1. Avon Old Farms Hotel
City: Avon, CT
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (860) 677-2818
Address: 06001
Description: This 160-room luxury hotel is situated on 20 acres of manicured grounds, and includes an outdoor pool, sauna, fitness room, complimentary high-speed Internet, daily newspaper delivery, continental breakfast, and more. But these facts don’t really describe the wonder of this luxury hotel, with its curved staircases and plush bedrooms. The rooms are dark wood and clean white, with options of king, queen, and double canopy beds. The on-site restaurant, Ferme, is one of the best in the state, with a farm-to-table ethos that appeals to all. They also have a taproom, where you can get lighter fare, beer, and wine. Pets are welcome; call for information about their policies. There are even iPhone chargers in the rooms. That’s luxury.
2. Ferme
City: Avon, CT
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (860) 269-0240
Address: 279 Avon Mountain Rd.
Insider Pick:
Description: The panoramic views of Talcott Mountain and its location in the Avon Old Farms Hotel secure this as a destination restaurant. However, the seasonal menu created by executive chef Carl Rynecki is the thing that keeps people coming back. These aren’t just seasonal dishes, however; he re-creates the entire oeuvre each season. With a focus on local, sustainable, farm-fresh ingredients, sustainable seafood, and free-range animal products, Ferme is at the front of a new food movement. They grow all the herbs on the property in a garden, and they recycle all their fry oil as bio-diesel fuel. In a world where people wear a set of ethics on their sleeves, this is the real deal. The cheeses, breads, and charcuterie are all organic and made by local and regional people. Get the local Nodine’s Smokehouse bacon and cheddar sandwich, the Royal Red Stonington prawns, or the Connecticut monkfish.
3. Old Village Antiques
City: Avon, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 674-8621
Address: 21 E. Main St.
Description: In the historic village of Avon, this antiques shop is co-owned by Stephen Gero, one of the state’s leading dealers. He and his business partner, Daniel Hackbarth, seem to have an unerring sense of style and value. You’ll walk into a 19th-century saltbox and find a surprising amount of display space on both floors, tastefully arranged. Most of what you’ll find here is furniture and home goods, like lamps, paintings, and accessories, and most of the pieces have been expertly restored and are ready to take home and use without any work of your own. Old Village Antiques is open Mon through Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun noon to 5 p.m.
4. Avon Cider Mill
City: Avon, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 677-0343
Address: 57 Waterville Rd.
Description: Armando Lattizori built this mill in 1919, and his family still makes cider the same way, on a 200-year-old press. During the season it runs all week and produces 50,000 gallons of cider. At their store you can also buy their apples, pumpkins, and Christmas trees. From Columbus Day to Christmas Day, you can enjoy hot fritters, donuts, and, of course, the delicious cider. In the spring you can stop by for their bedding plants. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. spring through Dec. Pull up to the big red barn on the side of Route 10 to this historic mill for their cider, and for a glimpse into the past.
5. The Pickin Patch
City: Avon, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 677-9552
Description: Since 1666 this land has been a family farm, and the current descendants, Janet and Don Carville, preside over one of the most popular pick-your-own farms in the state. The strawberry patch is particularly large and famous, though you can also come here for blueberries, Christmas trees, vegetables, and a variety of other things. From Apr until Dec, you can come from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct weekends they have hayrides with the Pumpkin Lady to the patch. Coming directly to a farm is half the cost of retail, and it’s a head scratcher why more people don’t take advantage of it.
6. Riverdale Farms
City: Avon, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 677-6437
Address: 124 Simsbury Rd.
Description: This collection of specialty shops is built in an old dairy farm, with 11 original barn structures. Back in the 1600s it was Case Farm, and it grew to over 600 acres in the 1900s. More recently, the remaining 26 acres were bought by Silvio and Theresa Brighenti, and they transformed it into this collection of shops. There are some very specialized stores here, like All That Jazz, which sells dance, skating, and gymnastic supplies, and the Equestrian Centre, which sells horse-related items. For lamps and clocks, go to Avon Clock and Lighting, and for children’s clothing, My New Wardrobe, and stop for breakfast or lunch at the Avon Country Deli.
7. Talcott Mountain And Heublein Tower
City: Avon, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 677-0662
Address: 240 Montevideo Rd.
Description: The Talcott Mountain ridge separates the charming towns to the west from the tobacco farms to the east. Hiking opportunities abound here, north into Penwood Park and south along the New England National Scenic Trail toward Farmington. But the most popular hike on Talcott Mountain is the one up to the massive tower. It’s about 1.25 miles to the tower from the parking lot at Route 185, and there are a lot of steps after that, but the climb is well worth it. There have been towers on this spot since 1810, but this 1914 one was actually the family home of the Heubleins, a 165-foot-tall building from which you can see four states. In fact, few will argue that this is not the best view in Connecticut, and just the view of Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts, seemingly both within spitting distance, is worth the effort. If you continue west on Route 185, right at the river you will find the Pinchot Sycamore, the state’s largest, and possibly oldest, tree. You can’t miss it.
8. Huck Finn Adventures
City: Avon, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 693-0385
Address: 21 Waterville Rd.
Description: Since 1983 John Kulik’s outfit in Avon has offered canoe and kayak adventures on the Farmington River. Bring your snacks and drinking water, and let them set you up with canoes, paddles, and life vests. There are 3-, 5-, and 9-mile adventures to take down this easy section of flat water, taking about 1, 2, or 3 hours. You’ll pass under the Talcott Mountain ridges and by the enormous Pinchot Sycamore. Huck Finn used to run headlamp underground trips (seriously) in the tunnels of the Park River under Hartford, but are currently unable to. Let’s hope that this fascinating canoe adventure is allowed to continue. Meanwhile, they do run moonlight, firefly, and wine-tasting trips, and you should check them out.