When people think of Vermont as a vacation spot they typically think of winters full of snow sports, and fall foliage tours, but summer is a great time to visit Vermont. Whether you're looking for some sunshine, sports, activities, or just some shopping, Vermont summers have something to offer you.

You won't find mega-malls in the Green Mountain State, what you'll find a beautiful outdoor marketplaces. Vermont's most famous is Burlington's Church Street Marketplace. Church Street is a pedestrian-only brick promenade aligned with specialty shops, locally owned stores, national chains, and a mall that miraculously fits right in due to the fact that it stretches back and away from the street instead of down it.

On Burlington's Church Street you'll also find a variety of restaurants. There are coffee shops, deli's, pizza joints, casual sit-down eateries, and upscale, fine-dining, establishments. You'll find pub fare, Italian, Japanese, seafood, and good ol' American cuisine.

After your dinner, lunch, or shopping it's a short walk down to Burlington's beautiful waterfront on Lake Champlain. If you've saved your appetite you can dine at the Boathouse or picnic on the green. Otherwise, enjoy a walk on the boardwalk, sit on the benches, take a cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen, then take the kids to the Echo Center science museum to learn about Lake Champlain and the creatures that inhabit it.

No, Vermont doesn't have any major league sports teams. But, Burlington is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters, a minor-league baseball team. Tucked into a quiet neighborhood, Centennial Field is a great place to catch a baseball game, and see the Expos mascot Champ (named after Lake Champlain's famous monster).

If you love the outdoors, then you'll really enjoy Vermont summers. Vermont is home to countless hiking trails, the most notorious being the Long Trail. The Long Trail is 272 miles long and traverses most of the peaks of the Green Mountains, and runs virtually the whole state north-to-south. The Appalachian Trail joins with the Long Trail for over a hundred miles. If you're brave, try to tackle it, you'll be among elite company since only about 150 complete it each year.

There are numerous shorter hiking trails (phew!) and plenty of mountains to climb. Vermont's tallest is Mount Mansfield at 4393 feet. To start your journey up, head down route 15 to the town of Underhill.

Another good climb is Camel's Hump. The popular Burrows Trail will take you on a two-and-a-half mile journey.

Of course there are plenty of places to bike as well. Walking and biking paths are enjoyed by Vermonters, so you'll find them in Burlington, Stowe and Killington.

Other things to do in Vermont in the summer are go down the Alpine Slide, fish, sail on Lake Champlain, catch a play in the many theaters.

Don't miss out on Vermont festivals. State restaurants gather at the Vermont Choo-Choo on Burlington's waterfront to let you sample their fares. Also in Burlington is the Discover Jazz Festival. Every county in Vermont has a fair in the summer with rides and activities. Enosburg offers the Vermont Dairy Festival every year in June.

Also for music lovers, every summer advanced classical music students travel to Marlboro for summer music courses. On weekends during the seven-weeks of training the students perform for the public.

As you can see, Vermont is more than just skiing and leaf-peeping. Come and enjoy our beautiful state. Bring good sneakers, some spending money, your love of the arts and your appetite!