If you are in the Burlington area, Burlington's North Beach on Lake Champlain just north of Burlington is an excellent family spot where your kids can safely have a good time and you can relax. The beach is large and the water is shallow for a long way out. There are plenty of picnic tables, grills and two playgrounds in a large grassy area. The parking lot is a fair distance from the beach, which also contributes, to the relaxing conditions and of course there is usually plenty of other kids to swim and play with. Also North Beach is right on the waterfront bike path, see Blue Map. If you don't have bikes there are several places to rent some for kids and adults. Some bike rentals even offer bike taxis for toddlers or pull alongs for preschoolers.

Another Burlington spot to set up family "base camp" is the Community Boathouse along Burlington's waterfront. There is the ECHO Science center, a first class children's museum, see Blue Map attractions for further information. From here you can also rent boats of all natures see Blue Map recreation, go on a cruse, see Blue Map attractions. The waterfront bike path also runs right through this area and bike rentals are right there along the bike path in town. When you area ready to eat there are plenty of family restaurants and waterfront snack bars to choose or you can picnic on the huge grassy promenade. You can even hop on a train for a scenic 2. 5 hour round trip ride down to Middlebury.

Many of the beaches along Lake Champlain are family friendly for further information see listings in the swimming section. Additionally the hikes close to Lake Champlain listed in the directory are all easy and suitable for children of all ages. The Stowe, Smuggler's Notch and Mad River Valley areas in Vermont are all renowned as outstanding four season family destination spots. Across Lake Champlain in New York the Lake Placid region is equally well known as a year round place that caters to families.

Most of the places in the Attractions and Recreation Blue Map listings are ideally suited for families. Most of these listings show web sites for further information . Use the Blue Map web site for hot links to any listing with a web site.