Explore the Islands: Recreation & History

Activities

• Biking – The Champlain Islands offer a myriad of biking trails and corridors from its southern shores in South Hero to the Canadian border just beyond Alburgh. And don’t forget about the seasonal bike ferry in South Hero that connects Grand Island bikers to the Island Line Trail to Burlington. For more information about biking opportunities in the Champlain Valley, visit here.
• Hiking –The Champlain Islands offer scenic trails that wind through shoreline forests, open fields, and quiet lakefront paths with stunning views of Lake Champlain. At Pelots Natural Area in North Hero, visitors can enjoy a peaceful walk through diverse habitats while spotting wildlife and taking in the beauty of an undeveloped lakeshore.
• Golf: To the north, visit the Lakewood Links for a round of golf.  To the South, visit Apple Island’s Par 3 course.
• Fishing: The Champlain Islands are surrounded by the waters of Lake Champlain so there is plenty of opportunity to take advantage of the lake’s bounties. Come and participate in the annual Father’s Day LCI Derby, America’s oldest and largest freshwater fishing derby. But first know this: a fishing license is required to fish in Vermont, so visit nearby Hero’s Welcome in North Hero (or any of the local food markets) to obtain a license, and grab a sandwich and browse the store while you are at it. There are fishing guides/tours available as well, so please inquire at our front desk for more information.
• Boat Tours: Looking to relax while enjoying the splendor of the lake? Reach out to our local boat tour operators to provide you with a wonderful adventure. Inquire at our front desk and don’t forget your sunscreen!
• Champlain Island’s Farmers Markets: During the warmer months of the year, the Champlain Islands are home to two farmers’ markets: South Hero on Wednesday afternoons at St. Limas Church and in Grand Isle at St. Joseph’s Church on Saturdays. Come visit and support our local farmers and vendors! Visit the Champlain Islands Farmers Market website.
• Apple Orchards and Local Farms: Visit South Hero for two of the Champlain Islands apple orchards: Allenholm Farm and Hackett’s Orchard. And during the trip, visit any of the Isle’s numerous operating farms that sell farm-fresh produce.
• Breweries and Wineries: Come explore local microbreweries and wineries of the Champlain Islands! Head south to South Hero to visit the Snowfarm Winery and 2 Heroes Brewery or head north to Isle La Motte’s Vineyard and Kraemer and Kin. You can’t lose!
• Art and Entertainment: No need to go to Burlington to find art and entertainment. The Champlain Islands have got it covered. Although many places throughout the Islands have local bands playing throughout the summer, visit Island Arts in Grand Isle for plays and musicians, and GreenTara for art exhibits. Snowfarm Winery also hosts numerous local bands throughout the summer on Thursday evenings.

Parks

• Burton Island State Park
  A pristine 253-acre island park reachable only by boat or ferry from Kamp Kill Kare. It offers hiking trails, a nature center, swimming, camping, boat rentals, a marina with Wi-Fi and dock power, a park store, and more.
• Knight Point State Park (North Hero)
  A serene retreat along the shores of Lake Champlain, this state park offers a sandy swimming beach, boat rentals, scenic picnic areas, and woodland trails. It also houses the Island Center for Arts and Recreation. Explore more on the Vermont State Parks website.
• Niquette Bay State Park (Colchester)
  The 584-acre park is named for Niquette Bay and features 4,700 feet of scenic rocky and sandy shoreline along Lake Champlain.
• Sand Bar State Park (Milton/South Hero causeway)
  Named after a natural sandbar between Milton and South Hero, this park features a long sand beach, CCC-built bathhouse, canoe/kayak rentals, volleyball courts, picnic areas, and a concession stand.

History & Culture

Long before European settlers arrived in the New World, the Abenaki people called the Champlain Islands home, and the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi continues on today, based in Swanton, Vermont. Elsewhere on the Champlain Islands, visitors can visit other historical sites, such as Isle La Motte’s Statue of Samuel Champlain and also the historic St. Anne’s Shrine and Grand Isle’s Hyde Cabin, believed to be one of the oldest log cabins in the US. Each of the towns of the Champlain Islands also have museums to visit, so history buffs, go explore!

• St. Anne’s Shrine (Isle La Motte) – A peaceful spiritual site with history dating back to the 1600s.
• Goodsell Ridge & Fisk Quarry Preserves (Isle La Motte)
  Explore some of the world’s oldest coral reef fossils at these National Natural Landmark sites. Fisk Quarry Preserve has an interpretive walking trail open year-round, and Goodsell Ridge features a self-guided “Walk Through Time” trail plus a visitor center (“Conservation Barn”) with exhibits during warmer months. Managed by the Isle La Motte Preservation Trust; get more info on access and programs.
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  Hyde Log Cabin @2019 by John Campbell – CC4.0

  Hyde Log Cabin (Grand Isle) – One of the oldest log cabins in the U.S., built in 1783.

Unique Stops

• Hero’s Welcome (North Hero) – A general store with character — grab sandwiches, baked goods, and quirky Vermont gifts.
• Island Arts Gallery (North Hero) – Local art, crafts, and performances.
• Farm & Garden Tours – Many small farms in the islands open to visitors seasonally.

Day Trips

As you may already know, Shore Acres is located in North Hero, just Northwest of Vermont’s largest city, Burlington, VT.  There are many exciting places to explore within 1.5 hours of Shore Acres, such as:

Burlington and Winooski:  Ranging from 30-40 minutes away, these two college towns offer more than just colleges, but restaurants, shopping, farmers markets, and more.  Enjoy Burlington’s pedestrian Church Street, Echo Lake Aquarium and explore Winooski’s historical mills and the Winooski River that powered them for decades.  Take a tour (or two) at the various breweries in Vermont, including Zero Gravity and Citizen Cider

Shelburne: About an hour south of Shore Acres, visit both the Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms for a tour of historical Vermont and a working educational farm, respectively.  Go tour The Vermont Wildflower Farm and make your own teddy bear at Vermont Teddy Bear.  And for you IPA fans, visit the Fiddlehead Brewery.

Montpelier: Vermont’s capital sits only 67 miles away or just over an hour’s driving time.

Stowe: Known for its skiing, Stowe is also a bustling town with great restaurant and stores and for the more adventurous sorts, offers mountain biking, hiking, and gondola rides on the slopes of Vermont’s most famous mountain: Mount Mansfield.

Olympic Village, Lake Placid, NY:  By land, or by ferry, cross over Lake Champlain to New York State and visit Lake Placid, where the “Miracle on Ice” occurred in 1980.  Only about an hour away, the Olympic venues continue to welcome visitors, host events, and provide training facilities for all athletes.  If you are an adrenaline junkie, go experience a ride in a Bobsled – yes, during the summer too!

Ausable Chasm, aka Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks:  Looking for a family-friendly outdoor adventure that includes hiking, rock-climbing, bridge crossings over chasms, water tubing, and more?  Cross over to New York State and explore a vertical-walled canyon comprised of 550 million year old rock by foot or by riding in an inflatable raft.  You choose!

Montreal, Quebec, Canada:  Bring your passport!  Only 1.5 hours away, enjoy the history, culture, and entertainment this beautiful, international city called Montreal offers.  It is a must-visit.