The town sign of Middlebury is in an okay location - it's right in front of Town Hall, so if you…read morewant to go see it there are places to park. There were people having some sort of informal gathering in back, but it was quiet so I can't fault the location. If you're on some quest to see the town signs, like I informally am, it helps to map this one out. Otherwise you end up looking for places to turn around while going around the town green. It is a little hard to read if you're doing a drive by, the angle just doesn't work. But it seems to be in good condition and legible up close.

Some historical nuggets:…read more 1- If you think the town's name has something to do with a central location, you'd be right -it's in the middle of three adjoining towns. 2- Revolutionary War troops marched through Middletown on way to the decisive battle at Yorktown, VA 3- The town's first house was built on Breakneck Hill Road. I wonder how and why that street was named? There's got to be one helluva backstory there... This is a 2 sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The same inscription is on both sides. The side facing the street is in very poor condition with streaks and fading. The side facing the building is in much better shape. It's located in front of Town Hall on Whittemore Road. The full inscription reads: The name of the town derives from the central position its meeting house occupies, six miles from three older neighbors, Waterbury, Southbury and Woodbury. Winter ecclesiastical privileges, permitting local church services, were established for West Farms, originally the southwest portion of Waterbury, in 1768. In 1790, West Farms and adjoining portions of Woodbury and South-bury became a distinct ecclesiastical society under the name of Middlebury. The first house in the area was erected by Isaac Bronson before 1702 on Breakneck Hill. During the Revolutionary War, French General Rochambeau and his troops established a camp in the Breakneck Hill section on their march to the final campaign at Yorktown, Virginia. First petition to the General Assembly for independence of Middlebury from Waterbury was made in 1800. After much opposition incorporation was granted in October, 1807. Erected by the Town of Middlebury the Middlebury Historical Society, Inc. and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976

ORIGIN: Natalie Van Vleck (1901-1981) found the Flanders…read moreNature Center & Land Trust in 1963 (@flandersnaturecenter). This was in effort to preserve the environment she enjoyed as a resident, artist, and environmentalist. LOCATION: Born in NYC, Van Vleck studied at the Art Students League (@aslnyc), and made a studio on the property of the farm her parents had purchased in 1926. The studio currently is the site of a variety of programs offered by the nonprofit, including fittingly art classes! EXPERIENCE: The legacy of Natalie Van Vleck has been sustained and expanded through the nonprofit -- Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust. Quite a few parcels of land around her family's Woodbury farm have been preserved, complemented by programs dedicated to the activities she enjoyed -- art and nature. The Van Vleck Farm and Nature Sanctuary is a destination that is particularly ideal for all ages. The trails are shaded, flat, short, and sprinkled with benches and picnic tables. The center coordinates activities that facilitate or enhance trail activities, including guided walks and letterboxing (a popular treasure hunt activity). A surprisingly large variety of art and nature activities are organized by the non-profit... check out the website (www.flandersnaturecenter.org) to see the latest offerings!

Pancake breakfast is fantastic! Delicious pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and coffee. All served…read morewith a smile! their syrup is outstanding!

Coe Memorial Park is located in Torrington and it is their "town green". The land was donated to…read morethe city by the Coe family to memorialize their parents; their home and greenhouse were on this 5-acre property. There's a large boulder with a memorial plaque; there were other war memorials as well. This park serves as a meeting place for the city and they hosts numerous events. The event we went to at this location was the Strawberry Festival. The park had plenty of green space with beautiful landscaping. The gardens had colorful flowers and plants throughout. The green space was plentiful for us to frolick around; my toddler loved playing near the trees. The walking path through the area was nicely maintained. There were benches to rest on and a building with a stage inside. There were plenty of metered on-street parking and a parking lot. Overall, a lovely town green amidst the bustling small city.

Nice park basically in downtown Torrington. I like how there are a variety of events that take…read moreplace here throughout the year. There is plenty of parking around though this park is walking distance for me. It is kept up nicely as I've seen the workers plant seasonal flowers etc regularly. The fountain in the center is very serene in the summer as is taking a picnic under one of the trees' shade.

I really enjoy hiking this location, especially in the winter. There is a train trestle that…read morecollects giant icicles. That's really cool to look at. We did the Pinney Loop which is just under 4 miles. The trail was obviously covered in snow as we had hiked January 1.

What goes great with a hike is coming with a group of friends and/or family, and Steep Rock…read morePreserve brings it all. It's worth the trip from surrounding areas for a weekend get-together or definitely the holidays. Free parking is provided with plenty of spaces to park. The trail map is provided at the beginning of the hike, or looking online and printing it out. Very useful to have on the whole journey. The main hiking trail is a gravel trail that parallels the Shepaug River from the parking lot, where cars pass through and also horses, which I found quite interesting. There are also dirt trails along the way with different colors (see map or online). Some highlights of coming here are checking out the old train tunnel, a bridge that crosses the river (which is wobbly, so be careful), and Steep Rock Summit, which can be tiring but well worth the climb with a decent view of the Clamshell section of the Shepaug River Valley. Bring snacks and a lot of fluids, it's needed according to the big map.

If you need an outside local getaway, the Litchfield Community Field is a great place. There are…read moreseveral baseball fields, a walking path, playground, tennis courts, and pavilion. In non-Covid times, it must be hopping - there's a location for restrooms and concessions! I guess hot dogs for little league games? A much more authentic experience.

I didn't see all of the Audobon, but went for their Raptors and Rieslings event and got to see…read moretheir birds. They have about five habitats for birds who don't seem ready or ever ready for release to the wild. One is a dopey but regal looking American eagle. You can walk around the area for wild birds, and bathrooms seem to be limited to a portable toilet. The area is peaceful and seems to be a good place for well behaved children. The birds are adorable!

Lovely walks in the woods, plus killer birds and serene ponds. The raptor aviaries are the closest…read moremost people will ever get to owls and a bald eagle. The indoor displays of birds, snakes and other animals are interesting too. The walk out to the pond can take almost 45 minutes round trip through quiet woods, so it's pretty good exercise in addition to being relaxing. Lots of stuff for kids, but also a great place for adults to spend an afternoon.

Walking trail around the lake is just under a mile. 4 laps around is about 8,000 steps! Love it…read more Look for the famous Lake Owl and the quiet heron Pickleball courts are sexy and new as of 9/30/23! I see people fishing and everyone you'll bump into there is the friendliest person you'll meet all day! Totally dog friendly! With refuse bins along the lake to drop ur doggie baggies into.

Lovely walk I was lucky to find a Amazing Couple who allowed me to walk with them due to me not…read morebringing a bear whistle the trail was flat and clean. Hopefully my talking and walking was what they enjoyed their Love Story was magical just like this trail. To My Two New Friends Thank you for the Lovely Sunday Stroll. Next time I'll walk farther with a Bear whistle and family.

Great historical area with awesome up keep and no vandalized buildings!! (So far). You can also…read morefeel the cool breeze from the caves, the bat cage mine as well as the shaft on the main hiking trail.