Local Experts for Good Times – Introducing the Burton Guides

We look for something in our Burton Flagship Store employees beyond a good dose of retail experience: the ability to help others have a good time. When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by someone who’s not just there to help you find what you need – you’ll be greeted by a Burton Guide. 

You could turn to the web looking for all the hottest spots for your next excursion, but you’ll be getting the same info as every other tourist with a smart phone. Not so when you ask a Burton Guide. Sure, they’ll help you pick out a rain jacket, or a backpack, but if you ask the right questions, you’ll also walk out of there with a big enough to-do list to last the whole weekend.    

But don’t take our word for it. We asked a Burton Guide at our Burton Flagship Store in Burlington, VT for a little intel. He pointed us towards his favorite spots, so we loaded up the Tacoma and headed off on a day trip that outshines any number of five-star Yelp ratings.

Right off the bat, something we never would have found on a Google search. Not only is this strip of abandoned highway a good dog-walking distance, but local artists have moved in and covered it with just the type of character you’d expect from a quiet corner in a quirky city like Burlington. Good luck finding it without a tip! 

Vermont seems to be fueled by an appreciation for uniqueness and craftsmanship. Where better to get a taste than the local hub for antiques and oddities? Barge Canal is tucked away in a warehouse off one of the busier streets in town. It’s like a museum for interesting items. Pair that with a few quality record shops just a stones-throw away and you have a formula for hours of happy rummaging. 

Historic spots are a go-to answer to that “where should we take the kids” question, but this isn’t your typical dusty museum. Rock Point is a beautiful piece of land jutting out into Lake Champlain.

It boasts lots of local history, and is said to be sacred to the Abenaki Native American tribe. The property is owned by a church, so you can assume it’s a perfectly safe spot to bring the whole family. 

Now, Burlington is home to plenty of watering holes, including many other breweries like Switchback, Zero Gravity, or Magic Hat, but we asked a Burton Guide, and they told us that the go-to for a drink by the water has to be Foam Brewers. After a solid day of exploration, a few sips from the tap near a little live music was all we could have asked for. 

You could come to Burlington and do the same tour that we did, or you could pop in at Burton HQ and have a Burton Guide send you off in a whole new direction. Burton Flagship Stores are located around the world, so pick a spot on the map, and go find out for yourself.