Chatfield Hollow

Who says there is nothing to do in CT? Not us. Buy yourself a CT Park Pass and you can't get bored. Our first state park this year was Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth. The trails were pretty quiet, since most people were down at the beach or picnicing. We passed maybe a handful of fellow hikers in the few hours we were there. We took the red trail, linked up with the purple and the blue eventually. What's great is that the website for Chatfield Hollow has a printable map that says the mileage of each trail so that you know what you're getting yourself into before you start. We hiked over to a covered bridge and dipped our toes in the water for a little break. Plan on getting muddy. The trails were pretty wet, even though it hadn't just rained.

Elizabeth Park - Hartford

The roses at Elizabeth Park are stunning and unique! There were so many different varieties of roses that I never had even recognized as being roses before. Word of caution, don't do a Sunday like we did. Pick an off-day afternoon to stroll the garden. We encountered droves of people, including 2 weddings and a 2 quinceneras. Also, the non-rose areas were actually more interesting. We found a cozy little bench among the greenery.

 

The Counter - West Hartford

As you can see, we love food- good food, that is. The Counter is in Blue Back Square of West Hartford. Who knew burgers could be so refined? You can select a burger from the menu, or do like we did and fill out a form to individualize your burger. You can pick the size (lbs), chicken/turkey/beef/or vegan veggie burger, cheese, toppings, dressings... And it's not just cheddar and american, iceburg lettuce, etc.! For example, I chose a multgrain bun, veggie burger, apricot salsa, sprouts, mesclun mix greens, TONS of veggies, and a locally made cheddar. There's even a super-cute old-fashioned counter to sit at, if you'd rather not do a booth. Definitely a great place to stop after shopping ;)

crispy onion rings on the side, naturally!

Heirloom @ The Study - New Haven

Not very noticeable from the street, and not too well-known, Heirloom is not to be missed! Local farm produce, meat, and dairy makes everything remarkably fresh. They focus dishes around which produce is in season, so the menu is never stagnant. The cocktails are also a pleasant reprieve from your run-of-the-mill staples like cosmos and margaritas. Each drink is so unique, I didn't know which to try first (so I attempted to try them all...)! These photos do not do the plates justice:



Daffodil Festival

Last weekend was the Daffodil Festival at Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT. What the festival lacked in daffodils (most were past their prime or not there to begin with), it made up for with yummy ethnic foods and a fabulous display of people watching. Sunny Farms of Lisbon, CT had a booth, and we highly recommend their local whipped honey and maple syrup. Also, we were very impressed by The Fire Witch Pottery. Although I did not buy anything from them, I plan to order some amazing pieces of pottery after I graduate and am employed! There were noodle bowls with a slot for the chopsticks, mortar and pestle, roasting pans, and other unique items. I didn't even intend to match the flora, but it worked out beautifully:

Hubbard Park doesn't always have the waterfalls running, but they did this weekend. I got some nice shots of Neil with Castle Craig in the background.

Tea Time Photos

Our friendly neighbor to the northwest

*Disclaimer: This post will be the LAST non-CT spot, I promise!!! Unless, of course, we spot something wonderful and worth sharing outside the Nutmeg state limits...

Neil and I set out on the adventurous journey to Millerton, NY to have lunch at Harney & Sons Tea Shop and stroll around the cute little downtown area. SOO worth the hour and fifteen minutes!

We stopped first at Harney & Sons for lunch. It was Neil's first tea experience, and he had iced tea (which I told him still counts). Not only can you do a tea tasting ala wine tasting style, but the menu is phenomenal. They use as many local ingredients as possible, depending on the time of year, and there is a plentiful selection for both vegetarians (me) and omnivores (Neil).  Later, we perused the shops downtown, which are unique and ecclectic. Our favorite was an antique shop full of random furniture, paintings, toys, you name it. After playing in the store for about an hour, I settled on an army supply bag, which I planned to refurbish (pictures to follow).

Stay tuned for pictures of our day! I can't seem to upload them, but I'm certain Cornelius can.