How To Eat Your Way Through Burlington, Vermont

UVM, the Burton Snowboard headquarters, and Lake Champlain are just some of the main reasons New Englanders head north to the biggest city in Vermont. I recently spent 48 hours in this region and found the Burlington, Vermont, food options to also be a main attraction.

Though I was certainly aware of the potential, being overly satisfied with our meal choices while in Burlington was a welcome surprise.

To retrace my steps, my stay consisted of five full meals. None of these were planned in advance, meaning each was either spontaneous or convenient. If we said, "This looks good. Do you want to go here?" then we'd give it a try.

In terms of cuisine types, I found breakfast and pizza to be among the most popular meal choices in this area.

It's a meal you just don't skip. I found breakfast in Burlington to be the most social of three meal options each day. It was when travelers, neighbors, roommates, and family members alike seemed to gather. Here are two great options to start the day off right.

At the Double Tree Hotel there's a breakfast buffet that is top notch. It's located in the lobby restaurant which just goes by the name of The Atrium. You walk into the hotel, hang a left past the indoor pool and overhead yards of skylight, and there's an elegant entranceway into the open-air style restaurant.

It opens at 6:30 AM on weekdays and 7 AM on weekends. Here, you will find a wonderful array of hot breakfast items such as eggs, sausage, bacon, and fresh-cooked breakfast potatoes. Pastries, various juices, cereal, fruit, and waffles are also available. Bonus points are given here for the staff always leaving a carafe of hot coffee on the table.

Then, located at 408 Shelburne Rd, in Burlington, you will find Myer's Wood Fired Bagels. These bagels are hand-rolled and wood-fired as opposed to being baked. This seems to be a favorite spot for local folks to meet up with a friend or family member.

The everything bagel was a great blend of flavor with the wood fired kick. Myer's also now serves pizza during select hours.

Speaking of which, pizza in Burlington deserves its own category.

We hit two spots. Both were completely different from each other, and equally fantastic. American Flatbread is located in the midst of the action. This place is not to be confused with Flatbread Company which also has multiple locations throughout New England.

A large cheese and herb pie did the trick at American Flatbread. It's deliciously fresh, and the garlic oil and fresh herbs serve as the secret ingredients, as they compliment the pie with a ton of flavor.

However, 1.5 miles north we tripped across one of the best pizza experience I've ever had. There's a mysterious component to Pizzeria Ida (662 Riverside Ave).

First of all, it is hard to find, tucked behind the Pho Hong restaurant building. Ida seems like a pizza speakeasy. It uses high-end ingredients, and therefore, the prices for a regular pie are not cheap.

However, the $40 is money well spent. You will feel this way upon the first bite. As a party of eight, we ordered a square pie with pepperoni, regular cheese, and a margarita. Then, you can add a bottle of wine to the table (they only serve wine by the bottle).

Ida seems to be artisanal, with each pie having freshly shaved parm, basil leaves, and an incredibly flavored olive oil drizzle on the crust.

The square pie was the winning food plate of my entire Burlington visit. The edges are charred, and the entire crust is super-light, which is the opposite of how a Sicilian-style pizza normally is.

Around the corner from Flatbread (173 College St), you will find a building that looks like an old bank, yet it is now the Burlington Whiskey Room. It opens nightly at 5 pm and does have an age requirement. In addition to the incredible menu of whiskeys, scotch, and bourbon to casually sip, the tapas-style food menu has some delicious items.

For example, the everything pretzel rods with beer cheese and bourbon ragu pairs perfectly with a glass of your favorite Marker's Mark.

So there you have it. A few select food groups, meals, and drinks to fully take in some of the best flavors Burlington, Vermont has to offer.

As much as I love my south shore area of the Northeast, sometimes there is nothing better than a quick pause. We are fortunate in New England that there are so many great options that are a short drive away. It's not hard to embark on that perfect weekend getaway escape.

With summer coming to a close and the hustle and bustle of all the fall activities kicking into overdrive, here I will look at some of the best places for a weekend getaway in New England based upon all of those I have visited.

Many factors can be considered when nailing down that perfect two-day plan. We, of course, are graced with all four seasons of the year, so depending upon when you are traveling, different activities may be available to you. Then again, perhaps you don't want any activities at all.

Food options are important to me. However, I don't make trip plans based around what place has the best restaurants. I tend to lean towards exploring the local area in hopes of tripping across a local gem.

Driving distance is another thing I heavily weigh. Although I don't mind the occasional long road trip, my preference is to maximize my time on a weekend adventure. Therefore, time in the car is ideally under four hours. Cost is always a factor.

Lastly, I must preface this list by stating I am an outdoorsman. A good book or movie can certainly do the trick. I always opt for great ocean waves, a rope swing, or mountain over an extra hour of sleep.

In recent years, I have been to each of the places on this list over various months of the year. They each have their own unique characteristics. Their common bond is that they are all great destinations for a New England weekend getaway.

Cape Cod is an obvious location. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, there is perhaps no place that is more popular in Massachusetts. To me, it's about finding that specific corner of Cape Cod that is right for you. You can camp or find cottages along Cahoon Hallow Road that will enable amazing trips to the beach. Trekking those sand dunes, hitting the three-foot waves (yes, sometimes there are shark warnings), and then getting food at the Beachcomber while listening to the great live music, is my perfect day.

There is never a bad time to visit this charming town. You can ski Cranmore in the winter. Hike, hit the waterfalls, or visit Storyland in the summer. Either way, you will be graced with some amazing local restaurants. In fact, North Conway flies under the radar as one of the best pizza towns in New England. The hotels like Eastern Slope in accommodate any season, and are right in the middle of town where all the bars, restaurants and stores are. This weekend getaway is probably the least "quiet" but has the most amount of options at your fingertips.

The river that runs through Woodstock has a way of speaking to you. It's serene but can also provide a thrill of pushing you down stream. It's calming to provide that fresh water cleanse to rid yourself of all that comes with the lights on the city. Lastly, the various rope swings scattered around the town provide a liberating rush. From the climb up the rocks to the swing, to the plunge, you focus on nothing but the joy of that ride. Ramunto's Brick Oven and Brews is also an essential stop upon each visit.

Lake life just hits differently. Depending upon where you go around Lake Sebago you get the feeling that nowhere else on the planet exists while you there. Frye Island has the magic of no public cars, local watering holes, and the ability to bike incredible dirt roads. There's a history there to learn about and local taps to enjoy. It's common to see jet skiing or pontoon boating anywhere you look within the glistening waters. Furthermore, certain towns offer that one and only general store that has everything you can imagine, from household cleaning supplies to steaks to grill for dinner.