We love breaking up serious sightseeing with a healthy dose of the delightfully absurd, and Burlington, Vermont, does not disappoint. On a recent trip, we tracked down two of the city’s best Burlington Roadside Attractions—plus a necessary maple creemee run—proving that sometimes, the best sights are the ones that make you scratch your head and smile.
in this post:
The World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet
Our first stop was purely for the photo-op: the so-called “World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet.” We drove right by it, twice. It is located in a parking lot on the corner of Champlain Parkway and Flynn Avenue. This towering metal stack is officially titled “File Under So. Co., Waiting for…” and is truly an icon of bureaucratic frustration turned into art.
- Local artist Bren Alvarez constructed this sculpture, which features 38 stacked filing cabinets. Each drawer symbolizes a year of red tape associated with the ridiculously long-delayed “Southern Connector” road project he was working on (first proposed in 1965!).
- Standing over 40 feet tall (even taller now, thanks to a pedestal added during a recent relocation), it’s a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek commentary on government delays.
- This creation was built in 2002 and moved about 100 yards down the road to its current location in 2020. A steel rod keeps it standing upright.
Whether it’s actually the world’s tallest is debatable, but none have such a perfectly sarcastic backstory. It’s a definite must-stop for a quick giggle and a great photo.
The Burlington Earth Clock: Our Mini-Stonehenge
Next up, we sought out the Burlington Earth Clock at Oakledge Park. This sculpture, built from 14 massive granite stones, is essentially a monumental sundial and stone circle with serious mini-Stonehenge vibes right on Lake Champlain.
- It Tells Time (If the Sun Cooperates!): The massive, 43-foot-wide circle acts as a clock, compass, and calendar. You stand on the date line in the center, and your shadow is supposed to tell the time — And it did!
- Lake View Bonus: The clock sits right off the Burlington Bike Path and offers lovely views of Lake Champlain—a perfect spot for a contemplative moment.
The Essential Vermont Indulgence Stops – Ice Cream
After chasing giant filing cabinets and human sundials, we needed a sugary reward worthy of the Green Mountain State. You absolutely cannot go to Vermont and skip a creemee—Vermont’s version of soft serve that’s extra creamy. We went to Champ’s Legendary Creemee Stand right on the waterfront, where all proceeds support the ECHO science and nature museum. (you do have to pay for your ice cream)
I’m a vanilla gal, Justin likes chocolate, so it was hard to commit to the local flavor: Maple Syrup. But we did try it. It’s the quintessential Vermont treat: pure, rich maple flavor swirled into a perfect cone. It was a sweet ending to our Burlington sightseeing loop!
Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour (A Short Drive Away)
If you have an extra hour and a sweet tooth that knows no bounds, hop in the car for the easy drive to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury. We went here on a different day, but didn’t plan ahead and the tours were sold out for the day, so we just got ice cream. Be prepared — tickets are released 2 weeks in advance and may sell out quickly.
- The $6 admission gets you a fun, 30-minute guided tour where you learn about the company’s history, peek at the manufacturing floor (though production isn’t guaranteed), and, most importantly, get a free sample of the Flavor of the Day!
- Even if you skip the tour, the Flavor Graveyard outside is a must-see. It features hilarious “tombstones” for all the beloved, “dearly de-pinted” flavors that have been discontinued over the years. It was fun to walk around and read the names of the ice creams.
All in all, Burlington had some quirky roadside attractions that filled our morning. Click here to read about my favorite two places to eat on this trip.