My Wheelchair Accessible Trip to Vermont
- Emma Bailey
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
I was recently invited by Vermont Tourism to experience summer in the “Green Mountain State.” While autumn is Vermont’s peak tourist season, summer is just as fun! I stayed in downtown Burlington, which is right next to beautiful Lake Champlain. Keep reading to find out things to do, places to eat, all while keeping accessibility in mind!
Where to Stay
Hotel Champlain - Our hotel was located downtown and right on Lake Champlain, making it easy to stroll to nearby shops and restaurants. I was very pleased with this ADA room's accessibility features. The room had a roll-in shower, shower bench, space to roll under the sink, and grab bars by the toilet. The bed was a bit too high for me to transfer but the hotel’s amazing maintenance worker removed the box spring, making the bed the perfect height.
There’s two restaurants at Hotel Champlain.
Lily May’s Cafe - serves breakfast and lunch, try an iced maple latte
Original Skiff - seafood restaurant and oyster bar
Transportation
MobilityWorks - We rented a wheelchair accessible van from MobilityWorks, making it so easy to get around. Our van had a ramp coming out the side and space to roll up to the passenger seat so I could talk to my friend while she's driving. Shoutout to Joshua for dropping it off at the airport for us!
Things to Do
I spent the morning with Vermont Adaptive trying out their hand cycling bikes. This was one of my favorite things I did the whole trip! The team helped me onto the bike and adapted it to fit my needs. For example, I have limited dexterity in my hands, so they used gloves to help me grip the handles. The bikes have electric assist so cycling long distances was a breeze! They also have normal bikes for non-disabled people, so my friend was able to join us. We rode up and down the bike paths next to the lake—it was beautiful!
The Community Sailing Center is located in the same building as Vermont Adaptive, so we went sailing next. They have special sailboats that are adapted so that people with mobility issues can sit in the back. There’s a large metal hoop connected to the sails that surrounded me so I was even able to steer the boat! A little nerve-wracking at first and I can’t remember any sailing lingo, but still a fun time!
Explore the Waterfront Park -
The waterfront is walking distance from Hotel Champlain and is a great place to stroll and take pictures. I suggest going at sunset and grabbing a maple creemee from Ice Cream Evan’s.
Museums & Attractions
This museum is massive! It spans 45 acres with 39 buildings full of American art, design, and history. Most of the exhibit buildings are wheelchair-friendly and there are two accessible shuttles that’ll take you around the grounds. We only had a couple hours here and wish we could’ve stayed longer! Here is a guide showing the buildings that are wheelchair accessible.
Explore Downtown Stowe -
Downtown Stowe is a picturesque little village that makes you feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie. It’s about an hour outside of Burlington but totally worth the drive. There’s locally owned boutiques, restaurants, and cute coffee shops, all walking/rolling distance from each other. Most shops were accessible but one shop only had steps so the owner got out a portable ramp and kindly helped me inside. Be sure to stop by Cork Market and grab a bag of the viral Swedish candy!
After visiting the Shelburne Museum, stop by Shelburne Vineyard for a glass of Vermont-made wine or a tasting flight! You can build a custom flight or choose one of their premade ones. Their wines and ciders range from dry to semi-sweet to sweet so there’s something for everyone. If you have no idea which kind to choose, the staff is so knowledgeable and will help you find a wine you’ll love. Our personal favorite was the Eden Angel Jūs. You can sit inside in their tasting room or on their patio that offers a view of their vineyards.
Just an hour outside of Burlington is the family-owned, Valley Dream Farm. It was bought by Joe and Anne Tisbert in 1992 and they’ve been growing organic vegetables ever since. Their son, Jay (also a wheelchair user) lives and works on the farm, designing the hanging basket arrangements. Their daughter Becky lives next door and is a part of the farm's management team. You can buy fresh produce in the farmhouse and even take a tour of the entire property with Anne. They also offer Farm to Table on Tuesday nights. These dinners allow you to have a 7 course meal cooked with food directly from the farm while learning about family farming.
Where to Eat
Breakfast/Brunch
August First (Burlington) - This is a bakery and cafe serving breakfast all day and lunch. It’s located close enough to the hotel to stroll here.
Juniper (Burlington) - Restaurant located in Hotel Vermont and serves brunch and dinner.
Lunch/Dinner
Farmhouse Tap & Grill (Burlington) - This gastropub is in downtown Burlington and is open for lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends. Be sure to try their maple shaved ice for dessert!
Santiago’s (Burlington) - You can find fresh Cuban food at this restaurant and is walking distance from Hotel Champlain. If you have room for dessert, get the tres leches cake!
Lot 6 Brewing Co. (Stowe) - This brewery is open for lunch and dinner and serves typical bar food like burgers, wings, nachos, etc. It’s about an hour outside of Burlington; we ate here on our way to downtown Stowe.
Cork (Stowe) - Cork is a restaurant and wine bar in downtown Stowe. Stop in for a glass of wine or a meal made from locally sourced ingredients. We weren’t super hungry so we got a few appetizers and split them.
That wraps up my first ever trip to Vermont! I truly had such an amazing time. I hope this helps if you're planning a trip soon.
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