Montreal to Burlington VT, USA: A Day Trip 🚗

Montreal to Burlington VT, USA: A Day Trip 🚗 It’s just over an hour’s drive from Montreal’s West Island to the US border, and crossing into the country was so smooth it was hard to believe! Clearing customs in a minute—seriously, it couldn’t have been easier～ 😎 🛂 Border Crossing Tips There are two border checkpoints. Highly recommend taking the smaller one on holidays (address: 6 QC-225, Noyan, QC J0J 1B0)! It was super quiet—we drove right up to the window, and the US border agent only asked, “Why are you here?” I said, “Just a day trip～” and we were waved through immediately. The whole process was as smooth as silk～ 🍫 🌎 Little Changes After Crossing the Border As soon as we crossed, things felt different! Google Maps switched to miles instantly, and there were “Only English” signs everywhere (oddly comforting, for some reason～) 🇺🇸 The biggest surprise? The roads! They were perfectly smooth, no potholes at all. I joked with my friend, “It’s just as cold here as in Canada, so why are the roads here so nice?” My friend laughed, “Maybe because the US has more money?” Hahaha, I couldn’t argue with that 😀 🗓️ Full Day Trip Itinerary 📍 First Stop: Waterfront Park We got lucky with free parking at the park! Just as we arrived, a 12 PM cruise was about to depart, so we splurged $52 on tickets～ 🚢 The price even included brunch, and though window seats are supposed to be pricier, we scored one—total luck! ✨ Brunch was a buffet. They started with a fruit drink and blueberry cake to whet our appetites, but the main dishes were just so-so. The 20% service charge stung a bit, though～ The cruise was an hour and a half. After eating, we went up to the deck to enjoy the view—sparkling water, cute houses along the shore. Pure relaxation, we didn’t want to leave～ 🌊 🍦 Second Stop: Viral Ice Cream at Ben & Jerry's We followed the GPS to Burlington downtown, but finding parking was a nightmare! Paid spots needed US apps or coins, and we had neither～ Luckily, we found free parking in a nearby neighborhood—such a relief, I almost cried 😭 The shop was packed! The line stretched from inside to the street—definitely lived up to the hype～ We watched Americans (all so cute and cozy-looking) with giant chocolate cones, while we got small sizes. Honestly, the ice cream was just okay—I still don’t get why it’s so popular 🤷‍♀️ 🛍️ Third Stop: Church Street Marketplace It’s just the pedestrian street where the ice cream shop is. Super simple and low-key—comparing it to Montreal’s pedestrian streets is like comparing a “village store” to a “downtown mall.” Big difference～ We wandered a bit and left～ 🚶 🧸 Fourth Stop: Teddy Bear Factory (My Favorite!) It’s a 25-minute drive from the . They close at 4 PM on Sundays, and we arrived with only 15 minutes left—so close to missing it! Walking in, I was instantly charmed～ Every teddy bear was fluffy and adorable, I wanted to buy them all 🥰 I picked two cute ones, and the staff was lovely—gave me 15% off and even gave me little cards to name my bears～ ☺️ Best part? She said they offer “lifetime warranty”—if they break, send them back for repairs. They’re pricey, but the service makes it worth it, so ～ 💕 😮‍💨 Minor Regret We forgot to get gas in the US! We thought there’d be gas stations near the border, but we were wrong—had to fill up back in Canada～ Kinda sad we didn’t get to see how cheap US gas is, but oh well～ On the way back to Canada, the border agent asked us to open the back window to check our purchases. I said, “Just two teddy bears!” and we sailed through. Perfect end to the day! #Burlington#Vermont#MontrealArea#USDayTrip#CrossBorderTravel