Summer Escape to Vermont: A Chill Getaway Every NYU Student Needs

New York summers hit different — and not in a good way. When the city starts feeling like a sweaty armpit and you’re seriously considering drinking iced coffee as a meal, it’s time to get out.

Enter: Vermont. Green, calm, and only a few hours away, Vermont is the perfect reset button for burnt-out NYU students who need to breathe real air again (you know, the kind without "subway steam" in it).

Getting There

Getting to Vermont from NYC is pretty painless. You can hop on a Greyhound or Megabus to Burlington for around $30–$40 one way. If you have a few friends to split costs with, renting a car is even better — about 4–5 hours driving, depending on which part of Vermont you’re hitting.

I took a bus up to Burlington, the college town by the lake that low-key feels like it belongs in a coming-of-age movie.

Where I Stayed

Burlington is full of affordable places to crash, especially if you book early or don't mind living that hostel life.I stayed at the Burlington Hostel — about $45 a night, right downtown, walking distance from basically everything: cafés, Lake Champlain, and farmers' markets.

If you want to be even more out in nature, Vermont has a ton of Airbnbs that are cute, rustic, and way cheaper than anything you'd find near Central Park.

What I Did

Explored Downtown Burlington:Church Street Marketplace is basically the heartbeat of Burlington — car-free, full of local shops, thrift stores, cute bookshops, and cafés where you can sit outside and pretend you're a mysterious poet.

Chilled at Lake Champlain:I spent half a day just lying by the water, reading, eating snacks from the farmers' market, and occasionally pretending I was outdoorsy enough to rent a kayak (you can for about $25 for a few hours, if you want to live your "floating into the sunset" dreams).

Day Trip to Stowe and Mount Mansfield:One day we Ubered (or you can rent a car) to Stowe, about 45 minutes away — it’s pure Vermont postcard vibes. If you’re feeling brave (or caffeinated), hike Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest peak. If you're not that girl, just ride the Stowe Gondola Skyride — the views at the top are unreal, and you still get your mountain selfie without collapsing.

Hit the Farmers Markets: Burlilengton’s Saturday farmers' market is next level — fresh maple syrup, handmade jewelry, $4 cinnamon rolls bigger than your face. Plus, it’s free to wander, and most vendors love to chat. Vermont energy is very “chill and kind.”

Why Vermont is Elite for Students

• Affordable: You don’t need Paris money to eat well, explore, and crash somewhere clean.

• Close: No flight stress, no TSA lines, no overpriced airport sandwiches.

• Peaceful: Your brain will finally stop buzzing after living in NYC chaos. You might even remember what quiet sounds like.

Final Takeaway

Vermont is not about rushing around, checking things off a list, or flexing on Instagram (though you will accidentally get dreamy sunset shots). It’s about slowing down.Touching grass — literally. Eating maple-flavoured everything. And remembering that life doesn’t always have to be a sprint.

If you’re stuck in New York this summer, take a weekend and breathe in some fresh Vermont air.

You’ll come back feeling like a better version of yourself — slightly sunburned, full of farmers' market food, and way more grounded.