This isn't a brewery but a cidery counts. Citizen Cider is one of my favorite ciders. Last time I came here, I had a blast. They had quite a bit of options as usual to try out. I really like what they do with their ciders. They aren' t just sweet and one taste. Definitely a staple to visit when in Burlington.
Ah, the new popular guy. Foam Brewery wasn't opened last time I was here. Since then, I have heard a lot about this brewery from friends. We made our way there as the last stop and the location is great. It is right off the water. In warmer weather, it must be even more busy than it was. However, they do not have flights of beers as an option and the beer was pricier than other breweries. And, the beer was super hoppy...almost too much. Again, that is not for me. I preferred other breweries.
The weekend of breweries was not quite over yet. The last stop on the ride home was Fiddlehead Brewery. I had their beers before and really enjoyed them. I had to stop in and check it out. At this location in Shelburne, VT, you can only buy beer that is canned, sample what they have available that day and get growlers. It is very small and can get crowded quick. We went as it opened and the lot quickly filled up and cars were coming and going. I liked what they had on tap and I ended up getting a growler and buying cans. We did make a few other stops for beverages.
Vermont Pub & Brewery was pretty average. It is really big and they have basic food options to please the generic eater. Seems like the place all tourists go when other places are busy. And, the beer wasn't great. They are a bit behind the other breweries in the beer department. The other bar we did go to was Archives. This was a bar filled with arcade games and a pretty good beer, cocktails, and wine menu. If you are into old video games like pacman, street fighter, pin ball, and other oldies, this is the spot for you.
Bonus: A Winery?
Not only did Fiddlehead Brewery have an awesome pizza spot next door but there was also a Winery across the street! By far, the happiest Nichole was all weekend as she likes wine way more than beer. Of course, we kept the ball rollin' at Shelburne Winery and did a tasting. This consisted of 10 wines and they were not shy with the pours. I also liked they gave a list of the wine with a marker so you could keep track of what you liked and they had a funny comment & description about each wine. I do not like wine that much but I did like a few of the white wines and a red that had chocolate in it. Nichole ended up buying two bottles. This was a great way to the end the trip. Beer, wine, & pizza. We accomplished a lot and I think we did a good job finding some good go to spots. I hope you enjoyed reading and will try out some of my suggestions. Cheers to beers & delicious food!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE
RECOMMENDED POSTS
MOST RECENT POSTS
See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS
Weekend in Philadelphia: Top Activities and Must-Visit Spots
The summer is a great time to visit Philadelphia. Check out my travels for the best places to go in Philadelphia. Hiking For Donuts style - places to eat, visit, drink, and donuts of course.
Philadelphia is quickly becoming a favorite destination of mine. I made the trip for the first time 2 winters ago and was itching to go back. My girlfriend has never been and once I saw an available weekend and some hotel deals, it was time to go back. I feel like there is so much to do and eat of course. The food alone deserves it’s own post. And, I shall provide that. With this trip, I really wanted to enjoy what Philly has to offer for the summer. And, boy did we really pack our schedule. The research really paid off.We got to downtown Philly late Friday afternoon, checked in, showered, and began the fun filled weekend. Our main attraction for the night was Spruce Street Harbor Park. I can’t even take credit for this one. My girlfriend got skills finding awesome spots I wouldn't even come across. SSHP includes a beachfront meets carnival ambiance along a boardwalk off the Delaware River. Entering the park at night you will see about 100 hammocks hanging from the trees under a thousand colorful LED lights. Not only does it provide beautiful views but there lots of popular food trucks, beer garden, outside games like boccie ball, arcade games, rides, and even a roller skating rink. There was a giant connect four game for the kids. I was pretty jealous. This is definitely a very popular spot. The uber ride was only 10-15 minutes from downtown. I would say this was our favorite part of the trip. The park is only open from May through end of September. If you are in Philly during that time, I highly recommend.
Spruce Street Harbor Park views at night.
The next day we really hit the ground running. We decided to walk to Rittenhouse Square in the morning. One of the original space parks by William Penn is a one-square-park. If you are looking for an outdoor farmers market, this would be the place for fresh flowers, produce, and Philly specialties. After this, we decided to walk through Independence Historic National Park to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. If you are a history buff, this area is for you. Also, the Liberty Bell is quite the attraction so there are long lines in tourist seasons. In the fall/winter may be best if you don’t want to wait. You can actually see it from the outside instead of going inside. We walked through a couple historic buildings and walked to the oldest bank in the US.
Side note, the weather was scorching on this weekend. All the walking got us a little parched. Bringing us to our next stop, 2nd Story Brewing Company. This was the second time I have been here. They have a large variety of beers. One that stands out is their “Better Hef”. This is a Bavarian Hefeweizen with a banana aroma with a subtle bubblegum flavor and hint of clove. You can taste the soft note of banana. Also, they had a specialty beer on this day called “Stoop Session” referencing Stoop Boy from “Hey Arnold!” tv show. The brewery is very rustic and has a cool atmosphere. I haven’t had the food but it looks promising.
Another cool little historic spot in Philly is Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest residential street in the nation. Since we were close to the Old City neighborhood, we took a walk over. There was a museum located in two of the houses and residents still live here to this day. And, to my surprise, one of the resident’s was selling baked goods right out of her living room!
I had purchased Phillies tickets prior to the trip and the weather forecast called for thunderstorms this night. However, the weather was holding up and our next stop was cheesesteaks! The next venture was all about cheesesteaks. Waiting for the uber, my girlfriend got her research on and found a garage turned bar directly across the street from Pat’s and Geno’s. There were lots of good reviews on yelp and looked like they had a very large selection of beers. Once we got there, I was pumped about the decision. This was an awesome spot. They had arts and crafts being sold when you walked in. There were skeetball games in the back. You could bring in your own food and there are 3 big coolers of specialty craft beers. They also had some beers on tap. They give you a thick binder book to choose from and they break down by brewery name and the type of beer. They did a good job of keeping up with their inventory of beers. If they were out or had new shipments of beer, they had a paper copy for that. The bartender was really nice and helpful. It took me about 15 minutes to go through the book. Another good discovery I didn’t see in my research. After some beers, it was cheesesteak time. We chose Pat’s and it was delicious.
Amid thunderstorm warnings, the weather was holding up and we arrived at Citizens Bank Park. This was directly across from Lincoln Financial field, where the Philadelphia Eagles play. In between the stadiums, there is the “Xfinity Live!” complex that had multiple bars and dining options including beer hall and an outside area for live music. Essentially, you can tailgate inside if it’s too hot or too cold. Given it was about 95 degrees, we gladly went inside and enjoyed a beer at the Victory Beer Hall. Prior to the game starting, it was meet the team night. Everyone got to walk onto the field and take pictures with all the players. I am a huge baseball fan but I haven’t really kept up with most teams recently so I couldn’t tell you who most players were. Once they made everyone clear the field, they put the tarps down and not even 20 minutes later, there was a massive down pour. I thought our night was over but the rain stopped suddenly and the game went on as planned. We watched most of the game and walked around the stadium looking for food options. There are a lot of food options for sure. I had ice cream in a helmet and the Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries. I wasn’t impressed, really salty.
On the last day of the trip, it was all about the Reading Terminal Market. It was right behind the hotel we stayed at downtown. If you don’t know already, this place is amazing. This is an indoor farmers market offering fresh produce, groceries, ice cream, baked goods, candy, crafts, books, and other specialty food options. If you are hungry, this is the place to be. The market hours are generally open 8am through 6pm. Sundays hours are different and any dutch vendors will be closed. Don’t make the same amateur mistake I did. However, it was nice to be able to walk with freedom. The last visit I came on a Saturday and it was very packed. It was hard to walk around or finding seating to eat. All in all, another successful trip in Philadelphia. The summer is a fun time to visit. For the foodies, you will have to wait another post. I will not disappoint!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live In Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city and state here.
EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE
RECOMMENDED POSTS
RECENT POSTS
SEE WHERE I’VE BEEN RECENTLY ON INSTAGRAM. FOLLOW @HIKINGFORDONUTS
First Trip to the Adirondacks: Hiking in Upstate New York
My first trip hiking in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York. Adirondacks Travel Guide. I was able to wake up to Paradox Lake each day, hike Mount Severance, and check out Paradox Brewery. Moderate hike, amazing views along the way!
Trail Description: Planning your first trip to the Adirondacks? Discover beginner-friendly hikes, breathtaking views, and tips for exploring New York's stunning wilderness.
Trail Info:
Where: Schroon Lake, NY Click here for directions. Distance: 2.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Trail Features: Picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness
How to get there:
The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9. However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way. Once parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87.
Hiking Tips:
Put your name in the Sign In chart once you arrive.
This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes.
Adirondacks Weekend Travel Guide Recommendation: Mount Severance Hike and Paradox Brewery
The warm weather is finally here to stay in the northeast. Summer of 2017 looks pretty darn good. I have been planning as many trips as my wallet can handle. My weekends are booked up through almost October. There will be many adventures and lots of food. The first real travel this summer was thanks to friends of mine. They have a friend who owns a house on Paradox Lake. It was a good opportunity to check out some hiking in upstate New York. It was my first trip to the Adirondacks. The house was legit right on the lake. We had our own little beach area and dock. The house was pretty remote so there was no internet connection. It is good sometimes to go without the need of checking your phone on social media and enjoy where you are and who you are with. However, the second I had internet it was game on! It was absolutely, awesome views to see the sun rise and see the sun set. I tried to get good pictures, but I always get distracted by food. I couldn’t help it. My friend’s family always goes all out. It was a weekend of relaxing, filet mignons and tasty ribs.
I have never ventured to this part of New York. The Adirondacks has been on my list of areas to see for a while. When I saw the house was nestled in the Adirondacks Park, I quickly said, “I’m in!”. The first night we hung out at the house and settled in. The next day we did some swimming and soaking in the beauty of the lake. The weather was exceptional. Sun was out with a cool breeze. In the afternoon we headed into the town of Schroon Lake, which was about a 10 minute ride. It was a nice little town area full of small businesses such as ice cream shops, restaurants, and stores. Our mission on this afternoon was beer. We researched a local brewery prior to our stay and it turned out pretty good. It was called Paradox Brewery. All of the seating and bar taps were located outside. There was a food truck and corn hole boards. More importantly, the beer was good. They had a selection of 7 different beers consisting of IPAs, Pilsner, Rye Ale, Saisons, Sour and Stout options. They had one cider from another brewery, Awestruck, which was extremely delish. My favorite beers were the Double IPA and surprisingly the Sour. Sours aren't usually my thing but this one was so good I got a growler. The tartness I did taste was the mix of melons, limes, and citrus. It is a kettle sour aptly named "Oats and Gose". The brewery was a good find to have beers and hang out. I would give it a shot if you are in the area.
Paradox Brewery in Schrron Lake, NY.
The last day I was there, I had to get a hike in. There were a handful of hikes within 30 minutes or so of our location. The one that caught my eye was Mount Severance in Schroon Lake, NY. It was only about 10 minutes from the house rental. The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9. However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way since the beginning of the hike starts under I-87. Once you were parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87. One thing that stood out to me, there was a sign-in chart for hikers. I have never seen that before and I thought that was a great idea if people were to get lost or injured. For a longer or more strenuous hikes, I would like to see more of these. For this hike, it was very well marked and and a quick trip to the summit. I can see why this is a popular hike. It was roughly 2 .4 miles round trip and the summit offers picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness. The terrain wasn’t bad although we got caught in a little rain storm. There were some steep inclines and rocky areas but I would consider this a moderate hike. This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes. I really enjoyed it. Everything you want in a hike – good photo opportunities, optimal summit location, and fun. I would hike this again given the chance.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE
RECOMMENDED POSTS
MOST RECENT POSTS
SEE THE LATEST ON INSTAGRAM AND FOLLOW @HIKINGFORDONUTS
Ready to plan your trip? Let us know your favorite Adirondacks hike in the comments!