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Tour Lake
Champlain on the Spirit of Ethan Allen II
On a recent trip to Burlington Vermont, a
stop at the Burlington Boathouse brought us to the Spirit of
Ethan Allen II.
This three level luxury cruise ship with two
enclosed decks and top deck provides an excellent
opportunity to explore the shores of Lake Champlain.
Up to 500 passengers can enjoy a variety of tours offered
from a 1 1/2 hour scenic tour, to lunch, dinner and Sunday
Brunch Cruises. Special themed cruises are also
offered including Murder Mystery Dinner, Hawaiian Luau,
Sunset Dinner and "Lobstah"-On-The-Lake.
We opted for the 1 1/2 scenic narrated
cruise and choose the upper deck as our vantage point.
It was a bright sunny d ay
and the view was spectacular with both the Green Mountains
of Vermont and the Appalachians of New York in the
background adding to the scenery.
The narration began as soon as we left the
dock with details about the Burlington Harbor break wall and
continued to expand on the history of the original Spirit of
Ethan Allen and the role of Lake Champlain in early American
history.
We kept a watchful eye out for the resident
lake monster "Champ" which, apparently has been
seen by passengers of the Spirit of Ethan Allan.
The scenic cruise also took us south towards
the Shelburne Peninsula, where we viewed the Shelburne
Marina, where the famous "Ticonderoga" displayed
at the Shelburne Museum
was built.
Still operating today, this Marina also
looks after the Spirit of Ethan Allen during it's scheduled
maintenance.
As you begin the return to Burlington
Harbor, a fantastic view of the City accompanies the
narrator's story of many of the famous people and buildings
of Burlington, Vermont and the Burlington University.
The Scenic 1 1/2 Narrated Cruise is offered
daily from May 19 to October 14
and departs from the Burlington Boathouse at 10:00, 12:00,
2:00, 4:00. Adults are $8.95and Children 3 to 11
are $3.95. Reservations are not usually necessary for
this cruise, but reservations are required for any of the
dinner and themed cruises.
It is a good idea to
call ahead in case the Spirit is booked for a charter or the
weather causes a cancellation in service.
The cruise provided us
with an enjoyable way to learn more about the history of
Burlington and explore the "West Coast of
Vermont".
For more information on
the Ethan Allen II go to Vermont Family
Attractions
For information on Hotels and Resorts
in Vermont go to Vermont Hotels and
Resorts For information on Ski Resorts in
Vermont go to Vermont Ski Resorts.
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