Perkins Pier

Railroad tracks criss cross and a breeze picks up the minute you cross. Trudging through the dirt parking lot, dust swirls and the water glistens in front of you. Off the concrete and onto a grassy pier that juts out into the lake the air feels cooler and less congested as only moments before. Seagulls and pigeons gather in separate groups squawking and flapping, flying up to float in the wind while you pass. Waves slap the giant concrete blocks that act as a water wall for the adjacent benches. As I pass these wooden beams, the sun glows behind them and I think about the otter that zooms around them in the early morning before the afternoons' visitors have arrived.

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Families can easily agree on Perkins Pier as base camp for a day’s adventure around Burlington's waterfront. Kids love romping on the playground’s diverse and challenging equipment; parents admire the postcard setting of sailboats and distant mountains. A city bike path passes through the park, leading for several splendid, shoreline miles in either direction; a boat rental shack offers kayaks and canoes for aquatic explorations. Paddle or simply walk around the piers to one of the picturesque dockside restaurants nearby; or take the day to explore the lake’s sandy beaches and rocky ledges. Whichever direction you’ve wandered, spread a blanket on the lawn near the water upon your return. You’re in one of the best spots in the east to watch the sun go down, so don’t leave until dark.

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