Things To Do
Hartford Baking Co.
One of our favorites for breakfast or lunch sandwiches! This local franchise also has fantastic fresh bread, baked daily, along with other baked goods.
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail
A paved trail that crosses the Farmington River. We used to walk this often when Mikala lived down the road from one of the trail's parking lots. We recommend parking at the Brickyard Road lot (220 Brickyard Rd, Farmington, CT 06032) and going south toward the river, where there are great benches to help you enjoy the scenery!
Wood-n-Tap - Farmington
Another Connecticut franchise, this Wood n Tap location used to be down the road from Mikala's Farmington apartment. Now, it has moved down the road to along the Farmington River. There's indoor seating and an indoor bar, but also an outdoor bar and outdoor tables and Adirondack chairs along the riverfront. Classic, comfort food meets a beautiful location!
West Hartford Center
Blue Back Square and the rest of West Hartford Center are filled with restaurants and shops! It's a great place to spend a couple of hours walking around and grabbing a meal. You can find nearly any type of food here and it's very lively on nice weather days.
Elizabeth Park
The most beautiful park in Connecticut (in our opinion)! Walk the beautiful outdoor gardens, have a picnic on the lawn, or grab a meal at the delicious Pond House Cafe!
Heublein Tower
A short, 1.25-mile hike for those looking to fit in a little exercise while visiting Connecticut! It's steep at first, but then flattens out as you overlook the town of Simsbury and make your way to the Heublein Tower itself. The trail walk up to the Tower takes approximately 30-40 minutes. If the Tower itself is open, you can go inside and climb the stairs to get a view of the surrounding towns, including the Hartford skyline. There is also a picnic area spread out next to the tower, where you can eat a lunch you've packed or sit and read.
Talcott Mountain Collective
Talcott Mountain Collective is a great hangout spot, with plenty of outdoor (and indoor!) seating, local craft beers, food trucks, arcade games, and — of course — a view of Talcott Mountain. It also shares a parking lot with a frisbee golf course. It has something for everyone and would be a great stop after hiking to Heublein Tower!
Farmington Miniature Golf & Ice Cream
Always a fun time! Who doesn't love mini golf and ice cream?
Westfarms
We know malls are so 2005, but Westfarms is still quite active and hosts some high-end luxury brands as well as tried and true mall favorites. It's perfect if you've got the shopping bug while in town! And there's an Apple Store here, should you have tech trouble while you're here.
Collinsville Canoe & Kayak
Collinsville Canoe & Kayak is a family-owned business located right on the Farmington River! Rent a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle board and enjoy a phenomenal river view. They even have bicycles available for rent and use on the Farmington River Trail, which passes in front of the shop. Reservations aren't required, but they like a heads up for large groups.