Essex is a town in northeast Vermont adjacent to Burlington. The legal breakdown of cities, towns, and villages gets a bit complicated here, because the village of Essex Junction used to be within the town of Essex. However, in 2022, the village separated from the town and became the city of Essex Junction. Don't worry, locals (probably) won't quiz you on that. Essex Junction is functionally the downtown area of Essex, so you'll likely be spending most of your time in the local cafés and shops in Essex Junction.
Essex is a fantastic place for nature lovers and outdoorsy people, due to mountain biking trails on Saxon Hill and idyllic fishing on Colchester Pond. Many of Essex's parks have pools and ponds, too. Aside from the impressive parks, trails, and natural areas, you can also check out the Vermont National Guard Library & Museum and Fort Ethan Allen Museum for some local history.
Essex is known for having a vibrant scene for foodies, and beer lovers frequent the many brewing companies and brewpubs. Go all out with the cooking classes and incredible restaurants at the Essex Resort and Spa, set against the idyllic Green Mountains.
The Essex Amtrak station is one of the last stops on the Amtrak Vermonter route from Washington, D.C. Taking the train to Essex is a breeze whether you're traveling from Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York. Essex Junction is located within five miles of the Burlington International Airport and shares VTrans local transportation with the rest of Vermont. Green Mountain Transit also provides transportation services to Essex.
