by Elizabeth Blankenship

Created on: May 29, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2010

It's an enigma, world's biggest fish or Champ to most people. Whatever you call it doesn't really matter. Lake Champlain's Monster has been attracting scores of visitors to Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT for many years. Samuel de Champlain came upon the lake in 1609 and noted a "20 foot serpent, with a horse shaped head, and body as thick as a keg." Through the years over three hundred people have had chance encounters with Champy.

You could be the next Lake Champlain visitor to have a lake monster sighting. Bring your camera and video recorder! The best way to encourage your own chance encounter with Champy is to hop on one of the many fun boat tours offered on Lake Champlain.

Lake Champlain offers a wide selection of cruises from Dinner, Lake Monster, Shipwreck, and quick ferry rides between Vermont and New York. Taking a boat tour is a right of passage for many Lake Champlain Visitors. Here are some fun things to do on Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT, the next time you visit.

Lake Champlain Boat Tours:

Northern Lights Lake Champlain Boat Tours(www.lakechamplaincruises.com) ~ Was recently rated one of "35 Things To Do This Summer" by Yankee magazine. They offer Dinner cruises, Daily cruises and a really cool Lake Monster Cruise. Rates are reasonable, ranging around $7.00 for children and up to $17.00 for an adult to enjoy the Lake Monster Cruise. Dinner and Brunch Cruises will run you around $40.00 or $30.00, which is still very reasonable since you will be enjoy a great meal. The boat ride will pay for it's self when you capture a great picture of Lake Champlain's reputed lake monster!

shipwreck tour.com (http://www.shipwrecktour.com/) ~ Offers an inexpensive and truly unique way to explore and learn about various ship wrecks found in Lake Champlain. Book a one hour tour out of Perkins Bay, and travel to a real shipwreck. Once there you will learn about the wreck, next a ROV (remotely operated vehicle) is deployed. You get to explore the shipwreck via a screen while safely aboard your ship, and become a part of the exploration process. You book the time, and rates run around $18.oo per person.

Ticonderoga Ferry (http://www.middlebury.net/tiferry/) ~ Was established in 1759, and has been shuttling Lake Champlain visitors back and forth between Ticonderoga, NY and Shorham, VT for many years. No trip to Lake Champlain is complete until you have taken the quick 7 minute ferry ride across the lake. Save gas, time and lots of money! The Ferry ride will cost around $8.00 for a car, and $2.00 for a bicycle.

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