We were a group of four. One person was mid-tour when we arrived. As there is only one docent, she…read morebegan the tour over. We were 3/4 way through our first floor tour when another party arrived. Instead of adding them to the tour, and then covering what they missed, she asked them to wait. The living room is beautiful. Plaster work, beautifully hand painted walls (by a modern artist), elegant furnishings. Photos of the home pre-restoration are showed and discussed in this room. So much work has been done! There are also photos of the family and you learn a bit about them here. We also had the opportunity to ask questions about the home and family. Through this Q&A we discovered in what types of 'shipping' the family were involved. The dining room table displays a variety of period china. The fireplaces on this floor are marble. The dining room light fixture is very interesting, and although not original fits very well and makes a statement. Sadly, the kitchen is not restored for guests to view. There is however a butlers pantry in the dining room displaying more serve ware. An Antarctic research station is named after Captain Palmer and a live feed is shown in the next room as well as several ship models including the one Capt. Palmer was on when he discovered the continent. Information on the gentleman who created these models is also presented. There is a variety of information in this room about Capt. Palmers Antarctic discovery and one of his shipping trades: seal pelts. The short hallway between dining room and this include other items of trade such as Palmer tea and jade. The upper floors are self toured and there are three of them. Stair cases narrow as you ascend. The highest point is a small cupola surrounded by windows with a small bench seat that fits about three. There was a nice breeze with the windows open and long views. The two floors between include bedrooms, 'toilet' rooms, children's play room, fire alarm display, sewing room, office space and storage. Plenty of old furnishings, linens, toys etc. I particularly love the sewing box. Beautiful, intricate work. The price for the two locations is very reasonable and if you have time, are looking for an air conditioned space, love history/architecture/home décor, then this is going to be a nice stop. Free parking is available at the side of the house. Enter at the grand front door. A gift shop is located just inside to the left of the entrance. A restored ice house, storage and out houses are behind the home. I saw no public facilities (but didn't ask). There is a fair amount of land with the home including a small pathway with bench seating along the water on the other side of parking. In July there were plenty of mosquitos. Picnic tables are located behind the research library next to parking. Tickets may be purchased on line through their website as well as at the Stonington light house museum. Stonington residents and historical society member admission is free. Military, senior and first responder discounts are available. July and August the museum is open daily 10am - 4pm. The rest of the year hours are limited - check the website for information.

We visited after being informed that our Stonington lighthouse entrance fee also included entrance…read morehere. It's right down the street Who was Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer? He was credited with discovering Antarctica (whilst hunting for seals) in 1820 at the young age of 21 with a minimal crew. He grew rich and built a stately home in his birthplace of Stonington, CT. After his brothers wife died, Nathaniel and his wife (who were childless) shared the home with his widowed brother and his 4 children. It was great to learn the history of this family and home, feeling transported to another time and imaging what it must have been like. I want to know more. Beautiful furnishings, interesting history and a beautiful setting. Parking is free and plentiful and the grounds are serene and quiet. A great way to spend an hour or so in this quaint town.

This event space is beautiful! I attended a BNI Meeting here the other day and was shocked I had…read moreno idea this place existed. It is a smaller event space, but it could be a great place to have a small wedding, meeting, or party. The fireplace and rustic feel make it so warm and welcoming. There is a cute bar area off to the side. I now really want to know more about this space and have a reason to have an event here.

We hosted our wedding welcome party at Silver Oak in July, 2019 and were thrilled with how…read moreeverything turned out. Maggie, Hannah and Tim were all a delight to work with and were super helpful throughout the process. We loved the vibe of Silver Oak - it is comfortable, yet sophisticated. The beer and wine on top were high quality and we enjoyed that some of the beers were local. I really liked the set up - there are separate areas (couches by the fireplace, dining tables for eating, bar area and outdoor patio) and people could move around easily to socialize. We also hired Luigi's pizza (recommended by Silver Oak) and enjoyed delicious food all night. Everything about the night turned out perfectly and we were thrilled with our event. We highly recommend this spot - it is a hidden gem.

Quiet lovely farm we walked through. Fresh produce, merch, trinkets, etc. at their store and then…read moresoaked in some nature at the flower field and little wedding area field it looked like. Free parking and entry!

What a lovely fall dinner. We ate on the porch of a historic mansion on an idyllic farm. The…read moreservice was super attentive and warm. The food was incredible. Small portions but we left feeling satisfied! The cocktails were delicious too!

Pros: cute animals, nice little general store, a few friendly staff, feed for animals, a few ride…read moreon toys , trikes and slides, little train,House for future santa visit, yummy things to buy. Cons: muddy area where ride on toys are, not cleaned off after rain, big sign saying kids shouldn't run or yell?? (Kids do that if they are small and having fun!) general store had overwhelming cigarette smell when you walk in when we were expecting cookie or donut scents. No one manning train or not running? I'm sure in spring through fall it's better but December you need to bundle up! Wear boots or old shoes for mud. We will try maybe again in spring and hopefully the smoky smell issue will be resolved because that is inappropriate for the public and a turn off.

Visited after snow fall the curates went out of his way to make sure we met all the animals even…read morecalling the emu out into the cold for us he was a gentleman waiting for us to finish oohing and awwing. all and all a great wholesome visit for the grandkids can not recommend festival farm enough

My wife and I booked two nights here rather than staying at Foxwoods while traveling through New…read moreEngland. The home was built in the late 1700's, and is beautifully appointed with period antiques and art. So cool. Even though the home is a few decades old, the towels, sheets, soap and even the toilet paper is high end! Breakfast was incredible. Charlotte called the night before we arrived and asked what we would like. My wife had delightful Eggs Benedict, and I had scrambled eggs, and the best bacon ever! The grounds are expansive. Plenty of room to enjoy the huge house, or one of the many outdoor spaces. The views of the rolling hills would make an instagrammer blush. I can't wait to stay here during the holiday season.

We stayed at Heavitree over a holiday weekend for our Anniversary- it was truly amazing! The house…read morewas built in the 1770s, and its decorated to the time period. The grounds are beautifully maintained, it was so peaceful to drink coffee sitting out on the rock wall overlooking the hillside of Christmas trees. Charlotte was a perfect host, friendly, hard working, and makes a delicious breakfast! Highly recommend the basement room, so big and comfortable! We plan on returning to pickup a Christmas Tree!

With a desire for fish and chips, we pulled into the parking lot of the Haversham Tavern…read more We are currently in our RV, so we were delighted with the large parking lot. We were welcomed with a friendly greeting. Outdoor seating in their beautifully landscaped garden appealed to us. We both choose the fish and chips. Perfectly cooked! We highly recommend this gem.

Interior was spacious but in need of updating and cleaning with broken chairs and some questionable…read morelooking condiment bottles. Service was accommodating and friendly to our larger party. The menu consists mostly of breaded, fried and "quick cook" dishes. Ordered the Grilled Salmon with side salad and seasonal vegetables. The Salmon seemed to have been poached and pan seared rather than grilled and generally lacking any flavor other than the oil it was cooked in. The vegetable was green beans which were quite undercooked and firm as agreed upon by the rest of the table who has also ordered the vegetables. Overall I was left with the impression of low quality standards, a general lack of enthusiasm or passion 3.7/10

Beautiful venue and great food and drink! I have visited Little Dipper Farm for several of the…read moreField & Feast events from the incomparable team at Stone Row KB out of Willimantic. The space pays homage to the previous business Golden Lamb while adding new flair! From an afternoon tea in the Fall to a Summer celebration; the farm features the idyllic countryside of Eastern CT and rustic chic interior perfect for a special event. The signature locally-sourced small plates and cocktails from Stone Row crew have been excellent, and make the meal more of an evolving experience. Thanks for a lovely time!

Unreal. Every dish was more incredible than the last. This was the juiciest pork I had ever had in…read moremy life! The flavors of each course were masterful. Lobster ravioli and lavash with homemade butter are to die for. Coming from Boston, this was worth the trip, I can see this rustic, farm to table culinary EXPERIENCE being the next French Laundry. You can taste how fresh the ingredients are and the passion that the chef and staff have for their craft. Not to mention, the property is breathtaking. It is peaceful farm with a stunning lookout point and lake behind the restaurant. Overall decor is ultra authentic and sourced directly from the chef and staff, or part of the history of the farm. Each dish and each part of the restaurant seems to have a unique story behind it. I would drive the 1.5 hours from Boston, or farther anytime to experience this again!! Shout out to Crystal for taking great care of us and sharing fascinating tidbits about the history of the farm, the food, and how it's made!