The Spirit of Ethan Allen
Burlington Boat House, College St. at Battery St.
802-862-9685
This replica of an old paddle-boat takes people on narrated cruises upon Lake Champlain. Guests can eat dinner as they drift by the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains.

Lake Champlain Basin Science Center
One College St.
802-864-1848
This center has presentations about the ecology, history, and culture of the lake region. The hands-on exhibits are a favorite with children and adults.

Ethan Allen Homestead
North Ave., off Rte. 127, north of Burlington
802-865-4556
This museum is dedicated to the life of Vermont's famous founding father. The house is filled with colonial furniture and exhibits, and the nearby trails are beautiful.

Shelburne Museum
Rte. 7, 5 mi south of Burlington
802-985-3346.
This museum is located on 45 acres and includes 37 buildings. Its collections number more than 80,000 objects, including 18th- and 19th-century period homes and furniture, fine and folk art, farm tools, more than 200 carriages and sleighs, Audubon prints, an old-fashioned jail, and even a private railroad car from the days of steam! Kids of all ages will love the antique toy exhibit.

Shelburne Farms
West of Rte. 7 at the junction of Harbor and Bay Rds., 6 mi south of Burlington
802-985-8686
This 1,400-acre property is an educational and cultural resource center. Visitors can see a working dairy farm, get to milk a cow and get up close to many other farm animals at the Children's Farmyard, watch the making of world-famous Vermont cheddar cheese, listen to nature lectures, or simply stroll the immaculate grounds stretching along the Lake Champlain waterfront.

Vermont Teddy Bear Company
2236 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne
802-985-3001
This teddy bear headquarters loves to talk about toys and bears of all shapes and sizes. A children's play tent is set up outdoors in summer, and visitors are welcome to tour the beautiful 57-acre property.

Vermont Wildflower Farm
Rte. 7, 5 mi south of the Shelburne Museum
802-425-3500
This 6-acre farm features eye-popping displays of various floral arrangements throughout the year: violets in the spring, daisies and black-eyed Susans for summer, and a full palette of fall colors.

Green Mountain Audobon Nature Center
18 mi southeast of Burlington, Huntington-Richmond Rd., Richmond
802-434-3068
The center's 300 acres of diverse habitats are a wildlife sanctuary filled with trails. Educational activities appeal to both kids and adults.

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
Swanton, 36 mi north of Burlington, 36 mi north of Burlington
802-868-4781
This refuge includes 6,300 acres of federally protected wetlands, meadows, and woods. Bird-watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts can walk, canoe, jog, picnic, and have a great time in this beautiful preserve.