A Connecticut Fall Foliage Day Trip

According to the Fall Foliage Experts there is still time to enjoy Connecticut’s changing color. Last Sunday I drove to Keene, New Hampshire in place of my usual foliage trip where I had a wonderful afternoon and a visit with someone special. However, if you haven’t had an opportunity to view the spectacular color yet, try my favorite Connecticut day trip. These destinations are all located in Litchfield County, and have great picnicking facilities.

Hopkins Vineyard, New Preston ~ At the big red barn you can have a wine tasting, find some terrific gifts for yourself or others, and sit upstairs at the Hayloft Wine Bar for a glass of wine and a cheese and fruit platter white savoring the view from the window. Outside, look down the hill and across Lake Waramaug and marvel at one of the best foliage sights in the state. Picnic at a table outside the winery. www.hopkinsvineyard.com.

Kent Falls in Kent ~ the parking lot is conveniently located right off the main road. Walk through a covered bridge, then cross the meadow to the foot of falls that plunge approximately seventy feet in a dramatic cascade. Make the one-quarter mile climb to the top with vantage points along the way. Have a game of Frisbee in the adjacent meadow. Picnic at a table near the falls. www.ct.gov/dep/site. Click Outdoor Recreation; click State Parks & Forests; click Find a Park.

Cornwall Covered Bridge in West Cornwall ~ located just seven miles North from Kent Falls on Route 7. Drive through the 173-foot long bridge which has been in continuous operation since 1864, park the car on the other side and walk through the bridge and back again, peeking out the window openings on each side for postcard views of the Housatonic River. Who knows what you might see. Picnic at tables or on the ground while watching the river activity.

Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall ~ Drive up the 1,683-foot mountain, less than 4 miles. Enjoy great foliage during the drive, but expect to be wowed at the top with a panoramic view including Mount Greylock to the North, and the Catskill Mountains to the West. Picnic at tables at the top or at pullout areas on the way up or down. (See website under Kent Falls)