6 Greatest Downtowns In Connecticut

Depending on whom you ask, or the day of the week, Connecticut is both thought of a part of the Tri-State as its southwestern area borders New Jersey and New York, or a New England State, as the remainder of the state aligns with Massachusetts and different New England states. One factor the state is understood for is its many tiny communities, every that includes walkable, picturesque, and welcoming downtown squares. These downtown areas provide guests and residents glorious native eating places, outlets, and distinctive museums and historic websites discovered solely in these communities. When occurring a highway journey or a solo trip, make sure to discover these superb municipalities.

Ridgefield

Just south of Danbury, proper on the New York state line, is the city of Ridgefield, which boasts a stunning, walkable downtown that includes a picturesque Main Street that runs by means of the neighborhood. The Lounsbury House is a historic and breathtaking occasion venue that hosts weddings, non-public occasions, company occasions, and neighborhood occasions for everybody to take pleasure in within the historic Nineteenth-century landmark.

Further north up Main Street, folks can unwind and dine at haunts just like the Lantern, which serves American delicacies in a classical, upbeat setting, and go to D. Colabella Fine Art Gallery to take pleasure in beautiful artwork created by native artists. Just within the neighborhood of downtown is the Ridgefield Playhouse, the place guests and residents can take pleasure in native performs, musical performances, and stay theater performances, making it a must-see when visiting city.

Mystic

Right on the Mystic River and Harbor is the historic and iconic village of Mystic. The city is located between the communities of Stonnington and Groton, and has an unimaginable downtown to discover. S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar supplies patrons with alluring views of the river and the remainder of city, and serves savory and scrumptious seafood and drinks for a wonderful evening out in town.

Right on Main Street is the Whaler’s Inn Hotel of Mystic, the place friends are handled to beautiful, comfy rooms and suites, can host weddings, conferences, and different occasions, and is inside strolling distance of all the pieces downtown has to supply. Across the river is the stunning Mystic Museum of Art, the place guests can take pleasure in reveals that includes attractive art work by native artists, join studio courses, and attend area people occasions.

New Milford

Just north of Danbury, alongside the Housatonic River, is the city of New Milford, famend for its whimsical New England appeal and historic downtown. The New Milford Town Green is within the coronary heart of downtown and boasts one of many prettiest greens in New England. The inexperienced, surrounded by the neighborhood’s native eating places, outlets, and companies, has loads of benches to take pleasure in a sunny day and is a great spot for neighborhood occasions.

On the western finish of the inexperienced is nineteenMain, a historic marriage ceremony and occasion venue that was once the United Bank Building, which was transformed into an opulent occasion venue in 2015 and might host weddings and different enchanting occasions, with a mixture of luxurious and financial institution in its inside. Just north of 19Main is La Piccolina, which serves patrons scrumptious, genuine Northern Italian delicacies and supplies catering and banquet menus for vital occasions.

New Canaan

Between Stamford and Norwalk, and an hour away from New York City by prepare, within the state’s panhandle, is New Canaan, a city with a picturesque setting, beautiful structure all through, and an extremely walkable downtown. On the western aspect of Elm Street is the Glass House, a museum that includes a set of Twentieth-century work and sculptures, in addition to different distinctive reveals for guests and residents to take pleasure in.

The remainder of Elm Street consists of dynamic outlets and eating places, like Blackbird Restaurant, a glossy and refined restaurant and bar that serves scrumptious meals impressed by Mexico, France, Italy, and components of Asia, together with some flavorful drinks to maintain the evening younger. Another museum on the town is the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society, the place folks can study extra in regards to the city’s historical past, view distinctive images and artifacts on show, and attend neighborhood occasions and packages.

Torrington

About 30 to 32 miles west of Hartford is Torrington, a metropolis with a wealthy industrial previous, a calming downtown, and the birthplace of abolitionist John Brown. Torrington’s downtown has the Naugatuck River flowing by means of the middle, together with Franklin Plaza. This small, cozy park was a avenue transformed to a walkway and serves as a market for native distributors.

Right on the jap finish of the plaza is Crumbs by Toast and Co., which serves domestically ready espresso and breakfast in a quaint setting with stress-free views of the adjoining river. West on Water Street is the Bad Dog Brewing Company, a neighborhood brewery that gives the neighborhood and area with flavorful small-batch craft beer, hosts a cornhole league, and hosts non-public occasions. Just inside strolling distance of City Hall is the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, a Victorian-style home that preserves town’s historical past, shows quite a few artifacts from the previous, and hosts occasions.

Middletown

Just south of New Britain and on the banks of the Connecticut River is town of Middletown. The metropolis has a vibrant arts scene and is the house of Wesleyan University. The excellent spot to mix into the humanities scene, the Buttonwood Tree is the place to be for individuals who wish to take pleasure in live shows by native musicians and artists, and it evokes and educates by means of packages centered on music and far more.

The Inn at Middletown is a surprising lodge set in an outdated Colonial-style armory that gives friends luxurious, elegant rooms, is pet-friendly, options trendy facilities, together with complimentary espresso served from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and hosts weddings, conferences, and different memorable occasions. About a five-minute stroll due north of the Inn is MIA Latin American Cuisine, a heat, welcoming, and energetic Latin-style restaurant with a hip, engaging inside, serving tasty meals and alluring drinks and internet hosting thrilling occasions to maintain the evening younger and entertaining.

What makes these six communities glorious and well timed is their distinctive and historic downtowns. Places like New Canaan, Mystic, and Middletown welcome guests from out of city with their historical past, their vibrant arts and cultural scene, and heat, welcoming eating places and native inns. These cities are additionally glorious locations to take pleasure in on the weekend after a protracted week in main cities, to not point out their native appeal that pulls guests again time after time, making for superb locations to discover and create recollections worthy of a lifetime.