1. Mayflower Inn
City: Washington, CT
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (860) 868-9466
Address: 06793
Description: The Mayflower Inn has been rated one of the top 35 hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. That’s the world. Opened in 1992 on the site of one of Connecticut’s countless private schools, the Mayflower and its luxury spa have become a destination for everyone who wants a little (or a lot of) pampering. The 30 guest rooms in 4 different buildings—the Mayflower House, the Speedwell cottage, the Standish cottage, and the Allerton cottage—are all uniquely appointed and provide different experiences, with touches like marble baths, feather-topped mattresses, and antique oriental rugs. The art on the walls is real. You should obviously eat at the fine restaurant while you’re here, and don’t forget the spa; try the eponymous Mayflower massage, which is geared to your specific needs, combining oils, Swedish and deep-tissue massage, reflexology, and more, all for the same price. The inn is not cheap, but provides tons of amenities, including things like cross-country skis in the winter and boots and umbrellas if it rains. When you walk wide-eyed into your rooms at the Mayflower, a single orchid will welcome you, signaling your choice to submit to one of the most luxurious experiences you’ll have this side of heaven.
2. Mayflower Inn
City: Washington, CT
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (860) 868-9466
Address: 118 Woodbury Rd. (Route 47)
Description: The small restaurant at the luxurious Mayflower Inn is as excellent as the rooms and spa. The menu changes, but focuses on fresh, seasonal food with traditional dishes done with a light touch of genius. The menu is kept small to focus better on the meals available, a smart move that doesn’t overtax the chefs, who then put all their energy into perfecting seasonal delights. Try the game sausage and house-smoked salmon if they’re still on the list. If you’re there for Sunday brunch, the vanilla bean and ricotta pancakes have to be tasted to be believed. The award-winning wine cellar has plenty of choices to accompany your meal, including a few options from Connecticut wineries. But you’ll be eating on tables set with Limoges china, so try not to drink too much of the great wine and break something.
3. Hickory Stick Bookshop
City: Washington, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 868-0525
Address: 2 Green Hill Rd.
Description: This independent bookstore in a brick building at the crossroads of Washington Depot is a classic, with a fantastic selection of new books and classics you won’t find in the big chains. They are famous for their frequent book signings, even on Sunday afternoons. Hickory Stick’s owner, Fran Kilty, does the new book buying, but takes recommendations from customers and staff. She also has a hand-picked music section, a huge children’s section, cards, clothing, Vera Bradley bags, games, and puzzles. They get a lot of local support from some of the exclusive nearby private schools, and partner with local libraries for events. Dense with quality books, this is a community bookstore in every sense of the word.
4. Institute Of American Indian Studies
City: Washington, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 868-0518
Address: 38 Curtis Rd.
Description: This rural museum focuses on Native Americans from the Northeast, especially the Algonkian peoples, and features tools and art. A re-creation of a longhouse and a Children’s Discovery Room are both inside, while outside a 17th-century settlement allows you to walk through a life-size exhibit. Check their schedule, because the programs they run, like dances and craft workshops, are the best part of this museum. Literally right next door is the Steep Rock Reservation (www.steeprockassoc.org), a nature preserve with hiking trails along the rivers and up to the summit of Steep Rock, where there are views of the Shepaug River below. There are old carriage roads in here, too, which served a hotel, and other vestiges of the past. Nearby, at 626 Washington Rd. in Woodbury, the Schaghticoke Indian Reservation Cemetery is definitely worth a stop as well.
5. Averill Farm
City: Washington, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 868-2777
Address: 250 Calhoun St.
Description: This farm dates back to colonial days, and the Averill family has been farming the land since 1746. The 200 acres boast structures that date to the early 1800s, including the huge old stone homestead. Ten generations of Averills have worked the land, and they continue to grow 100 varieties of apples and pears, which are available for picking. The farm stand is open Labor Day to Thanksgiving and in addition to their own fruit, they sell cider, donuts, maple syrup, honey, cheese, and cut flowers. You’ll drive back along the dirt road through the orchards, and immediately be transported to the rural life we all once lived, and lived happily.