Lake Champlain, Connecticut River deserves national recognition

The Green Mountain State is known for its natural beauty, from beautiful fall foliage to glistening snow-capped peaks in winter.

But did you know that Vermont’s rivers and lakes are also exemplary?

Two bodies of water in Vermont – Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River – are in the running for national recognition this summer as part of USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

Lake Champlain is in the running for best lake overall and best lake for water sports, while the Connecticut River, which runs through Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, is vying for recognition as best river for fly fishing.

Experts in their respective fields, along with USA Today’s top 10 editors, selected 20 finalists for each category, representing more than 30 states in total.

The judges praised Lake Champlain for its proximity to Burlington, which they described as a “charming” city ripe for “urban exploration” and water activities such as kayaking, boating, water skiing, tubing and wakeboarding. The Connecticut River – New England’s largest river at more than 400 miles long – was prized for its abundant trout and salmon populations.

The prize winners will be chosen through a popular vote, which ends on Wednesday, June 12 at 12 noon. Readers may vote once every 24 hours.

How is Vermont doing in the polls so far?

Right now, Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River desperately need votes.

As of May 14, Lake Champlain ranks 7th for best lakes overall and 12th for best lakes for water sports. The Connecticut River ranks 18th in fly fishing.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Lake Champlain, Connecticut river among the best bodies of water in Vermont