[purdue512]

A few practical (possibly stupid) questions:

1) Can anyone comment on the quality of the public schools in Burlington?
2) What companies offer high-speed Internet service?
3) Do people talk about how gray it is in Burlington like they do all over Western / Upstate NY?
4) Is there a Windsurfing / Kiteboarding club on the lake?

Thx

[Lisa Arrow]

Our family is contemplating a move to the Burlington area. From what we've read, it seems to be quite a liberal community, which I like. However, I also understand there are a lot of gun-toting folks in Vermont which, in my experience, is more of a conservative thing. Heck, apparently you don't even need a permit to carry one, which I still can't believe!

How pervasive is the gun culture in Vermont? If everyone has guns and they are part of the local culture, that would freak me out. Am I going to see dead animals strapped to cars at every turn along the highway or trophy heads hanging inside every restaurant? Am I going to have to worry that if I dare honk at someone who's not paying attention to their driving that they might whip out a Smith and Wesson and take me out? If so, I could never live there. Someone please shed some light on this subject. The only guns I want in my life are my old "Guns and Roses" CDs.

[tkln]

Burlington is probably a bit different, but you can be sure that around the rest of the state, everyone has guns. You probably won't get a Smith and Wesson pointed at you if you honk at someone but hunting is a huge part of life in Vermont (and most rural areas in the country) and if you don't like seeing animals strapped to roofs of cars, you might want to rethink moving there.

I live in NYC, but one of my favorite things to do when we go up is to hang out at the local gun shop...having liberal gun laws makes Vermont tops on my fiancé's list of where to live (he's a Marine)...if you don't want to see or hear about guns, Burlington is probably your only option in Vermont.

[purdue512]

I think there is a big difference between rural and downtown Burlington. I don't live there, so this is conjecture. But the city of Burlington seems a little more metropolitan (maybe that's a little strong). I would guess that 5 minutes in any direction and you would be in the country.

[chaz longue]

As a lifelong Burlington area (Chittenden County) resident, I can offer reassurance: during deer season you may, very occasionally, see dead deer on cars in the far outlying towns. Very rarely in Chittenden County. In Burlington you'll never be aware of guns. In fact, you'll never be aware of guns in most of Chittenden County at any time of year, with the possible exception of a deer sighting during deer season. Your impression of Burlington as "liberal" and cosmopolitan won't be contradicted by the local attitude toward guns.

Originally Posted by Lisa Arrow

Our family is contemplating a move to the Burlington area. From what we've read, it seems to be quite a liberal community, which I like. However, I also understand there are a lot of gun-toting folks in Vermont which, in my experience, is more of a conservative thing. Heck, apparently you don't even need a permit to carry one, which I still can't believe!

How pervasive is the gun culture in Vermont? If everyone has guns and they are part of the local culture, that would freak me out. Am I going to see dead animals strapped to cars at every turn along the highway or trophy heads hanging inside every restaurant? Am I going to have to worry that if I dare honk at someone who's not paying attention to their driving that they might whip out a Smith and Wesson and take me out? If so, I could never live there. Someone please shed some light on this subject. The only guns I want in my life are my old "Guns and Roses" CDs.

[chaz longue]

1) I'd say the quality of the public schools is good to excellent here in the Burlington area. But have a look at this for a detailed overview.
Vermont Department of Education School Report

2) Burlington now has a municipal (city owned) telecom outfit called, well, Burlington Telecom. And our (Republican) governor is on a mission to get all Vermonters high speed internet access...

3) Yes. Although I'm not among them

4) There's a lot of windsurfing etc etc etc here. Clubs per se, I'm not sure about...but it would surprise me if there weren't clubs...

Originally Posted by purdue512

A few practical (possibly stupid) questions:

1) Can anyone comment on the quality of the public schools in Burlington?
2) What companies offer high-speed Internet service?
3) Do people talk about how gray it is in Burlington like they do all over Western / Upstate NY?
4) Is there a Windsurfing / Kiteboarding club on the lake?

Thx

[Suzet2262]

Hey Chaz, is there anyway that I can get a magazine or something that has listings of all the homes in Southern Vermont sent to my home? Is there a site that I can go to, to order something like that? I have a bunch of websites that I go to, to look for homes, but I would like to see something in the flesh so to speak. Thanks, Suzette

[FleeingOhioASAP]

Originally Posted by Suzet2262

Hey Chaz, is there anyway that I can get a magazine or something that has listings of all the homes in Southern Vermont sent to my home? Is there a site that I can go to, to order something like that? I have a bunch of websites that I go to, to look for homes, but I would like to see something in the flesh so to speak. Thanks, Suzette

Any reply on that Suzette? I am interested in the same for SW Vt and also Burlington area (sites to register to receive them, not realtor assistance)...THANKS

[slavetothesoaps]

What's the weather like in Burlington? My husband and I are looking to relocate and he's intrigued by Burlington (thanks to Outside Magazine). I went to Dartmouth in Hanover NH and I FROZE for 4 excruciatingly long years (and I'm from NYC, not Florida). Is it like that? Like you get snow from Thanksgiving thru Easter? Or has global warming had an effect since my college years, which ended in 1984?

[FleeingOhioASAP]

Originally Posted by slavetothesoaps

What's the weather like in Burlington? My husband and I are looking to relocate and he's intrigued by Burlington (thanks to Outside Magazine). I went to Dartmouth in Hanover NH and I FROZE for 4 excruciatingly long years (and I'm from NYC, not Florida). Is it like that? Like you get snow from Thanksgiving thru Easter? Or has global warming had an effect since my college years, which ended in 1984?

I did a net search on "weather stats Burlington" and ended up back here, lol, so here's the info for you:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/vermo...l-weather.html