1. Butternut Farm
City: Glastonbury, CT
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (860) 633-7197
Address: 1654 Main St.
Description: Calling Butternut a bed-and-breakfast doesn’t really do it justice. Parts of the house date from 1720, and it has been carefully restored and filled with a collection of 18th-century antiques. The reason this differs from many B&Bs, though, is that it really does have a farm, complete with a herd of dairy goats, chickens, geese, and more. If you like privacy or just don’t want to hear the chickens in the morning, get the Barn Apartment with its foot-thick walls. The prices are reasonable at Butternut, probably because it is located in Glastonbury and not out in the Litchfield Hills. You get proximity to all the attractions of Hartford and charming landscaped gardens to return to. What more could you ask?
2. The Connecticut River Valley Inn
City: Glastonbury, CT
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (860) 633-7374
Address: 2195 Main St.
Description: This large, rambling Colonial has been restored and updated into one of the most luxurious bed-and-breakfasts in the state by Patricia and Wayne Brubaker. Patricia is an artist, and designed the inn with an eye on the past and the future. This is modern luxury, with tastefully decorated rooms, each unique, complete with small touches like a copper sink or a body spray shower. There are 5 rooms in all, each with gas fireplaces and sinfully comfortable beds. Depending on the room, you’ll find flat-screen televisions, drop-down writing desks, balconies, and more. Breakfasts included homemade delights like quiche. Though you’re close to the center of Glastonbury, you’ll feel like you’re miles away from anything at the Connecticut River Valley Inn.
3. Ken’S Corner
City: Glastonbury, CT
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (860) 657-9811
Address: 30 Hebron Ave.
Description: This mom-and-pop breakfast joint in Glastonbury always has a line for seating, but it’s definitely worth a few extra minutes for the quality “big eater” meals. The biscuits and gravy and the banana-walnut pancakes are the same price as chain diners or restaurants, but light years ahead in taste. Try the French toast stuffed with cream cheese and strawberries; it is as decadent as it comes. The sides shine here, with corned beef hash and potatoes as standouts. You can always find specials on the board, and if Ken is there, he’s always willing to tweak your meal. This is a hole-in-the-wall off the street, nothing fancy, just great breakfast food done by chefs who care.
4. For The Kitchen
City: Glastonbury, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 657-9415
Address: 2850 Main St.
Description: After a fire, For the Kitchen dropped the “Everything” from its name and moved into Glastonbury at the Griswold Shoppes. Their stellar reputation followed them, especially that of former employee and new owner Vickie Griffeth, who simply knows everything about cooking and baking, and more importantly for you, everything about the proper tools. Knives, cookware, baking implements, teapots—all come at different price points, so you can find the best quality at a price you can pay. Vickie and her crew wrap gifts and give advice freely. This is the premier place to get your cooking gear in Hartford County, maybe in the state. Don’t expect to come into a crowded store overflowing with 400 different kinds of knives. For the Kitchen has done the weeding out for you, leaving choices among only the best.