FAMILY TRIP: 3 Days in Burlington, Vermont — Lake Champlain, Shelburne Farms and Ben and Jerry's

Burlington, Vermont, is the rare 3-day trip that feels like a real getaway without a flight: a walkable lakefront city, a working farm on the water, a chocolate factory, and the most famous ice cream factory in America, all within about five hours of Bergen County. It is slower than a city trip and more varied than a farm stay — and in the quieter late-fall and winter months, the crowds thin out and the town feels wonderfully local. Here is a family-paced 3-day plan.

Itinerary: Day 1: Drive to Burlington, Church Street Marketplace stroll, Waterfront Park and Lake Champlain sunset. Day 2: Shelburne Farms in the morning, Shelburne Museum or downtown Burlington in the afternoon. Day 3: Ben and Jerry's Factory in Waterbury on the way home, with a stop in Stowe village if time allows.

Stops: Church Street Marketplace, Church Street, Burlington — a pedestrian-only, four-block open-air marketplace in the heart of downtown, with more than 100 shops and restaurants. Waterfront Park and the Burlington Bike Path, Lake Street, Burlington — a lakefront park on Lake Champlain with a playground and the start of the Burlington Greenway lakeside path; in late fall and winter, a bracing walk with big-sky lake views rather than a swim stop. ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, 1 College Street, Burlington — a lake aquarium and science center right on the waterfront, with Lake Champlain fish, frogs, and hands-on exhibits sized for young children. Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne (about 15 minutes south of Burlington) — a 1,400-acre working farm and National Historic Landmark on Lake Champlain, with walking trails, a farm store with its own cheddar, and, in season (roughly May to October), a children's farmyard where kids can watch milking, collect eggs, and meet farm animals. Outside that season, the walking trails and welcome center stay open year-round — check the farm's own calendar before you go. Shelburne Museum, 6000 Shelburne Road, Shelburne — an outdoor museum across 45 acres with 39 historic buildings, including a 220-foot steamboat, a lighthouse, a schoolhouse, and collections of toys, carriages, and circus pieces; with toddlers, pick three or four buildings and call it a win. Ben and Jerry's Factory, 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury (about 40 minutes east of Burlington, on the drive home) — the factory tour runs about 30 minutes, ends with a tasting, and includes the Flavor Graveyard of retired flavors. Note there is no ice cream production on weekends, and tours are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day — check times before you build the day around it.

Drive Times: Bergen County to Burlington is about 5 hours (roughly 300 miles) via I-87 North through Albany and then I-89 into Vermont. With toddlers, break the drive once — Albany makes a natural halfway stop for lunch and a playground break. In Burlington itself, everything is within a few minutes' drive: Shelburne is 15 minutes south, Waterbury about 40 minutes east. For a long-drive family, consider an overnight split in Albany on the way up if a single 5-hour stretch feels too ambitious.

Where to Stay: Stay downtown near Church Street or the waterfront for walkability. Family hotels in South Burlington, near the interstate, tend to be quieter, easier for parking, and a good value. Whatever you choose, pick a place with free parking and a pool if you can: a pool is a toddler reset button after a day of driving and walking.

Toddler Travel Tips: Do one big thing per half day. Bring a carrier as well as a stroller: farm paths and museum grounds are easier with a carrier for the rough stretches. Pack layers and a windproof jacket: Lake Champlain wind is real, even on a sunny day, and late-fall Vermont is colder than Bergen County. Build in a playground stop every half day. Check seasonal hours before you go: Shelburne Farms' farmyard activities and Shelburne Museum run on seasonal schedules, and winter hours are reduced.

Budget Tips: The lakefront, the bike path, Church Street strolling, and Shelburne Farms' trails are free or low-cost, which balances out factory-tour and museum admission. Eat one nice downtown dinner and keep the other meals casual. Pack a picnic for Shelburne Farms: lake views, farm cheddar from the store, zero restaurant bill. Fill up before the rural stretches: gas stations thin out between Burlington and Waterbury. Burlington works because it never asks kids to just admire things: they meet farm animals, taste ice cream where it is made, and finish the day watching the sun set over a lake bigger than they imagined.