Sheraton Burlington Hotel And Conference Center Review

Review of the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, VT


The Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center is located right off of I-89, which gives it a very convenient location for exploring beyond Burlington.  And for when you want to explore the city of Burlington, its location is quite beneficial as well.  It is located right next to the University of Vermont campus and only 2 miles from Church Street, the main hub of Burlington.  


The hotel staff is very friendly and the housekeeping staff did an excellent job of keeping the room clean before and during our stay.  I must note though that the hallways are definitely showing their age and can use some maintenance.  While this can be an eyesore while walking through the hotel, it really doesn't affect your stay much.  The room itself was in great shape and the lobby, pool, restaurant and computer center were all comfortable and clean.  


We did eat dinner one night in the restaurant of the hotel, Tuckaways, and the food was pretty good and reasonably priced.  It's mostly your typical hotel bar/restaurant, but comfortable and a good choice if you're too tired to go out at night after exploring Vermont during the day.


There's ample parking available and the outdoor grounds are kept clean.  This is a hotel we would definitely stay in again and we would recommend to others, especially if you can get a good price on it at a place like Priceline, which is what we did.  Our nightly rate was $80, and this hotel is a really good value for that price.

Penny Cluse Cafe

We first discovered the Penny Cluse Cafe in Food Network Magazine.  Earlier this year they were running a special article on the best breakfasts in each state in America and the Penny Cluse Cafe won the award for Vermont.  The specific menu item mentioned in the article was the Ginger Pancakes, so of course we had to give that a try.  It was a wise decision as they were quite delicious and also very unique.  The restaurant is located right off of the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, so it's very easy to get to.  If you stop for one place for breakfast in Burlington, this is the place to stop.

Church Street

Located centrally in Burlington is the Church Street Marketplace, which is a pedestrian only walkway.  Parking on the street around the area was pretty easy for us to find, even on a Saturday night, which is quite convenient for most tourists.

Here, you'll find many local restaurants and shops featuring all different types of food.  Our personal favorite was the Three Tomatoes Trattoria.  They use all local and fresh ingredients and made one of the best Chicken Piccatta's I've ever had.  There's also a Ben & Jerry's located here for you ice cream fanatics.  My favorite part of Church Street is that it isn't just a bunch of "chain" stores.  It really gives you that local flair which made us quite happy.  Honestly, who wants to go on vacation and eat the same thing they can get at home?

There are also street performers here, which are free of charge for their entertainment (although tips are obviously appreciated).  We saw one who did a comedy/fire show that concluded with him jumping through a hoop of fire.

If you're in Burlington, you definitely should spend some time on Church Street!

Spirit Of Ethan Allen III Cruise

Leaving from port in Burlington, the Spirit of Ethan Allen III Cruise offers spectacular views of Lake Champlain and the land surrounding it.  Throughout the cruise, a recorded audio plays over the loudspeakers giving the passengers a history lesson of both Burlington and Lake Champlain.  However, the highlight comes from the gorgeous views that you'll see as you make a big circle around the lake.  The tour is only one hour in length, and features both indoor and outdoor seating to allow you to be comfortable for the varying seasons.

The general sight-seeing cruise will run you $12/person, but they do have other options available that include food.  This is a tour we'd recommend if you're in Burlington during the months they operate as you'll get a great view of Lake Champlain in a very relaxing setting.

ECHO Lake Aquarium

Located right on Lake Champlain in Burlington is the ECHO Lake Aquarium.  This aquarium is small on size, but for children it has plenty of entertainment value.  For each exhibit they make fun little games or activities for children to participate in.  For adults, you'll get to see various sea-life animals, but it definitely pales in comparison to some of the larger aquariums in the country.  We'd definitely recommend this place for anyone travelling with children, but if it's just adults, you'll probably find other stuff in the area you'll find more enjoyable.