Church Street Marketplace is an outdoor plaza flanked by shops, restaurants and cafés. The pedestrianized area is the lively heart of Burlington, where festivals and events take place. Get a sense of the local region by chatting to vendors and fellow travelers in this fashionable zone.

Browse some of the more than 100 stores that make up this open-air mall. Purchase books, home goods and clothing, among other items. Relax in a café and watch people walking by. Enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants with tables set up on the sidewalk. Note that many of the restaurants and shops occupy some of the city’s oldest buildings.

Inspect the varied pieces of art in the Firehouse Gallery and the Pine Street Art Works. A large outdoor mural depicts Vermont celebrities from history and modern days. Attend some of the events taking place in the shopping plaza during the year, such as the South End Art Hop. Capture photos of street entertainers, cart vendors and artists that liven up the boulevard.

Have a picnic with your family in the adjoining City Hall Park. Wander through the Church Street Historic District to see some of the oldest buildings in the city. These include Burlington City Hall, the Masonic Temple and Richardson Place. Appreciate the range of architectural styles, with art deco, Italianate and Queen Anne styles prominent in this quarter.

Note that the marketplace originated as a street fair in the early 1970s, before developing into the upscale shopping boulevard of today. Enter the plaza for free. Its shops open daily from morning until early evening.

Church Street Marketplace occupies the central square of Burlington. Arrive by bus at one of the stops surrounding the shopping area. Visit nearby attractions, such as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Montstream Studio and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.