Pre- and Post-Tours (Optional)

Pre-Tours March 24-27

Burlington

Guests will each be staying at one of our 3 partner hotels in downtown Burlington: Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain, Hotel Vermont or Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor. Reservations will be made by Hello Burlington.

Friday March 24th

After arriving in Burlington, attendees will enjoy free time on Church Street Marketplace and dinner at Waterworks Restaurant.

Church Street was always a busy part of the city, but in the mid-1980s, local businessman and architect, Bill Truex, spearheaded its evolution into the Church Street Marketplace. Truex was inspired by a similar project in Copenhagen and led the effort to transform it into the five block, pedestrian-only epicenter of the city. The Marketplace is now home to local shops, restaurants and boutiques which also radiate outward on the side streets. 

Nestled in the Champlain Mill on the Winooski River, Waterworks is a historic setting that offers an unique dining experience with a spectacular view of the Winooski river. Offering an upbeat, fun approach with a focus on the guest experience and genuine hospitality.

Saturday March 25th

Breakfast on March 25th will be served at August First, a bakery and cafe housed in a converted garage in downtown Burlington and owned by a husband/wife team whose background includes microbrewing as well as baking. Breakfast is served all day, and be sure to try their famous griddled maple biscuit.

The sweet side of Burlington doesn’t begin and end with Vermont maple syrup: we’ll head next to master chocolatiers Kevin & Laura Toohey’s Nu Chocolate to sample Swiss-style chocolates made from sustainably sourced cocoa, perhaps washed down by a mid-morning espresso or cappuccino. 

Paralleling the Lake Champlain waterfront in downtown Manchester, Pine Street is home to an eclectic mix of unique local businesses and a burgeoning arts district, and our walking tour will include stops at four intriguing shops. The Soda Plant is a former bottling factory that has been reimagined as a hub for small businesses and artisans; tenants include galleries, studios, a coffee company, and a retail shop and cafe celebrating the building’s original occupants, the Venetian Beverages soda company.

The Barge Canal Market is an antique store with a collection of smartly curated midcentury furniture, while AO Glass features glass-blowing demonstrations amid a product showcase that includes hand-blown drinking glasses, ornaments, glass gnomes, and figurines of Champy, Burlington’s famous lake monster. Alchemy Jewelry Arts Gallery features the work of a collective of Vermont goldsmiths and jewelry makers, including the signature wood grain inspired metalwork of the late Timothy Grannis.

Next, we’ll hop over to the Burlington Beer Company’s new taproom and restaurant in the city’s historic Southend neighborhood for lunch, sampling both the seasonal food menu and the rotating beers on tap, including the flagship Lighthouse, a Czech-style pilsner. The rest of the afternoon is free for relaxing or exploring on your own, but we’ll reconvene at the Essex Resort for an intimate cooking class where you’ll help prepare your own dinner for the evening.

Sunday March 26th

Henry’s Diner has been slinging delicious home-cooked breakfasts to hungry Burlingtonianssince 1925 and has been hailed as the best diner in Vermont. Start your day at this Bank Street institution with a hot and hearty breakfast sandwich, skillet, omelette, eggs Benedict, pancakes, and more.

Lake Champlain is the major focal point for two floors of exhibits at ECHO, a science museum that includes live animal exhibits, a 3D theater, and observation decks with awesome views of the 490-square-mile lake. A visit is the perfect warmup for a Lake Champlain lunch tour aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, which includes such sightseeing highlights as Lone Rock Point, Juniper Island, Rock Dunder, and Shelburne Bay. 

The Burlington Greenway is the perfect place to walk off lunch and get your land legs back: the mixed-use bike and recreation path traces the shoreline of Lake Champlain through the length of downtown Burlington. Properly refreshed, we’ll make a final stop at the Daedalus wine store for a tasting of vintages sourced from small growers around the world. Dinner on your last night is on your own: check out Hen of the Wood for upscale dining in the Hotel Vermont, perhaps, or keep it simple with a Neapolitan pie from Pizzeria Verità or a burger and a beer at The Farmhouse Tap & Grill.

Monday March 27th 

This morning we’ll get on a bus and continue our Vermont adventure in the city of Manchester, about 2.5 hours south and the host community for the 2023 Eastern Chapter meeting!

Participation: Limited to 5 actives and their partners/spouses (must share a room)

Tour Rates:

  • Actives – $225
  • Spouses/Partners – $225 

Post-Tours March 30-April 1

Brattleboro

Guests will each be staying at the fun, funky and historic The Latchis Hotel in Downtown Brattleboro. Reservations will be made by #LoveBrattleboroVT.

Thursday, March 30th

Start your trip in Battleboro with a warm welcome at Duchess Coffee with our #LoveBrattleboroVT ambassadors before checking into The Latchis, where you’ll receive a back-of-house tour of this historic property and restored 1930s movie theater. 

From there, you’ll go on a private tour of Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center with Executive Director, Danny Lichtenfeld before lunch. In the afternoon, take part in the Maker’s Tour – High Street & Green before dinner Hosted by Vermont Table with our resident arts/culture czars.

Friday, March 31st

Start your day with breakfast before visiting the New England Center for Circus Arts for a Talk and Trampezium Tour. Chow down on lunch at SuperFresh! before a Hands-On Make Your Own Art Experience. Dinner will be at Whetstone Beer Co., a favorite local brewery with views of the iconic bridge. 

Saturday, April 1st

Grab breakfast and explore the artwork around every corner, including at the Harmony Collective, River Gallery, Mitchell Giddings, and the Beadniks Museum. In the afternoon, you’ll have lunch on your own and check out of the hotel before departing. 

Participation: Limited to 5 actives and their partners/spouses (must share a room). Press Will be Fully Hosted. Guests/Spouses joining are priced at $375/person which covers accommodations (shared), meals, and experiences. Requests for separate (+1) guest accommodations to be arranged/priced on a case-by-case basis based on hotel availability at the time of booking.

Tour Rates:

  • Actives – $0
  • Spouses/Partners – $375