If you are among the combined 10 million-plus TikTok and Instagram followers of Ilona Maher, the rugby player and podcaster, you might have watched clips of her 30th birthday celebration last summer in San Diego and Hawaii. But perhaps her most memorable birthday party took place at a grocery store when she was a youngster in Burlington, Vt.
“I loved, and even today, I still love grocery stores,” Ms. Maher said in a telephone interview. Her mother threw her a party at the Hannaford supermarket, where a young Ms. Maher and her friends toured the store’s bakery and produce sections and even earned honorary employee-of-the-month status.
After helping lead the United States women’s rugby sevens squad to a bronze medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, she waltzed into runner-up status on “Dancing With the Stars” that fall. She took a break from professional rugby last year, and has been podcasting and streaming on shows like “House of Maher” and “Power Hour.”
While she now lives in San Diego, Ms. Maher is a Vermonter through and through. She was born in the same hospital where her mother still works and revels in the crisp air and flavors of fall.
“Picking apples to me is also getting a hunk of really sharp Cheddar cheese from Cabot and enjoying that with your cider doughnut,” she said, adding, “It feels like a movie when you’re there during the peak foliage season.”
Trips home today include stops at ordinary destinations like TJ Maxx and, of course, Hannaford. Ms. Maher will also pop by her uncle’s consignment store, Old Gold, to browse vintage denim, graphic tees and unique costumes. As you might expect, she also finds time to hit a local gym.
Ms. Maher is training again, noting that both a comeback and retirement from professional rugby are in the not-too-distant future. “I want to give it my all before early 2028, and be the best athlete that I can be,” she said.
Here are five more of Ms. Maher’s top Burlington spots.
1. Hen of the Wood
Hen of the Wood, one of the city’s top restaurants, has a comfortable, rustic vibe with an open wood fireplace. It’s a “great date place,” Ms. Maher said. She has advice for singles, too: “Go find a seat at the bar.” While she has not yet been on a date there herself, she frequents the restaurant with her family. Together, the Mahers order 24 “crisp and fresh” oysters ($2 each during happy hour) with freshly grated horseradish and cocktail sauce. Ms. Maher is also a fan of the Parker House rolls, which she suggests pairing with the honey butter. “It’s just really good food with quality farm-to-table ingredients,” she said.
2. Leddy Beach
Visitors may flock to North Beach, but nearby Leddy Beach, Ms. Maher said, is for locals. “It’s right off the bike path,” she said, referring to the eight-mile Burlington Greenway. That makes it a perfect place to hop off your bike and take a dip. The 1,500-foot beach is part of Leddy Park, which also features tennis courts, a baseball diamond and an indoor ice rink. Ms. Maher fondly recalls swimming there with her father: “We would dive off the shoulders into the water and just feel refreshed,” she said.
3. Burlington Bay
Vermont has strong feelings about ice cream: Ben & Jerry’s originated there, and “creemees,” the state’s butterfat-heavy take on soft serve, arouse passions and nostalgia, especially when maple is involved. One of Ms. Maher’s favorite places to satisfy her creemee cravings is the Burlington Bay market and cafe, whose famous walk-up window serves four basic flavors. “You can walk up, get a maple creemee or a black raspberry creemee, or you can mix them,” she said. If you’re looking to warm up, the clam chowder ($8 a cup) also earns high praise. Ms. Maher suggests hitting Burlington Bay’s deck around golden hour to watch the sun set over Lake Champlain.
4. Foam Brewers
Even though she doesn’t like beer, Ms. Maher loves this charming microbrewery next to Waterfront Park. While her father sips an I.P.A., she said, she enjoys sitting on the patio with him, sharing an order of chips and dip as they people-watch. Foam Brewers also offers live entertainment, including a steady stream of local D.J.s and touring bands.
5. Rock Point Commons
Until 2019, the two-mile hiking trail at Rock Point Commons — 130 acres of conserved lands owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont — was closed to the public. Now you can legally explore this waterside promontory and experience the unmatched views of the Adirondacks, downtown Burlington and Lake Champlain. In the fall, Ms. Maher said, the yellow, red and orange backdrop transforms the landscape into something out of a fairy tale. “It’s just beautiful, and a little bit secluded.”
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