Discover Burke
 

Five seasons of fun!

Burke is at the hub of recreational activities all year round.


Summer days at this latitude are extra long, which allows more time for hiking, camping, mountain biking, fishing, boating, rock climbing, swimming, and horseback riding. For something a little different, try hang gliding off Burke Mountain, sailing on Crystal Lake, or scuba diving in the clear, deep waters of Lake Willoughby. Trap and skeet shooting and archery are available at several area ranges. Golfers will find country clubs in nearby St. Johnsbury and Newport, but don't miss Granddad's Invitational, a small course in Newark carved out of a pasture. Also popular are county fairs, craft shows, strawberry festivals, and farmers' markets-or try one of the pick-your-own farms for the freshest taste of Vermont.


Fall is short, but spectacular. Country lanes and back roads wend their way through villages, farmlands, and forests revealing truly inspiring autumnal splendor at every turn. Enjoy all that the season has to offer by biking, hiking, or strolling along uncrowded backcountry lanes, or by canoeing on one of the quiet ponds and watching for the colorful autumn reflections on the water. Hot air ballooning is popular at this time and game hunting season begins when the air turns chilly. The Burke Fall Foliage Festival - always the last Saturday in September - begins a series of  wonderful fall foliage festivals that include church suppers, bake sales, craft shows, a variety of live entertainment venues, rubber ducky races, and even cow plop bingo. For an a-mazing experience, try the corn mazes in nearby Danville--a life size people-puzzle cut from a corn field and filled with good fun.


Winter lasts a long time here and that's just fine, because there's so much to do in our winter wonderland. Alpine skiing and snowboarding are exciting for the whole family at uncrowded Burke Mountain. Cross country ski trails abound, snowshoeing can be found just about anywhere, and every village has a good hill for sledding. VAST snowmobile trail connections crisscross the area, forming part of a network that goes from the bottom of the state to the top and on into Canada. Hockey and skating are enjoyed on local ponds or at the Fenton Chester Arena in Lyndonville, and there's ample opportunity for ice fishing on several local waters. If you like your winter sports sitting down, try dog sledding, a horse-drawn sleigh ride, or simply sit by the fire and take in the winter scene.

Then there's mud season. Our "fifth" and shortest season occurs briefly between winter and spring. In late winter, when the days warm to a thaw, but the nights still freeze, conditions are ideal for our maple trees to "get the sap running" and for sugarers to gather it for making maple syrup. As sugarmakers work round the clock, they welcome those who show up to help out as fire tenders and taste testers. During the peak of sugaring, the air often smells sweetly of wood smoke, hot maple syrup, and the beginnings of spring. The thaw also brings us together for town meetings as we take up the pursuits of political debate in our meeting halls and, as the thaw progresses, "rut running" our dirt roads becomes a seasonal "sport." If you like a little adventure travel, well, there is always plenty of syrup to go around!


Spring does finally come, bringing a brief opportunity for white-water kayaking and canoeing and sometimes even a warm, wet, and wild "pond-skimming" spring skiing experience. The air warms, the trees bud, the flowers begin to bloom and suddenly its time to get started on all those summer activities--like fly-fishing, bird watching, mountain biking, hiking, camping, boating, golfing…


Copyright © 2008 Burke Area Chamber of Commerce