On With Connecticut! A Tour of Some of My Favorite Spots in the West!

 

I wish I could say I was able to take a bus or a train for this trip, but this is strictly a road trip.  

I live in the beautiful and astonishing hills of Northwestern Connecticut.  Where I live is the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains.  Where I live there are few if any four lane highways.  We have country roads; some with numbers; some not.  We still have dirt roads in places.  We have scenic byways.  We have chocolate farms and country wineries.  We have farm stands and country nurseries where we buy plants.  It's a far cry from what most people visualize as Connecticut.

I chose a section of this area for a little road trip the other day.  It's one of my favorite routes to spend a day on.  I've done this road trip a dozen times in the years I've lived here; maybe more.

My first stop was at Kent Falls State Park.  This is one of the best known state parks in Connecticut.  It's known for it's rolling hill setting in Kent and its beautiful waterfalls.  It's got a large meadow to have picnics in and a little covered bridge across the brook at the bottom for pedestrians to enter the park.  On the weekends it's crowded.  I won't lie.  During Covid-19 it was barricaded to deter people from hanging out in groups.  I even saw people being arrested during that time for entering the park over the Jersey Barriers despite the police notifications.  So make no mistake; you'll be sharing the space with others.

There's one thing that we should all know about Kent Falls. There are many falls.  Not just the ones visible from the bottom.  The entire falls from the top falls to the bottom is roughly 250 feet.  The bottom falls are nice.  I enjoy them, but the most beautiful falls is at the top.  And to get there, you have to hike a bit.

 

Most people don't hike to the top.  That's the secret.  If you take the time to hike to the top and see all of the falls; you'll distance yourself from the crowd.  And the best part is at the top anyway.  It's a win win for anyone willing to make the trip up.

The hike is a bit strenuous, but it's less than a mile round trip.  There are multiple viewing platforms along the way and it's a really pleasant way to spend some time on a nice day.  To be fair, I've even taken this walk in the wintertime and it was very nice then too.

Kent Falls State Park is a great place to relax and see some awesome scenery.  If you continue on into Kent, you'll find all kinds of shops, restaurants and places to gather.  There is an old furnace and museum along Route 7 at the Kent Furnace.  There's a public bathroom with showers in the center of town, because the Appalachian Trail is close by.  It's all a lovely way to spend some time.

I left Kent Falls State Park and drove north on Route 7 just past Cornwall Bridge, home of the Cornwall Market.  This is a lovely country store with goodies for everyone.  

I stopped at Housatonic Meadows State Park next.  This is a lovely spot that you will find in multiple locations along the Housatonic River and Route 7.  There's picnic areas, fishing, hiking and camping.  The Housatonic River is one of the most beautiful rivers in the state.  Several miles of Route 7 are labeled as a scenic byway.  Almost everywhere you encounter the river you will want to take photos of it.  Housatonic Meadows is a great state park to visit for family picnics and other outings.

Following my snack stop in Housatonic Meadows, I continued on Route 7 to West Cornwall.  This little burg is home to several tiny shops, several of which cater to the outdoors person.  There's also a lovely French restaurant and a farmer's market on the weekends in season.  For a tiny town, there's always a little something going on, and that's the beauty of this part of Connecticut.  Even the tiniest of villages have activities.  Connecticut always has something to do.

The bridge itself was built around the 1860's.  It's been maintained well, and is still open to vehicle traffic as a one way bridge.  Down river from the bridge is the access to the river and facilities.  The river is a popular fishing, and non motor boating area.  There are also hiking trails along the river.

My last stop of the day took me from West Cornwall on Route 128 to Route 4 east to Mohawk Mountain and the vast recreation area there.  This is a mountain that has a lot to offer.  There's a road approximately three miles long from bottom entrance to top of the mountain.  There are multiple viewpoints along the way.  There's a tower that you can walk to that's got a great view and is interesting to see.  There's also a short trail that will take you to a very interesting spot.  It goes to the top of Mohawk Mountain Ski Resort.  The resort is on the west side of the mountain; open seasonally.  But the short trail at the top is one of my favorites.  I stop there in the spring sometimes just to play in the leftover snow when it's warm outside.

The view from the top is amazing, and one of my favorite stops.  But, the mountain is home to not one, but two epic trails.  You can catch the Mohawk Trail (25.2 miles) and the Mattatuck Trail (15.7 miles) from that mountain.  There are several trails confined to the mountain too.  If you prefer machines, in the winter there are snow machine trails as well.

So, there's one of my favorite day trips.  I've been doing this for 30+ years.  Hiking and waterfalls are a thing in my neck of the woods and I will post more road trips in the coming weeks and months.  I hope that this gives you an insight into how Connecticut really is.  It's a beautiful place for anyone who ever wondered why I live here.  So, get out, get some air and enjoy!

Here's some other trails that are in or run through Western Connecticut.

The Appalachian Trail (2189 miles)

The East Coast Greenway (3000 miles upon completion)

Metacomet Trail (114 miles)

Mattabesett Trail (58.2 miles)

Tunxis Trail (38.5 miles)

Happy Hiking!

https://ctparks.com/parks/kent-falls-state-park

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/connecticut/kent-falls-state-park

https://ctparks.com/parks/housatonic-meadows-state-park

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/new-englands-ultimate-roa_b_3831817

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/connecticut/beautiful-drive-through-ct/

https://ctvisit.com/listings/town-kent

https://ctvisit.com/listings/eric-sloane-museum-and-kent-furnace

https://www.cornwallmarket.com/

https://www.explorecornwallct.com/shop

https://cornwallct.org/explore-cornwall-ct/cornwall-ct-covered-bridge/

https://ctvisit.com/listings/town-cornwall?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwg8qzBhAoEiwAWagLrHIFHjiluJN2n3Gnla6pVrTaHm7D8DLXbtPzN04VADZJ94tX0yNE5hoCKDQQAvD_BwE

https://www.mohawkmtn.com/

https://portal.ct.gov/deep/state-parks/forests/mohawk-mountain-state-forest-state-park/overview

https://ctvisit.com/articles/connecticuts-long-hiking-trails

Just Another Thing to Love About Hartford! Elizabeth Park!

 

This is a bonus post about other things I'm doing in Hartford, CT and the immediate vicinity, including West Hartford.  This one has a story.

A couple of years ago, I took an afternoon cruise out of New London, CT to look at several lighthouses in and around Long Island Sound.  That day, I decided to do something in the morning on my way to the cruise.  My decision was to stop by Elizabeth Park on the border of Hartford and West Hartford to look at what was reportedly beautiful rose gardens.

This is where it gets funky.  I used Google to find the park.  I specifically said the rose gardens at the park and Google took me to Prospect Street via Route 44.  There were a few parking spaces in a pull off looking area along the street, which was very busy.  I decided that it wasn't worth having an accident with my car and went on my way.  Simple.  It was an issue.  I didn't know much about the park.  I went and saw lighthouses and had a great day.  I never thought about it again.

I took the 927 bus to Hartford recently, as I posted about.  On the way, the bus took Asylum Avenue through West Hartford as its route into the city center, and wouldn't you know; it went right by the main entrance to what turned out to be an amazing, enormous park with many things to see and do.  It wasn't just rose gardens.

The drive by astonished me.  I couldn't believe I never investigated the park further back when I had my first encounter with it.  So, a few days later, I asked my husband to investigate the park with me.  What a fabulous place.  It's just a city park.  There are no entrance fees.  There are no parking fees.  Just open spaces, beautiful gardens, a great pond.  It has an event venue, a restaurant, a snack bar outside and a visitor center with gift shop.  It has ball fields, tennis courts, and so much more.  

I finally visited the rose garden I'd heard so much about.  I wasn't disappointed.  It's large enough that there were two weddings taking photographs in the garden and it still didn't seem crowded even with other patrons as well.  

The park welcomes horticulturists to donate hybrids they breed, making a large pool of different types of roses.  Each hybrid gets its own name plate and the creator gets their credit.  It is a great system and the gardens never seem to end.  Neither do the surprises.  Almost every inch of the garden; even the gazebo in its center, is covered with plant life.  It is absolutely stunning, and a must see this time of year.

The rose gardens aren't the only attraction in Elizabeth Park.  There's a lot to see.  We saw a plethora of water fowl, bunnies, and tons of squirrels of all colors and kinds.  The pond with stone bridges and a fountain was gorgeous as well as another, larger gazebo without the plant life and many greenhouses where plants begins life.  We didn't eat inside at the restaurant, but we did stop outside at the snack bar by the pond to grab a snack.  Such a relaxing and fun day.

There were more than just roses.  There was a rock garden.  There were exotic trees.  Most of them were marked so you could learn where they came from and what they were.  It was incredible.

After exploring quite a bit of the park, we stopped by the information center/ gift shop before we left.  They had books about they area and all the roses in the park.  It wasn't just t-shirts in there.  

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Elizabeth Park.  I was quite surprised it was just a city park.  Hartford and the immediate area continues to enthrall me with its surprises.  Don't mark this one off your list of possibilities.  The city has a lot to offer.

So, when you wonder where you could go that you haven't already been in the Northeast, don't forget Hartford, Connecticut, and certainly don't forget about Elizabeth Park on the border of Hartford and West Hartford and the rose gardens. Enjoy!

https://elizabethparkct.org/

https://www.hartfordct.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works/Parks-Directory/Elizabeth

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33970-d106103-Reviews-Elizabeth_Park-West_Hartford_Connecticut.html

https://hartford.com/elizabeth-park/

https://www.instagram.com/elizabethpark_hartfordct/?hl=en

https://pondhousecafe.com/

Hiking in Hartford! Chapter 3 of my Summer Adventures Around my Area on Public Transportation

 

This is the summer I've been waiting for.  I finally am getting the chance to check out all that my regional public transportation has to offer.  I wanted to do this back in 2020, but that obviously didn't work out at the time.  

In today's chapter, I visit Hartford, Connecticut by bus.  There are no trains in today's chapter, but there will be soon in upcoming adventures.  

I live in the Northwest corner of Connecticut.  In my town of Torrington, there is a three time a day, five day a week bus known as the 927 Express.  I chose to walk from my home and catch this bus the other day.  The bus really only has five regular stops between its last outpost of Torrington and Traveler's at Center Row in Hartford.  It's a nice ride.  It's clean.  They have ports for charging.  The ride into Hartford by way of West Hartford and Asylum Avenue is nice, which I already knew from driving it over the years.  I don't like going into the Capital on I-84, because of traffic.

The bus pulled up across the street from the Old State House, right in front of a Dunkin Donuts.  Perfect.  I had 8 hours to investigate downtown Hartford in a way I'd never tried before.  I decided when I got off the bus that I'd make time for an afternoon tour of the State House which is open from noon to 5 Tuesday through Saturday.  Guided or self guided tours are only $8.

However, it was morning, and I was actually in town to go hiking.  So, I got some breakfast and headed across the elevated walkways in the downtown area to the riverfront where my main goal lay.

Once I made it to the riverfront, I walked four miles.  It was incredible.  There was the Riverfront Plaza, complete with seating and elevator.  I saw a sculpture park, amazing views of the Connecticut River, some fascinating structures in the connectors or bridges across the river.  There was a boathouse used in the community for crewing, a challenging course that seemed to include an adventure park, and hiking trails in the woods.  All of this is underneath I-91, I-84 and Connecticut Route 2.  It's quiet, beautiful and it was a lot of fun to spend some time.

After a lovely walk along the river, I took the opportunity to use the elevator which is a lot of fun to go back to the top and take a walk along the Founders Bridge.  I love a good bridge walk.  I had a lot of little things on my agenda to check out in downtown Hartford, so I didn't walk on the East Hartford side of the river.  It looked lovely and it's part of the East Coast Greenway, so I want to try it out another time.

Next, I went to the Connecticut Convention Center which is also along the waterfront next to the Connecticut Science Center which is a great place to visit with kids.  My son and I used to drive over and go there once in a while.  Fun stuff.  Inside the parking garage at the Convention Center is where you can catch a shuttle called the Dash.  This is a free shuttle that makes several stops around downtown, primarily seems to be geared for tourists even though it rarely runs on weekends.  It runs around downtown from 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and it's bright orange so you can't miss it.  I took the Dash to Union Station to do some research on trains and buses available for future trips I'm planning.  

The Dash comes around roughly every 15 minutes, so my next stop on it was a place called the Agave Grill.  This lively place had great Mexican food and a friendly and efficient staff.  I had my appetizer that I ordered for lunch in no time and had a really good time.

By the time I caught the Dash again, it was time for me to check out the Old State House, so I circled around to that stop and went inside.  My ticket for entry was $8.  First, I went into what was called the Mortensen Gallery which had a lot more exhibits that it appeared it would.  I learned a lot of interesting tidbits that I never knew about Connecticut history.  There's an antique fire truck down there!

Then, I met Heidi, my guide for the rest of the tour.  She was amazing.  She knew so much about the state's history.  She told me stories that I'd never heard or read in my life.  Did you know that there's a preserved two headed cow in there?  Did you know that Connecticut used to have two capitals?  It's a wonderful tour and a fascinating topic.  If you already like history, you'll be on the edge of your seat.  We spent nearly an hour and a half on the tour, because neither one of us was in a hurry, and it was probably the best guided tour I've ever had.  I highly recommend it, even if you're not a history buff.

History is something that never changes but often is hidden from us for one reason or another.  Having a great tour guide is priceless.

Once I left the Old State House I was a bit hungry and had a little time before catching the 927 bus at 4:40 pm to go home.  I checked out the State House Square across the street, finding a nice little food court, but not stopping, because I wanted to see what else was around.  The food at their food court looks good, however.  There were some other places to eat right at that intersection, but not far away I found Historic Pratt Street.  This is a historic pedestrian street that's really cute with little shops and restaurants, including the place I stopped at; Sun Berry.

I was drawn to Sun Berry immediately, because it has some of my favorite features, specifically; the entire front wall opens onto the street in good weather.  I love that feature.  Sun Berry is Korean restaurant with Ramen dishes and dumplings.  Soups, salads and sandwiches.  There's a whole menu that looked delicious.  They also have a creative cocktail menu which I presumed was more for the evening crowd.  Once again, the staff was friendly, efficient, and told me all about the area.  It was a pleasure and I will return.

Following my visit to Pratt Street, it was time to catch the bus home.  It was another lovely ride and didn't take any longer than driving would.

What is the take away from this adventure?  Hartford isn't known for basic tourism.  Most of us who have lived here for decades go there for some specific reason.  We go to the theater, a concert, a sporting event, some other kind of special event, work, medical reasons.  We don't just go and check out the city.  I think we should.  I had a great time and I didn't have much of a plan.  I do wish that there was more of a weekend setup, but the museums are mostly open at least on Saturdays.  What I found was a lot of wonderful people who made my experience fun.  I promise you, the restaurant staffs, tour guides and even the bus drivers are thrilled to have an actual traveler or tourist in town.  There aren't many.

I hope that someday Connecticut's tourism office figures out a way to accurately promote this state.  I've lived here for 30+ years and I've always had something to do.  There's fascinating things here, besides casinos, Yale, UConn and Mystic.  There's a lot to do, a lot to see, and some great public transportation to get around on.  So, come to Connecticut, take a hike in our capital and enjoy!

You can check out my videos on my instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ninakindred1/

https://www.cttransit.com/

https://portal.ct.gov/dot/publictrans/bureau-of-public-transportation/local-bus-service

https://www.facebook.com/p/CTtransit-100064415544909/

https://peterpanbus.com/locations/connecticut/

https://ctvisit.com/getting-around-connecticut?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw34qzBhBmEiwAOUQcFwXqbFc0x1p2U2vZLz935Zk8v7OlJsrfqkNZqeX-edjEF2pAif_EkRoCmxgQAvD_BwE

https://hartfordparking.com/city-of-hartford/dash-shuttle/

https://hartford.com/

https://ctvisit.com/listings/city-hartford

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g33804-Hartford_Connecticut-Vacations.html

https://wp.cga.ct.gov/osh/

https://sunberrycafe.com/

https://www.agavehartford.com/

https://www.myajamo.com/location/ajamo/

https://www.ctconventions.com/

https://ctsciencecenter.org/

https://www.hartfordtransit.org/union-station/

https://riverfront.org/

https://www.cttrailfinder.com/trails/trail/hartford-riverwalk

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33804-d3754124-Reviews-Mortensen_Riverfront_Plaza-Hartford_Connecticut.html

https://www.hartfordct.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works/Parks-Directory/Riverside-Park-Riverfront-Recapture

https://greenway.org/states/connecticut

https://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/br-founders.html