Places to Visit by Town, A-L

We have collected these sites from many sources and this list is in a state of constant change. These sites represent our personal interests, and many obvious places in certain towns are not present because we've already seen them. The abbreviations are ours and simply save space. Links will be completed as time permits. Your additions, recommendations, and corrections are always welcome (jabinct@gmail.com).

Andover Hurst Farm Country Store & Greenhouses, old-fashioned country store w/local products, 646-6536 • Hop River Chamber Music Series (events start end of July), 3 July Weds., FCC Andover

Ansonia Ansonia Nature & Rec. Ctr., nature trails, wildflower & butterfly/hummingbird gardens

Ashford The Concrete Factory (ice cream), 5 Squaw Hollow Rd., 74&44, 429-0858 • Bakerwoods, nature trails, gnome I spy trail, picnic, 513 Bebbington Rd., 487-1276 (visitbakerwoodsfarm.com)

Avon Avon Cider Mill—produce, baked goods, crafts, hot fritters & doughnuts, weekends through Christmas, 677-0343 • Pickin’ Patch, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pumpkins, 766-9552 • Governor’s Horse Guards, watch drills most Thursdays 7:30-9:30 a.m. and tour stables, 673-3525 • Riverdale Farms Shopping Center—17 bldgs w/offices, stores, boutiques, esp. Googies, gourmet take-out • First & Last Tavern) • Living Museum • Avon Arts Association Barkhamsted Jesse Gerard hiking trail & Chaugham Lookout • *The Sow and Thistle, 379-4744 • Village Sweet Shops, IC cones, Rt. 20, 379-7250 • Ransom Farm, maple syruping

Beacon Falls

Berlin

Bethany, • Whitlock’s Book Barn, vast collection of used books, etc., easy to miss, T.-Sun. 9-5, 203-393-1240 • West Rock Ridge (see Woodbridge), chamber music series, June, sponsored by Beth. Hist. Soc.

Bethel Bethel Cinema, art & independent films, 203-778-2100 • *Dr. Mike’s (ice cream), esp. chocolate lace IC, Sun.-Th. 12-5, F & S 12-11 (less in winter), 203-792-4388, also in Monroe • Sycamore, old-fashioned drive-in w/carhops, burgers, malt shakes, & egg creams, M-Sat. 6-9:30, Sun. 7-7:30, 203-748-2716 • Hay maze, Steck’s Nursery, every fall, Oct. 1-mid-Nov. 9-5 daily

Bethlehem Bethlehem • Christmas Shop in Bethlehem, daily 10-6, 266-7048 • Little Art Shop at Abbey of Regina Laudis, handcrafted arts, CDs, cheeses by nuns, by appt., call for hours, 266-7637 • *Bellamy-Ferriday House, fantastic gardens, esp. roses, peonies, & lilacs

Bloomfield Farm Implement Museum, April-Oct., 242-1130 • CIGNA Corp. campus to walk—roads & trails w/woods, ponds, lush plantings, and sculptures •

Bolton

Bozrah

Branford The Stony Creek Market, pick up sandwiches & salads for a picnic, dine in lunch & dinner, T-Sat., 203-488-0145 • Branford Craft Gallery at Bittersweet Herb Farm, 2 doz. shops & studios, restaurant for lunch & Sun. brunch, T-Sat. 11-5, Sun. 12-5, 488-4689; herb farm, scads of herbs, teas, own salad dressings, etc., M-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 11-5, 488-4689 • Captain Bob's Thimble Islands Cruise • Sea Mist Thimble Islands Cruise and Charters • one-of-a-kind shops & restaurants around town green • Branford festival, music-food-crafts, June 13-15 • James Blackstone Library, unusual architecture, very unusual • a great town resource • Indian Neck: Lenny’s Indian Head Inn, *fresh seafood, lunch & dinner, T-Sat., 488-1500 • Stony Creek: Stony Creek Puppet House Theater, perf. arts ctr.

Bridgeport Barnum Museum, esp. 1000-sq.-ft. scale model circus, T-Sat. 12-5, 203-331-9881 • Beardsley Zoo, large North American and exotic mammals • Barnum Festival • Downtown Cabaret, musical theater • Captain's Cove Seaport

Bridgewater Bridgewater Chocolates, esp. toffee • Spinelli Litchfield Food Co., lunches/coffee • Bridgewater Country Fair

Bristol Chrysanthemum Festival, food fest, performances, crafts, house tours, late-Sept.-mid-Oct. • Lake Compounce—Carousel w/orig. Wurlitzer—583-3300 • Dick’s Antiques, 584-2566 •

Brookfield Brookfield Craft Center, contemporary arts & crafts, M-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5, holiday exhibition & sale in grist mill, mid-Nov.-late-Dec., 203-775-4526, www.craftweb.com/org/brookfld/brookfld.shtml • DiGrazia Vineyards, free weekend tours/tastings

Brooklyn Brooklyn Fair, late Aug., 774-7568 • Creamery Brook Bison • The Ice Box, Hershey ice cream, Rt. 6, 774-0042 • Quackin’ Grass Nursery, rare & unusual plants, 16 Laurel Hill Rd., 779-1732 • Heirloom Antiques, 8 Wolf Den Rd., 774-7017 • Brooklin Café and Antiques, pink, 18 Providence Rd., #1, 774-2459

Burlington Lamothe’s Sugar House, tours late-Feb. to early Mar. weekends, 582-6135

Canaan Union Station, oldest train sta. in U.S. in use, RR Days Festival, 824-7580 • *Union Station also site of Housatonic RR Co., 17-mi. track & ride, Mem. Day-end Oct., 824-0339 • Falls Village: Music Mountain

Canterbury Prudence Crandall House, 1st Amer. academy to educate African-American girls, 1 So. Canterbury Rd., jct. Rts. 14 & 169, 10-4:30, 546-78--/256-2800

Canton Antiques at Canton Village, 693-2715 • Balcony Antiques, 693-6440 • Junior’s, burger place, 693-8838 • Canton Historical Museum • Canton Barn, antiques, Sat. night auctions; Collinsville: Hammer & Crown Pub; LaSalle Marlet, 104 Main St.; ABC Pizza; Collinsville Baking Co.

Chaplin Diana’s Pool, scenic stop, right turn off Rt. 198, So. Chaplain (from jct. of Rts. 6 * 198, go north on Rt. 198 for 0.4 miles, turn right onto “Dead End” street just before the bridge over the Natchaug River, parking area on the left • The Dog House, hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, ice cream, Rt. 6 & 198, 455-0044 • Chaplin Museum, family life

Cheshire Lock 12 Historical Park, restored part of Farmington Canal w/museum, lockkeeper’s house, & helicoidal bridge, accessible from Linear Park, park Mar.-Nov. 10-dusk, museum usually by appt. only, 203-272-2743 • Blackie’s Hot Dog Stand, skip burgers, get HD only, daily except F, 11-8:30, 203-574-9153 • Roaring Brook Falls, take Blackie’s food here to eat, great hiking trail and overlook, old mill, CT’s 2nd highest waterfall, 80 ft. + smaller cascades, dawn-dusk, 203-272-2743 for info • Brix Restaurant, Napa Valley style, different menu, reservations advised, popular w/locals, 203-272-3584 for info & res. • *Sweet Claude’s, best IC in state, esp. bananas foster, T-Sun., less in winter, 203-272-4237 • Bishop Farm & Winery, 7/1-12/26, wkdays 10-5, wknds 9-5, 203-272-8243 • Bovano Enamelware, birds & flowers on copper, T-Sun., less in winter, 203-272-3200 • Barker Animation Art Galleries

Chester Nilsson Spring Street Studio and Gallery • Connecticut River Artisans Cooperative • Meetinghouse Players Clinton Chamard Vineyards, owned by Tiffany & Co. chairman, known for chardonnay, W-Sat. 11-4, 664-0299 • Clinton Land Conservation Trust, hiking trails • Opera Theater of Connecticut, summer productions • Visitors’ center, EMain St. near fire dept. • Peters Memorial Woods, walking-hiking trails

Colchester Elaine Juska Keeley Art Studios • Priam Vineyards, breathtaking 35-mi. view, tours, tastings; Harry’s Place, 104 Broadway; 537-2410

Colebrook Colebrook: Rock School (1779-1911) • Church in the Wildwood, summer vespers, outdoor chapel of Colebrook Cong’l. Church • Colebrook River Lake and Dam

Columbia

Cornwall West Cornwall: Ian Ingersoll, Shaker furniture • Hilltop Haven (inn), 672-6871 • Cornwall Bridge: Cornwall Bridge Pottery Store, local crafts/glassware, Th.-Sun. 10:30-5:30, 672-6545 • Matthews 1812 House, family bakery, M-F 9-5, Sat. 10-5, 800-662-1812

Coventry Sanctuary at Home, accents for inspired living, 2299 South St., 742-8135 (sanctuaryathomellc.net) The Nathan Hale Homestead is open May to October Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours may be scheduled for other days and times.

Cromwell Marshell’s Eatery, good big breakfasts, 317 Main St., 635-5360

Danbury Scott-Fanton Museum, American and city history incl. hat making, Wed.-Sun. 2-5, 203-743-5200 • Danbury Railway Museum, ask ahead about spec. events • Cow’s Outside, downtown leather outlet, M-Th. 9:30-6, F 9:30-9, Sat. 9:30-6, Sun. 11-5, 203-797-1924 • Goulash Place, charming owner, food top rate, reasonable prices, T-Th. 11-9, F & Sat. 11-10, Sun. 1-8, 203-744-1971 • Meeker’s Hardware, only one on Natl. Register of Historic Places, 86-90 White St., M-S 9-5, 203-748-8017 • St. James Church, Gothic Revival architecture, Tiffany glass, & Bulkeley Carillon, first one in U.S., daily, 203-798-0433 • St. Peter Church, glorious stained glass windows • Command Performance Inc. • Danbury Concert Assoc. • Ives Concert Park • Musicals at Richter

Darien Darien Audubon Society

Deep River

Derby McConney’s Farm, watch cider made, mid-Aug.-Christmas, or late March, apple products, daily 9-6, 203-735-1133

Durham Durham Agricultural Fair, Sept. 26-28 • White’s Farm, scenic views • Greenbacker’s, dairy farm tours, call ahead

East Granby

East Haddam Goodspeed Opera Mouse • I Park

East Hampton

East Hartford

East Haven Shore Line Trolley Museum, 3-mi. rides, adm. $, 203-467-6927 for hours • Fair Haven Woodworks, fine woodworking & decorative items, M, Th., F 10-8, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-4, 800-404-4754 • Judie’s European Baked Goods, excellent bread, 70 varieties, great lunches, cash only, T-Sat. 7:30-5:30, Sun. 7:30-1:30, 488-2257

East Lyme Daniel Price Art Gallery

East Windsor

Eastford Variegated Foliage Nursery, 245 Westford Rd., 974-3951 (variegatedfoliage.com)

Easton J & L Orchids, lush exotic orchids, M-Sat. 9-4, several special sales/year, 203-261-3772

Ellington

Enfield The Country Diner, 111 Hazard Ave., 763-5338

Essex Eagle Watch Cruises, mid-Jan.-mid-Mar., 526-4954 • Connecticut River Museum, river history & steam power, first sub ever built • Steamboat Dock, next to museum, eagles nesting, eagle cruises, Feb.-Mar. 8-11 a.m. 443-7259 • Ivoryton Playhouse

Fairfield Dogwood Festival, guided walking tours, music, art show, crafts, etc., Greenfield Hill Cong. Ch., mid-May, 203-259-5596 • Super Duper Weenie Truck, CIA chef, high quality, low prices, T-Sat. 11-4, 203-339-0860 • Rawley’s Drive-In, many famous folk, basic food with the works, esp. HD, low cost • Birdcraft Museum & Sanctuary, 1st privately owned bird sanctuary, now owned by Audubon, small but nice museum, 203-259-0416 • Karl Soderlund - Artist • The Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts • Fairfield County Irish Festival, June 13-15 • CT Audubon Society Center, non-releasable hawks/owls, 6 mi. of trails, ponds • Discovery Museum Garden Tour (June)

Farmington *Epicure Mkt., deli extraordinaire, 838 Farmington Ave., 677-1608 • Fisher Meadow Conservation Area, hiking and walking trails • Apricots, 673-5405 • Will Warren's Den • Farm. Antiques Weekend, largest in CT http://www.apricotsrestaurant.com/ • Unionville: Antiques on the Farmington in a converted grist mill • Farmington Valley: American Hearth Tours, 800-WELCOME, late-Jan.-mid-March

Franklin Blue Slope Country Museum, working dairy farm, rural life museum (18-20th cent.), living history events (Oct.), 138 Blue Hill Rd., near Rts. 395, 87, & 2, year round by appt., 642-6413 (blueslope.com)

Glastonbury Souperb!, 659-2695 • Glastonbury Art Guild $ Glas (restaurant)

Goshen Mohawk Mt. State Park and Mohawk State Forest • Danielle Mailer Gallery • Action Wildlife • Connecticut Agricultural Fair, last weekend Aug.

Granby Stagecoach Gallery Greenwich Bruce Museum of Arts & Sciences, crafts, incl. works by some of CT’s famed Impressionists & great rock-mineral collec., T-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 2-5, free on Tues., 203-869-0376 • United Crafts, Arts and Crafts period stoneware, bronze, and textiles, 203-869-4898

Griswold Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream, homemade ice cream, 473 Shetucket Tpk., Rt. 165 & 201, 376-4081 (buttonwoodfarmicecream.com) Groton

Groton: Fort Griswold State Park • Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art, local artists • Bluff Point State Park, seaside preserve • Olio, Italian food • Mystic: Christmas at the Seaport w/Lantern Light Tour (need res.), Dec., 572-5315 • Mystic Art Association • Denison Homestead Museum • Lobsterfest at Mystic Seaport, sea chanteys, demos, etc., Memorial Day wknd. • Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous, pre-1950s’ wooden sail & motorboats, boat parade Sun. w/costumed crews, late July • Abbot’s Lobster in the Rough, Noank, chowder, steamers, mussels, lobster rolls, 117 Pearl St. (daily till Labor Day, weekends thru mid Oct.) 860 536-7719 • Sea Swirl, 30 Williams Ave.,fr. clams, ice cream, seasonal. 11-9 p.m. 860 536-3452

Guilford Holiday Festival of Crafts, Glfd. Handicraft Center, Nov. & Dec., and Craft Expo, mid-July, 203-453-5947 • Whitfield Jewelry, crafts in pink granite quarried nearby • Whitfield House Museum, oldest stone house in New England, antique furniture, herb garden, Apr.-Nov. W-Sun. 10-4, Dec.-Mar. 10-3, 453-2457/566-3005 • beautiful water views, south on Whitfield St. from green to harbor, and Mulberry Point Rd. to end, can see Faulkner Point Lighthouse • The Place Restaurant, all food grilled incl. seafood, BYOB, outdoors eating, May-Col. Day M-Th. 5-10, F 5-11, Sat. 1-11, Sun. 1-10, 453-9276 • Fletcher Cameron Furniture, partly designed by F. L. Wright’s great-granddaughter, 203-453-0546 for hours • Bishop's Orchards, cider mill, PYO, VT cheese, local eggs/honey/herbs • Antiques Festival and Sale • Guilford Fair • Taste the Shoreline • Guilford Salt Meadows Sanctuary, 1-mi. walking trail • WestWoods trail system, lg. hiking area, 39 mi. of trails w/caves, waterfalls, marshes, rock sculptures • Chaffinch Island Park, park & picnic, juts into harbor • Dudley Farm, 19th-cent. working farm, farmers’ market June-Oct.

Haddam Haddam Neck Fair; Pilot House, hotdogs, hamburgs, milkshakes, ice cream, 1364 Saybrook Rd. No phone, no web. • Blue Oar, grilled seafood, river view, 16 Snyder Rd., May-Sept., 11:30-9 p.m. 860-345-2994 • Higgie’s, 236 Saybrook Rd., Higganum, chowder, clamcakes, burgers, shakes, seafood, chilli dogs 860 345-7777

Hamden Eli Whitney Museum, oldest continuously operating industrial site, industrial growth & technology w/elec. model train, museum woodshop, covered bridge, waterfall, shaded walking trail Sleeping Giant State Park, 11 trails, 32 mi. of hiking trails, some lead to a stone tower w/360 degree view, 203-789-7498 to check in at ranger station on mountain • *Wentworth’s, best IC in CT, especially peach, near Sleeping Giant Park, daily 12-9 (12-11 in summer), closed winter, 203-281-7429 for when peach IC starts • Farmington Canal Walkway, 8½ mi., woodsy trail • Lake Wintergreen, lovely nature trail around lake

Hampton Pine Acres Lake

Hartford Hartford Flower & Garden Show, Feb., 529-2123 • Antiques Show, Armory, 247-8996 • Htfd. Insurance Group, Asylum Ave., The Htfd. Exhibit, multimedia pres., 547-5000 • Travelers Insurance, museum, Batterson Hall, free • State Library • State Cap., 1-hr. guided tour weekdays & Sat., Capitol Ave. entrance info desk • half-hr. guided free tours, Bushnell Park, DEP, 244-8181 • Timothy’s (restaurant), Zion St., near Trinity • Mark Twain House • Desserts by David Glass, 525-0345

Hartland Harwinton Landing Zone Grill, unique restaurant

Hebron Gay City State Park • Hebron Harvest Fair, Sept. 4-11

Kent Kent Carved Signs • Villager Restaurant, excellent breakfasts, 6-4 wkdays, Sat. 7-3, Sun. 8-2, 927-3945 • Bull’s Bridge, covered bridge on NY border • Connecticut Antique Machinery Association

Killingly Logee’s Greenhouses, tropical plants, 141 North St., Danielson, 774-8038 • Central Coffee Co., 610 Wauregan Rd., Danielson, 877-222-5282 • Heart and Home, 65 Main St., 774-7017 • River trail, 1½-mile path along Quinebaug River

Killingworth Bunnel Bridge Road, picturesque, esp. in fall • Chatfield Hollow State Park, rich in history & beauty

Lebanon

Ledyard farm market for Holmberg Orchards & PYO • Lisbon Heritage Trail Vineyards, 18th-cent. Farm, tastings, scenic road

Litchfield Litchfield: Thomas Kyasky, cabinetmaker, makes furniture w/early Amer. methods, by appt. or chance, 567-4077 • White Memorial Foundation & Conservation Ctr., 567-0857 • White Flower Farm, 567-8789 • Tony Carretta, glassmaker, watch at studio, 567-4851 • Haight Vineyard & Winery, Mon.-Sat. 11-4, Sun. 1-4, site of Taste of Litchfield Hills Festival in June, 567-4045 (http://www.haightvineyards.com/) • Wisdom House Retreat Center, CT’s only outdoor labyrinth, 567-3163 (http://www.wisdomhouse.org/) • Topsmad, an authentic Cotswald cottage, tour house 2nd & 4th weekends, June-Oct., 485-0226 • Morosani Farms, 10 acres of daffodils, esp. late April • Entertainment and the Arts in Litchfield • New Arts Gallery in Litchfield • Brandon Gallery, major artists, antiques, host Met. Art Auction • Mt. Tom, w/360-degree view • Open House Day Tour $ (Northfield) Tir’na nO’g Farm, B&B, continental breakfast, 283-9612

Lyme Selden Island State Park, Peter Marteka • Dad’s Restaurant, 147 Main St., E. Lyme. Fr. scallops, clams, oysters, shrimp. Seasonal. 860 739-2113