Sit, Stay, and Play at Lake Champlain, Vermont
- Luie Boone
- Apr 16
- 4 min read
This vacation destination is a part of our first series of blog posts titled Pooches Polite.
If you're planning a vacation with your four-legged best friend, few places offer the kind of charm, natural beauty, and dog-friendly energy that Lake Champlain and its surrounding Vermont towns do. Notable towns include Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Shelburne, South Burlington, Grand Isle, North Hero, South Hero, Isle La Motte, Alburgh, Addison, Ferrisburgh, and Panton.
These lakeside towns offer a mix of small-town charm, scenic outdoor escapes, and welcoming spaces for both you and your pup to relax, roam, and reconnect with nature. Whether you're hiking through forested trails, paddling along the lake, or grabbing a bite at a local café, you and your pooch will feel right at home in this scenic slice of New England.
This region is a paradise for pups and their people alike—great for wild runs and muddy paws, relaxing by the water, and chasing joy (plus the occasional squirrel or duck, of course).
So leash up, explore at your own pace, and make memories that’ll have tails wagging.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Lake Champlain, Vermont. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Shore Acres
This rental has 3 bedrooms with 4 beds and 2 baths
Photos courtesy of Vacasa LLC
It features the following amenities:
Is situated at the northern tip of Isle La Motte on the shores of Lake Champlain
Has a 70 foot seasonal dock (Luie Boone wonders how much speed he can get, running down the dock into the water. That'll be a big splash!)
Private 200 feet of lakefront with a large ramp, which your pup can use to gently walk into the water (If your pup allows it, maybe you can use it, too.)
Sun-splashed deck for barbecues on the gas grill
Large, shaded, fenced-in yard, which your dog will enjoy playing in
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
My humans want to stay at this pawsome vacation lakefront home at the very tip of Isle La Motte. It looks to be a doggy paradise! Inside the house, it appears to be all shiny and new—maybe not even one old sock to sniff! But that’s okay, because it looks super comfy. There’s giant windows to watch squirrels from, and every bedroom has it's own TV. I don’t get it, but it makes my humans happy. The kitchen, I bet it will always smell delicious, and I will always help with cleanup in case any crumbs fall. Crumbs better fall. Outside, the yard is huge and flat—perfect for zoomies. The yard ends at the private lakefront. There's even a big ramp that makes it super easy for me to wade into the water. No belly flops necessary, but I'm sure they'll happen. I just can't help myself. I will love watching my humans paddle around in kayaks and canoes. Sometimes I will bark at them from the dock, because I want to join in (and tip those suckers over). For water pups like me, this place is heaven!
Paws Venture Here
Oakledge Park
Nestled along the shores of Lake Champlain is Oakledge Park, where you can bring your buddy to enjoy beautiful waterfront views and walking trails.
Niquette Bay State Park Trail
Rover will enjoy this 3.4-mile loop trail along the northeastern shore of Lake Champlains and the larger Malletts Bay. It has a scenic, rocky, and sandy shoreline.
East Woods Natural Area
This is a 40-acre natural area with mixed hardwood and a conifer forest, where you and your pooch can explore a 1-mile hilly loop trail.
Mt. Philo State Park
Your best friend can join you for a hike at this 168-acre park that overlooks the Lake Champlain Valley.
Apple Island Marina
Bring Fido out for a relaxing day on Lake Champlain with a rental from the Apple Island Marina. Luie Boone wonders where Apple Island is and what type of apples they got. Hopefully, the tasty ones!
Texaco Beach
Take your pooch down to enjoy the lake at Burlington's Dog Beach—Texaco Beach.
Camp Ingalls Butternut Hill Natural Area
At Camp Ingalls Butternut Hill Natural Area, you can bring your canine companion for a hike along a mile-long trail through floodplains, forests, and cedar pines that leads to a shale beach on Lake Champlain.
Burlington Bay Market & Cafe
Market and cafe serving sandwiches, salads, coffee, and creemees, including doggie "ice cream" and treats. Yummy, yummy, yummy, Luie Boone loves some vanilla ice cream.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Lake Champlain, Vermont.
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
If dogs could talk, there’s no doubt they'd have a lot to say about squirrels, belly rubs, and why you shouldn't trust the vacuum. But there's one mystery that would definitely get their tails wagging and ears perked: Champ the Mysterious Creature of Lake Champlain. For generations, humans have told stories of Vermont's mysterious lake monster, often described as a serpent-like creature. While humans argue over the stories, a pack of curious, loyal, and highly sniff-driven creatures have their own take. Dogs would surely have their own thoughts on Champ if they could speak. And honestly? They might be closer to the truth than humans are. Because if there’s anyone who knows how to sniff out a mystery—it’s a dog. So if you’re by Lake Champlain and your pup perks up, pause for a moment! Maybe they’re sensing something beneath the surface… or maybe they just want to go swimming. Either way, trust your dog!
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