ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

This is a nice center. It exhibits are interesting to all age groups. We learned a lot about the Lake. I enjoyed how most of the interactive exhibits were fun to play with for little ones but still had just enough complexity for adults to want to play also.

Before entering, we were worried the museum was too kid-targeted, and that we would not be entertained. Boy were we wrong! We ended up staying 5.5 hours, fully participating in all of the numerous interactive activities. We definitely could have stayed longer. We even got to speak with some of the employees as they fed some of the reptiles at the end of the day, and they were all so lovely and talkative. In addition, the “resource center” on the top floor was chock full of substance, which alone could have constituted the whole visit: do not skip!! A really lovely place, could not recommend more; great for everyone.

I recently visited ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, and it was such a fun and enriching experience—especially if you have little ones. I went on a weekday and there was no wait at all, which made things so much smoother. The center is incredibly family-friendly, with three engaging floors of exhibits that are mostly interactive and hands-on. My toddler was completely absorbed in the engineering area on the first floor, which had enough space and materials for multiple kids to explore and build. The third floor was another highlight, with water play stations, science experiments, and even a cozy little library. Some sections were under renovation during our visit, but there was still plenty to see and do. We caught a live eel feeding demo—not the most thrilling part, but still interesting to watch. The mini café and market-style setup added a nice touch, giving it a warm, local feel. I also really appreciated the solar panel structure in the parking lot—it provides shade and promotes clean energy, which I found genuinely cool. Parking isn’t free ($3/hour via ParkMobile), but it’s manageable. The gift shop had some lovely books and toys as well. Overall, it’s a great place to spend a few hours learning, playing, and making memories. Highly recommended!