15 College Towns That Feel Like Stepping Directly into a Hallmark Movie

11. Burlington, Vermont (University of Vermont)

Overlooking Lake Champlain and shadowed by the Green Mountains, Burlington is Vermont in full technicolor. Church Street hums with musicians, farmers’ markets spill into alleyways, and local shops smell of balsam and baked goods. Winter brings snowflakes and cider, summer brings sun-soaked lakeside strolls. It’s equal parts earthy and eclectic—where you can buy organic kale, a vintage record, and a handmade scarf all in one block. The pace is gentle, the people are kind, and the charm feels earned, not curated. Burlington isn’t trying to impress—it’s just being itself. And that’s enough.