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Connecticut Day Trips

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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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How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

July 5, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 2 Comments

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Once you learn how to make the best chocolate chip cookies ever, you will have the perfect go-to pot luck dish, dessert for a casual party, and hostess gift for travel. They are by far the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had (recipe at For Me, For You), and they are my first pick in ideas for hostess gifts.*

First, a word on hostess gifts. They should probably modernize this term and call them host/hostess gifts since in most of the homes I visit, both heads of the household are partnering up when it comes to entertaining, cooking, cleaning stuff up, and generally making guests feel welcome. Gone are the days when Betty makes the birthday cake, mixes the drinks, and Don takes off half-way through Bobby’s party leaving her to do everything, but returning hours later with a random dog. For now, because I can’t think of anything better, I’ll call them hostess gifts. Now, onto the cookies.

Pictures + Recipe How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

Why they make a great hostess gift: They travel well and they look as good as they taste.  Even if someone’s on a diet, these cookies are worth it.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever - 2

I read years ago in the New York Times that the secret to baking the best chocolate chip cookies is giving the dough a good, long rest in the fridge before baking. Agreed.

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever - 09

The other tip from the recipe that boosts them from good to outstanding, is using a combination of cake and bread flour. These two changes, and the additional tips from Kate Miss outlined before the recipe, make all the difference in the world.

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever - 08

They’re large enough that one is enough. That’s a 1/3 cup-sized measuring cup above. I find people (aka, myself) eat multiple standard-sized Toll House chocolate chip cookies in search of that awesome cookie taste. Now those cookies are great, but these are better, they are the Holy Grail, and will satisfy the cookie craving.

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever - 06

Oh my God. The sprinkle of sea salt.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever - 12

These will travel really well, and are very easy to stack in a gift bag, wrap up in wax paper or clear plastic wrap tied with a bow, or box up in a pretty tin to give as a hostess gift.

I bought an inexpensive tin from Michael’s and lined it with wax paper. You could also tuck some small cocktail napkins in for a more festive display, but honestly: They don’t need it. These are the best chocolate chip cookies ever. They are stars requiring no additional accouterments to impress your host/hostess.

*I’ll be writing more about hostess gifts in a series.  3

Filed Under: Food + Drinks Tagged With: cooking, homestyle, hostess gifts

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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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