Connecticut - Litchfield/Northwest

Ten Great Things To Do in Litchfield/Northwest Connecticut

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Lourdes in Litchfield

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Inspired by the rolling countryside of western Connecticut and its similarity to that of Lourdes, France, a group of Catholic seminary students in 1958 constructed in Litchfield a re-creation of the grotto in France where a young girl named Bernadette met an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858. Lourdes in Litchfield , a mission of the Montfort Missionaries, welcomes the public for quiet reflection, prayer, and sacraments. People are welcome to visit the property and Montfort House any time of the year. Phone: 860-567-1041.

All Aboard at the Thomaston Station

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The Railroad Museum of New England on East Main Street in Thomaston tells the story of the region's rich railroad heritage. The museum has an extensive collection of New England locomotives of all types, passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses, and artifacts dating from the 1840s to the present, from tickets to signal towers. From late May to October, the museum offers train rides restored 1920s coaches from the historic Thomaston Station and along the Naugatuck River. Be sure to visit the gift shop at the station. Phone: 860-283-7245.

Alpaca, Not Llama

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Take a break from the hectic world around you with a visit to the gently rolling countryside of western Connecticut and a world-class alpaca farm in Watertown. Learn why the curious gentle alpaca's fiber is comparable only to cashmere. You'll relax and maybe laugh a bit at the antics of these wonderful animals. As you tour South Wind Farms, get to know the alpaca family, and peruse the many different types of yarn and other alpaca products the farm has to offer. South Wind Farms welcomes visitors, but please call ahead to schedule. Phone: 860-274-9001.

American Craftsmanship in the
Shadow of the Berkshires

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During the past 21 years, Heron American Craft Gallery at 16 Main Street in Kent has become a destination for people who are searching out the dynamic, ever changing work of American crafts. This shop presents an explosion of color, wit, and whimsy in the form of unusual playthings, ceramics, jewelry, glass work, sculpture, rugs, and clothing. This shop in the foothills of the Berkshires honors the spirit of handmade goods. Come for the best in contemporary crafts, music, and just plain fun. Open daily 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Phone: 860-927-4804.

Art Deco and Great Programming
Make Warner Theatre a Must-See

In 2002, thousands of people gathered celebrate the gala reopening of the Warner Theatre at 68 Main Street in Torrington.The lobby’s eye-popping art deco designs, murals, rich mahogany, and vintage etched glass chandeliers are gorgeous, just as when the theater opened in 1931. The auditorium was returned to its gilded splendor, featuring new seats, velvet draperies, a ceiling constellation surrounding a giant star chandelier. And it continues to grow and improve. The 2010 season includes Lorette Lynn, the Abbey Road tribute band, Jane Monheil, "The Pirates of Penzance," Ghost Hunters Live, "The Rocky Horror Show," "Bye Bye Birdie," and more. Phone: 860-489-7180.

Award-Winning Wines Come with a View

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Set among the Litchfield hills in Goshen, Sunset Meadow Vineyards is one of the newest additions to the Connecticut Wine Trail. Take a visit to the vineyard’s tasting room, where you can sip on Sunset Meadow’s own award-winning Sunset Blush inside a restored 19th Century barn, complete with estate antiques and original hand-cut wooden beams. The vineyards span over 40 acres of picturesque hillside, and the owners pride themselves on a respect for the environment, using only sustainable farming methods. So you can relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery—it isn’t called “Sunset Meadow” for nothing. The Tasting Room is open Friday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For information call 860-201-4654.

Connecticut Art Trail Reveals
Contemporary Work in Litchfield

Here is a project that can keep you busy year-round: explore the 15 world-class museums and historic sites that comprise the Connecticut Art Trail. The trail meanders among historic sites, bucolic farms, art studios and artists' houses to grand and modern art museums in vibrant downtowns. The trail includes a feature called Trail Getaways that presents recommended itineraries along with helpful suggestions for nearby places to visit and dine. In the Litchfield region, the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield and Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center in Waterbury.

Giddy-Up and Around We Go

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The New England Carousel Museum at 95 Riverside Avenue (Route 72) in Bristol, acquires, restores and preserves carousels, that wonderful work of folk art and public entertainment that reached its creative peak in the early part of the 20th century. The museum hosts exhibits and special events, particularly for children, and invites the public to visit the studio of its master restorer. Open daily, year-round, except the months of January and February and except for major holidays. Open during local school holidays. Phone: 860-585-5411.

Handy Signs Point
to the State's Blooming Wineries

Connecticut’s mild climate makes the state a fruitful place for growing grapes, and the state’s wine-making industry has bloomed in the past three decades. A delightful way to sample Connecticut vintages is to take a drive along the Connecticut Wine Trail , a route that bypasses 15 vineyards (and some beautiful countryside). The trail consists of two sections, in the eastern and the western parts of the state. Blue highway signs mark the trail and the state produces a colorful brochure. Connecticut's wineries produce a wide variety of wines, ciders, and fruit wines. All the wineries have tasting rooms and all offer at least one tour daily. Many host festive special events. Call ahead for tour schedules. Phone: 860-267-1399.

Space Out With Your Family

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Volunteers from the John J. McCarthy Observatory on Danbury Road in New Milford have built a scale model solar system that spans six miles. Each bronze planet is on a base accompanied by an informational sign and brass symbol. Children may pick up a passport at the New Milford Library that contains directions for locating the planets, pages for rubbings of the symbols, and more information about the planets. After completing the 13 rubbings, explorers can return to the library for a solar system explorer stamp. It’s a great family activity that takes about two hours to complete. Phone: 860-354-1595.

Waterfall and a Covered Bridge Create a Dreamy Walk

Southford Falls State Park in Oxford offers all the pleasures of a wooded, hilly New England park with the addition of two crown jewels: a wonderful waterfall and an authentic covered bridge. The waters of Papermill Pond tumble down Southford Falls then continue through the woods as Eightmile Brook. The Larkin Bridle Trail takes walkers over the pond and along the banks of the brook. A beautiful walk in all seasons.

Western corner of Connecticut Is
a Hotbed of Great Antiques

The Litchfield region is a magnet for antiques and the people who cherish them. Here is just a sampling of places to visit on an antique hunt through Litchfield: Gardenalia in Falls Village, offering outdoor fountains, birdbaths, statuary, and sundials (860-824-0020); EuroSource Antiques & Fine Leather in Bantam, selling European and Asian antique and reproduction furniture and accessories (860-567-4714); Jennings & Rohn Antiques in Woodbury, with English, Continental and American furniture of the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries (203-263-3775; Toll House Antiques in Bantam, selling furniture, stoneware, kitchenware, clocks, primitives (860-567-3130; and many more.

What Makes Them Tick?

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Take an hour to look through the American Clock and Watch Museum at 100 Maple Street in Bristol. You’ll learn the history of Connecticut clock making and see 1,400 clocks and watches. The museum is housed in an 1801 house. An early American sundial garden complete with period herbs and flowers adds beauty to the museum's grounds. The exhibit Connecticut Clockmaking and the Industrial Revolution, tells the story of a young man’s dream and its impact on American manufacturing. A favorite display is the two-story tower clock that provides a close-up look at what makes a clock tick. Open daily, April through November. Phone: 860-583-6070.

Which Way to the Brass Ring?

Whether you love art, American history, woodcraft, or the beauty and artistry of the carousel, the Carousel Museum of New England of Bristol is a treat. The museum contains one of the largest collections of antique carousel pieces in the country. Visitors can experience the Golden Age of the Carousel by browsing on their own or with the help of tour guides who describe the colorful history of this piece of America's folk art history. Open daily. Phone: 860-585-5411.