Burlington, VT

We're going to be making a stop here this summer.  What' s a good amount of time to stay? What's good to see (for adults and little kids)?

Lake Champlain! Swimming, fishing, kayaking, dining on fresh water fish, Vermont cheese and chocolate, hiking, to say the least! On the way up, see the Bridge of Flowers in northern MA, Shelburne. You will see signs for it on rt 91. The first rest stop in Brattleboro has a lovely tourist exhibit, and you can plan your trip.

Cosign anything having to do with Lake Champlain (including the chocolates). 

There's a good bike trail from downtown Burlington up through the Hero islands, which are themselves worth a visit. The Shelburne  Museum has a large collection of folk art. Billings Farm and Museum has hands-on exhibits. 

Burlington has some very good restaurants that are child-accommodating but will not dismay adults (in part because of the locavore scene and extremely good beer). We like the Farmstead, Guild Tavern, El Cortijo and Pascolo, all owned by the same resto group, as well as Bluebird BBQ. The Skinny Pancake is a great place for breakfast, and then you can walk to a narrated lake cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Alan or just sit on the lakeside swings. For a break from restaurants, you can pick up food for a picnic at City Market.

My favorite place to shop is Bennington Potters North, which carries handmade stoneware and other Vermont-made products. If you like that kind of thing you could plan a stop at the Simon Pearce restaurant/workshop in Quechee Gorge, about an hour and a half south. They have glassblowing and pottery demonstrations and it's a beautiful spot.

At a minimum try a picnic on the banks of Lake Champlain.   There are stores nearby for sandwiches, beverages etc.    The Church St Marketplace is worth a few hours for the shops, restaurants etc

My sister moved to Hinesburg Vermont some 30 years ago.   She never looked back.

Don't miss the filing cabinet sculpture!   I visited a few summers ago and had a great time.  Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor for things to do.  There are tons of activities.  

Depending on how  young kids are a trip to Shelburne Museum in Charlotte might be very worthwhile. Much of it is not little-kid friendly but good for elementary age. Billings in Woodstock is a longer drive (though  easy via scenic Interstate), but the farm aspect will appeal to small children. Wonderful cows. Might be worth the drive. Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory in Waterbury is sort of fun, as is the Vermont Teddy Bear factory nearby. Again, depends on age of kids. Burlington itself might not be as interesting as the places it is easy day trip from. Having spent all or part of every summer in Vermont for most of my life until a few years ago, I never really think of Burlington as the destination, but the lake is spectacular. The Bennington Pottery store is great though, not for kids, for adults.

How little are your kids?

I liked the Shelburne museum. Some kids would love it.  For kids there is the Echo Lake Aquarium Science Center, which I was too old to appreciate fully.  It's not really an aquarium.  It's more like a floor of Liberty Science Center.  

http://www.tripbuzz.com/echo-lake-aquarium-science-center-burlington-vt

Shelburne Farms is a good option.  Also, beer.

A fun way to experience the lake (which is ALWAYS cold!) is to take one of the ferries. You could even drive up through NY state and cross over to Vermont that way.

Tilt Arcade and Ale House in South Burlington was fun! Good food and pinball video games, if you like that sort of thing