Burlington Birthday Bash

Last weekend we took a short road trip to VT, to celebrate the XX birthday of Pat (aka Grenville). The last time we were in in this state was when Hurricane Sandy was bearing down on the East Coast and folks were advised to seek higher ground. So we went to White River Junction, VT.

This was our first visit to Burlington, the most populous city in the state of VT with a population of 42,452 in a 2015 census. 

Burlington is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, north of Shelburne Bay. This location helped the city develop into a port of entry and center for trade and it became a busy New England lumber and manufacturing center. It was incorporated as a city in 1865. 

Two theories exist for the origin of the city's name. The first is that it was named after Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, as a way to gain favor. The second is that the name honors the politically prominent and wealthy Burling family of NY. Burlington is the 38th most popular name for American cities and towns, with 34 total, according to the U.S. Census.

Burlington is one of the most environmentally progressive cities in the U.S. In 2015, it became the first city in the U.S. to operate completely on renewable energy.

It's home to Ethan Allen, credited by many as "the father of Vermont" but who was born in Connecticut. In 1775, Allen and his Green Mountain Boys militia captured Ft. Ticonderoga from the British, securing a decisive early victory in the American Revolution.

Some interesting (and some fun) facts about Burlington . . .

Friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened an ice cream shop in 1978 in a renovated filling station with no experience and a correspondence course in ice cream making. Today, Ben & Jerry's is a national brand, with retail outlets in many cities and its headquarters are in South Burlington.

We took a ferry in Burlington across Lake Champlain to Port Kent, NY and back again.

Decker Towers, the tallest building in Burlington, is just 11 stories high and is also the tallest building in the state which makes it the shortest-tallest building of any U.S. state.

"Creemee" is a popular summer staple, pronounced "creamy" otherwise called soft-serve in other places. The fat content is supposedly higher in a cremee, but you couldn't prove that by our taste test.Every summer, rowing teams face off in the Dragon Boat Festival on Lake Champlain. This 41-ft long boat is modeled after a similar type of long boat from ancient China and holds up to 20 rowers. The event funds local cancer charities. We watched some practices.Church Street Marketplace is an open-air pedestrian mall with over 100 major retailers, restaurants and historic architecture in a central downtown location. The only retail L.L. Bean store in VT is located here. We saw performances by street performers, magicians, and musicians and saw this very long wall mural which includes locals and celebrities.

The city is home to the University of Vermont (UVM), one of the first universities to admit female students in 1871. UVM doesn't mean “University of Vermont” but is Latin for “Universitas Viridis Montis,” or “University of the Green Mountains.”

These sculptures were along the Lake Champlain pedestrian/bike path.

Last (but not least) . . .

Former democratic Presidential candidate and state senator Bernie Sanders served four terms as mayor of Burlington starting with a 1981 election win by just 10 votes.

We had fun birthday weekend, and one of Pat's favorite birthday cards said it best,  "Growing older is inevitable; growing up is not."