1. Antiques On The Farmington
City: Collinsville, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 693-0615
Address: 10 Depot St. (at Route 179)
Description: This multidealer shop has 70 dealer spaces on 2 floors, right in the heart of historic Collinsville. You’ll find furniture, lamps, linens, silver, china, glassware, clocks, paintings, jewelry, books, toys, Civil War memorabilia, and decorating accessories and collectibles. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and has a number of small rooms in this old Collinsville ax factory building to make browsing through the huge collection easier. Look for the white sign (above the old Collins Company sign) on the brick building off the street, right by the train station, and take home a piece of history from this amazing historical village.
2. Collinsville Canoe And Kayak
City: Collinsville, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 693-6977
Address: 41 Bridge St. (Route 179)
Description: This family-owned business has been in the old Miner Lumber Company building in historic Collinsville since 1990. Starting small, they have expanded to 10,000 square feet. It is simply the best place to come for canoes or kayaks in the state, with a large selection and knowledgeable staff. If you buy a canoe or kayak, the accessories come at a substantial discount, too. The store also offers self-guided and guided canoe and kayak trips on the Farmington River, as well as the Connecticut shoreline. Oh, and you can try out the equipment in the river right behind the store. How’s that for customer service?
3. Collinsville
City: Collinsville, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 104 Main St.
Insider Pick:
Description: The Collinsville section of Canton is a factory town built around the Collins Company, which for 140 years dominated this corner of Connecticut, making axes sold around the world. Today you’ll find Collins tools and more in the Canton Historical Museum at 11 Front St. (860-693-2793). There are antiques stores, restaurants, and galleries in this small section of town, and the Farmington Valley Greenway heads south along the river from here, a spectacular bike ride or walk alongside one of the prettiest rivers in New England. Many of the state’s historical towns are from an earlier era and are not factory based. Collinsville provides you with a different perspective on the industrial revolution that made Connecticut a powerhouse of America.