Burlington, Vermont is Vermont's largest city, but with all the charm and beauty you would expect to find in New England.  The 2006 Symposium for Systems Analysis in Forest Resources invites you to partake of Burlington's recreation and tourism treasures.  Boating, hiking, bicycling, historic tours, shopping, and dining will fill the time you have after the conference sessions.

1. A fabulous dinner cruise on Lake Champlain is included with your registration!

We will break from the symposium at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8.  Busses will be available to transport attendees down to the historic Church Street shopping district and the landing for Lake Champlain Shore Cruises.  You will have about 90 minutes in the shopping district before we board the Spirit of Ethan Allan III for a dinner cruise on the Lake!  The cruise departs at 6:00 p.m. and will last 2 1/2 hours.  The dinner cruise is paid for as part of the registration fee.

The web site link to the Spirit of Ethan Allen III is: http://www.soea.com/

Once you've had a look around on Wednesday, you might want to return to see and try other activities.  A few ideas are provided in the links below.

2. Informal "covered bridge tour" for accompanying guests

Are you bringing a guest or family?  Would they like to see some fabulous Vermont scenery, quaint villages, and enjoy a lovely lunch?  We are organizing an informal tour to see a number of Vermont's beautiful covered bridges.  If you are interested, please e-mail Matt Pelkki at pelkki@uamont.edu.  The tour will take roughly 6 hours, leaving at 8:30 am and returning around 2:30 p.m.  The date of the tour is flexible, but will most likely be either Wednesday (Sept. 6) or Friday (Sept. 8).  The tour will travel from Burlington by van east to Montpelier, travel south to Roxbury on Vermont Highway 12, with stops at numerous covered bridges in and around Northfield.  The tour will then proceed over the mountains to East Warren (near Sugarbush Ski Resort) and head north to Middlesex on Vermont Highway 100B.  A lunch and shopping stop will occur at Waitsfield.  Time permitting, on the return to Burlington, a stop at the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury will round out the tour.

Photo of covered bridge taken in May 2006 by M. Pelkki near Northfield, Vermont.

3. Link to Lake Champlain Valley Area Travel Planner   

    http://www.travel-vermont.com/region04/index.asp

4. A sampling of local area activities/attractions:

    Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center    http://www.echovermont.org/

    Shopping at the Church Street Marketplace http://www.churchstmarketplace.com/

    Whistling Man Schooner Company - Sailing tours on Lake Champlain  http://www.whistlingman.com/

    Winds of Ireland - cruises and rentals on Lake Champlain    http://www.windsofireland.net/

    Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center http://www.froghollow.org/

    Vermont Teddy Bear Company    http://www.vermonteddybear.com/

    Cheese Traders and Wine Sellers    http://www.cheesetraders.com/

    Local Motion bike rentals    http://www.localmotion.org/

    Vermont Brewery Tours    http://www.vermontbrewers.com/

    Waterfront Boat Rentals    http://www.waterfrontboatrentals.com/

    Ethan Allen Homestead    http://www.ethanallenhomestead.org/

    Sweet Lady Jane            http://www.sweetladyjane.biz/