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Connecticut Day Trips

Traveling the globe from my home base in beatuful Connecticut

Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

Washington, Connecticut: The Town That Inspired Gilmore Girls [Itinerary]

December 31, 2019 By Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Some days, you just gotta get in your car and drive to a new town and see the sights. Washington, Connecticut is a really good town to drive to. It’s got a rustic-chic vibe with its mix of locals and weekenders from New York City. There are rolling hills, sprawling farms, and very nice restaurants to eat and drink in.

Washington Connecticut Day Trip

Bryan Memorial Town Hall in Washington CT

You can park your car at the Hickory Stick bookshop and spend an hour or two wandering it’s little “downtown” area. There’s the bookshop, Marty’s Cafe for coffee, some clothing stores and on Saturdays in the spring, summer and fall, a small farmers market.

Washington is famously the setting for the TV show show “Gilmore Girls” and while it doesn’t exactly resemble Stars Hollow, it does have all the trappings of small town life: lots of community activities, a folksy vibe, and tons to do (see my list below). As I say in my Gilmore Girls Guide to Connecticut (coming soon!), Washington is way more rural and outdoorsy than Stars Hollow.

Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

The point of traveling to a town like Washington is to just be there, to soak up the small-town atmosphere.

Park at the Byran Memorial Town Hall. There’s a farmers market on Saturday mornings in the spring, summer and fall where you can stock up on local produce. Then hit Marty’s Cafe for a coffee before browsing the Hickory Stick Bookshop. There are other small retailers to dip into as well.

The day I visited I spent about an hour checking out the scene in town before wandering down route 47 towards the intersections of Kirby Road, Whykeham Road, and Parsanoge Lane.

There’ll you’ll find another little town center but this one looks like time forgot it. The buildings are still well kept and blindingly white, but there’s one lonely store and what looks to be an old town square.

I parked my car on a side street ear the intersection, grabbed my camera and roamed the area. There you’ll find the The First Congregational Church, the Gunn Memorial Library and the Gunn Historical Museum.  I didn’t see many people, but there was a fairly regular flow of vintage cars out for a weekend drive.

From there I continued North on Route 47 (enter Hopkins Vineyard into your GPS or Google Maps app) and enjoyed some of the most beautiful scenery Connecticut has to offer: rolling hills, gentleman’s farms and finally, a view of Lake Waramaug on the approach to Warren and the winery.

This would be a beautiful day trip year-round.

PLACES TO VISIT IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT:

Averill Hill Farm
250 Calhoun St.
Washington, CT 06794

For apple picking, pumpkin picking, pizza, apple cider and apple cider doughnuts.

Hollister House Garden
300 Nettleton Hollow Rd
Washington, CT 06793

The Institute For American Indian Studies
Curtis Rd
Washington, CT 06793

Mayflower Spa
118 Woodbury Rd (Route 47)
Washington, CT 06793

I am DYING to try this place. I plan to organize a day trip there with my girlfriends this winter

Gunn Historical Museum
5 Wykeham Rd
Washington, CT 06793

Hidden Valley Preserve
198 Bee Brook Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

PLACES TO EAT IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT

The White Horse Country Pub
258 New Milford Turnpike
New Preston, CT 06777

British Pub Food in the Litchfield Hills.

GW Tavern
20 Bee Brook Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

The Pantry
5 Titus Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Norimaki
4 Green Hill Rd
Washington, CT 06793

A local Favorite.

Marty’s Cafe
4 Green Hill Rd #1
Washington Depot, CT 06793

The Washington Pizza House
13 River Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

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Day Trip to Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, Vermont

February 9, 2012 by ctcalendargirl Leave a Comment

When you think of taking a day trip to Vermont, think of Cold Hollow Cider Mill. It’s everything you want it to be – and a little bit more. Not only can you peruse the rows of homemade jams, jellies, mustards, and spreads, but also sample them! Then, to wash it all down, help yourself to a generous free sample of Cold Hollow Apple Cider. Last but not least, grab a cup of coffee at their charming country store counter and purchase a homemade apple cider donut.* The experience will leave you feeling nostalgic for the days of yore. Cold Hollow Cider Mill has been operating since the 1920’s and makes fresh cider year round.

** My donut desire got the best of me – and before I could snap a picture, the donut was gone.

DAY TRIP ITINERARY: Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Waterbury, VT
Each day trip itinerary includes the main event, plus suggestions — with names, addresses and maps — of places to eat, shop, or “notable neighbors” to check out while you’re in the area. There is baked-in flexibility to mix and match, or follow the itinerary to the letter. If you have suggestions, lemme know!

Cold Hollow Cider Mill (map)
3600 Waterbury-Stowe Road (Route 100)
Waterbury Center, VT

DINING

Hen of the Wood (map)
92 Stowe Street
Waterbury, VT

Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory (map)
1281 Waterbury Stowe Rd.
Waterbury, VT

NOTABLE NEIGHBORS

Cabot Cheese Store  (map)
2657 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, VT

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks, Travel, Vermont Tagged With: day trip, Waterbury

Manchester Road Race, A Thanksgiving Tradition

November 24, 2011 by ctcalendargirl 1 Comment

photo (6)

When does a tradition turn into a tradition? When you can’t remember the exact number of times you have participated anymore? When the pictures you took start to look yellow around the edges? When you realize, you MUST partake in this tradition or else!? Well, that is exactly the sentiment we feel every year when it’s time to run the  Thanksgiving Day Manchester Road Race.  It has become a tradition in our family ….along with 15,000 other people. The Manchester Road Race is in it’s 75th year and is one of the most exciting (and healthy) ways to start Thanksgiving day in Connecticut! Runners travel from all over the state, and beyond, to run this festive race.

Here are some of the main attractions: Safety Man, the rowdy crowd at the Hungry Tiger Bar, neighbors tailgating along the route, bagpipers, runners in costumes, and a big-stinkin-grin on each of the runners as they cross that glorious finish line.  That is tradition I don’t want to break anytime soon.  To all the runners, thanks for keeping the tradition alive! Happy Thanksgiving. Time to eat. ~ Sarah

Morning Sun

{Thanksgiving Morning}

frost removal

{Frost removal – a chilly start to the day!}

Turkey Heads

{Turkey Heads}

photo (8)
{American Flag over Main Street at the Manchester Road Race}

photo (3)Runners waiting at the Starting Line

race!

 {Manchester Road Race Runners}

safety man

 {Safety Man}

supporters

{The Hungry Tiger Bar and patrons}

Post Race Cooldown

{Manchester Road Race Finish Line}

For more information on running in the 2012 Thanksgiving Day Manchester Road Race – visit Manchester Road Race.

Happy Thanksgiving !

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: Hartford County

Autumn Hike to the Heublein Tower Day Trip

November 2, 2011 by ctcalendargirl 13 Comments

Hike to the Heublien Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park

This Fall has proven to be one thing: rainy.  Actually, maybe three things: rainy, now snowy, and lacking color!  As a native New Englander, I know full well what a brilliant Autumn season has to offer.  The bursts of orange and yellow that line Connecticut back roads. The crunch of dry leaves and, of course, the smell! I might never be able to describe the smell – but at some point, it just smells like Fall.  And then there is always that orange-y, yellow, red-ish, peachy, I can’t quite describe it – tree, that seems to last for a short time but puts all the other foliage to shame! To shame!

In my quest to find the foliage, I headed to Talcott Mountain State Park to hike the Heublein Tower Trail.  Although you can reach the tower by hiking the Metacomet Trail from Reservoir #6 (off of Rt. 44), I opted for the more direct route off of Route 185.  For anyone who has ever driven in or around Avon Mountain – you have probably seen the Heublein – pronounced Who Bline – Tower.  It is visible from almost all sides of the mountain and looks almost like a water tower or maybe an observatory.  Au Contraire!  After a 1.2 mile heart-pumping hike up the gravel trail, I reached the top to discover that this tower was not just a tower.  It was the summer residence  of Gilbert F. Hueblein, a German-born hotelier and restaurateur in Hartford back in the early 1900’s.  A grand sight to be seen! May through October you can tour the residence  and take in a bit of history.  Not only is the residence something to behold, but also the views!  Pack a lunch and spend some time at the top.

Despite the lack of Fall color, it proved to be well worth the trip.  [Read more…] about Autumn Hike to the Heublein Tower Day Trip

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: day trip, Farmington Valley, Greater Hartford, Hartford County, Simsbury

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Connecticut Day Trips is a blog about travel and life in Connecticut, written and photographed by a native who moved away, moved back, and learned to love it: About/Contact

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Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

Washington, Connecticut: The Town That Inspired Gilmore Girls [Itinerary]

Some days, you just gotta get in your car and drive to a new town and see the sights. Washington, Connecticut is a really good town to drive to. It’s got a rustic-chic vibe with its mix of locals and weekenders from New York City. There are rolling hills, sprawling farms, and very nice restaurants […]

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