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)

Habits are Hard to Break

Normally, this would have been the weekend when I would spend a day visiting my favorite spots in Litchfield County to marvel at the autumn colors and confirm once again that the foliage in Connecticut is every bit as spectacular as that in Vermont.

For years, it’s been pretty much the same route, starting at Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston for a wine tasting and the purchase of a bottle of Sachem’s Picnic to enjoy later in the day. In my book I talk about the setting being straight out of a country journal, but the most dramatic view here is the foliage across Lake Waramaug. Next, we visit Kent Falls State Park in Kent, climbing the stairs to the top of the falls which plunge 70 feet in a dramatic cascade. then heading to Cornwall Covered Bridge, just seven miles north in West Cornwall. Here we drive through the narrow 173-foot long bridge, which has been in continuous service 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.

The rest of our day varies somewhat depending on how early we started out. Sometimes we poke around the Towns of Kent or West Cornwall, other times we take a drive to the top of the 1,683-foot Mohawk state Forest in Cornwall, just under 4 miles. The view is an awe-inspiring panorama of Mount Greylock to the north, Heublein Tower and Avon Mountain to the East, and the Catskills to the West.

Picnicking is spectacular at any one of these places, or what's fun is a progressive picnic, snacks at the first stop, soup or salad at the second, and so forth.

Anyway, as I said, this is the fall foliage trip I usually plan for the middle weekend in October, but which is not going to work out this year. So, I am doubly glad that last weekend I happened to find myself in the Berkshires with a friend who suggested we drive to Bash Bish Falls located in the extreme southwest corner of Massachusetts at Mount Washington State forest.

We followed signs from route 41 in Egremont, arriving at the upper parking lot and proceeded to walk down a rather steep hill which promised to be even steeper further on. Thankfully, after just a few feet we met someone coming the other way who said he knew of an easier access, which turned out to be a lower parking lot, less than a mile or so further on, actually just across the line in New York. What a difference ~ an easy walk where we could actually enjoy the scenery rather than struggle down a steep hill covered with wet leaves.

What really excited me however, were the falls, the fastest flowing I have seen in several years thanks to the rainfall during the past few weeks. This is Massachusetts’ highest single-drop waterfall with water cascading through a series of gorges and forest before dropping about 60 feet into a pool below. They are known as twin falls because of the boulders that are in the middle separating the cascades.

Now I'm thinking it's probably a good thing to change direction every now and then. Who knows, one of these years I just might decide to revisit Vermont in October. It's been a long time!

October Happenings

Well, depending on what part of Connecticut I visit, the foliage is either near peak, at peak, or just past peak. I hope that everyone has already taken a relaxing drive to enjoy this October phenomenon, and with the warmer-than-usual weather, perhaps stopped for a picnic as well.

If not, there are still two weekends left and lots of special activities going on. Here are a few suggestions:

Elm Knoll Farm, Somers, through October 31st ~ Their website boasts one of the largest pumpkin farms in Connecticut, plus a new corn maze, petting zoo and so much more. Be sure to check out the evening Haunted Hay Rides. http://www.elmknollfarm.com/.

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Mystic, October 24 & 25 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. ~ The Spooky Nature Trail for families is a self-guided tour through haunted woods, plus treats and cider, crafts and games. http://www.dpnc.org/.

Connecticut Trolley Museum, East Windsor ~ Some of the unique activities at this location are: Pumpkin Patch Time through October 26, Rails to the Darkside on October 24 & 25 from 6:30 - 9:00 pm., and Night of the Haunted on October 19 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm with special guest researchers and authors.

Visit this creative and fun website to get the full effect of these Special Events. http://www.ct-trolley.org/.

Talcott Mountain State Park, Bloomfield/Simsbury ~ The Heublein Tower is well-known for exquisite views of the countryside, especially during October. On October 19 from 10:00 - 5:00 pm there is another reason to make the one and one-quarter mile climb to the top of the mountain. The "Tower Toot" is the Friends Annual Fund-Raiser. Food and drink will be available for sale, music provided, and face painting for the kids. In addition, the gift shop will be open all day.

www.ct.gov/dep/site. Click Outdoor Recreation, click State Parks & Forests, click Find a Park. (At the Talcott Mountain State Park there is a link to the Friends of Heublein.)

Have fun!

Fall into Connecticut Campaign

Exciting news for Connecticut residents like me who look forward to exploring the state during fall foliage. Yesterday, Governor Rell announced the extension of her "Staycation" program through November. Hundreds of businesses and attractions are taking part by offering discounts for lodging and restaurants and reduced admission fees to attractions throughout the state.

I am happy to join this campaign by offering a 25% discount on web orders for my book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket. This book will guide you to attractions that are also taking part in the "Fall into Connecticut" Campaign, such as Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, Mystic Aquarium and Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, both in Mystic, Old New-Gate Prison in East Granby, Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford, and Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston.

In addition to the above destinations, Cruising Connecticut has thirty-three other exciting day trips, all with picnicking facilities and a suggested menu, plus one or two recipes suitable for each destination. Even if you're not a cool-weather picnicker, you will find many of the recipes comforting when served at home during a blistering wind or snowstorm, such as White Bean Chicken Chili, Jambalaya, Carousel Chili, Sandwiched Meat Loaf, and Wild Mushroom and Oyster Chowder. And, all the bread and dessert recipes!

Check out the "Fall into Connecticut" participants at http://www.ctvisit.com/. Cruising Connecticut is listed under the Town of Glastonbury, the location of my publishing company, or simply go straight to my website for my offer, http://www.cruisingconnecticut.com/.

The most important thing is to get outside and enjoy the beauty of autumn in Connecticut. I love the quote chosen by the sponsors of the Campaign: I cannot endure to waste anything precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house." Who could have said it better than Nathaniel Hawthorne?