Farmington Valley is taste of New England

If there is only one word to describe Connecticut's Farmington Valley, it should be green. And tranquil.

OK, so that's two words, but truly that's how it is here.

The rural back roads of Farmington Valley, just a few minutes north of Hartford, are exactly what you would expect of New England: charming two-lane highways, white-steepled churches, tapestries of peaceful small towns woven together with historic homes and buildings, jumbles of antique and curio shops and lots of verdant, loping hills, woods, pastures, meadows and farms.

Yep, it's country here, sort of like a Currier & Ives postcard, but the entire area -- comprising the towns of Avon, Canton, Granby, East Granby, Farmington, New Hartford and Simsbury -- is quite the oxymoron: It's what you might call "sophisticated country."

"While it's a great place to relax and get away -- you get the best of New England life here -- cosmopolitan Connecticut and the periphery of New York City are still right at your doorstep," says Vicky Forrest of Atlanta, whose family has lived in the area for many years.

But that only contributes to the savviness of Farmington Valley. No matter how rural it is geographically or how old some of the buildings are -- many date back to the 1600s -- you lack for nothing here: gourmet restaurants, the finest of accommodations, some of the best shopping in the Northeast, and the close proximity to "civilization" of places like New York and Boston.

And the great thing is that for such a collection of small towns, there is an amazing array of things to do. Here's a sampling of what you'll find:

-- Farmington Valley is your high school history book come to life. With more historical societies, museums and taverns than you can shake a proverbial stick at, the roots of Americana are here, from the Revolutionary War to the Underground Railroad to the abolitionists.

-- Antiquing is a way of life here, and for the very best in New England antique auctions, drop by the circa 1820s Canton Auction Barn in Canton, which might be compared to "Antiques Roadshow" in a barn - - but a big ol' barn at that, with heating and air conditioning and homemade pie to boot. Buyers come from everywhere for the simple homespun style of auctioneering from the Wacht family that hasn't changed since the 1950s.

-- The Hill-Stead Museum is a beautiful 1901 Colonial Revival mansion that, says museum director Cindy Cormier, "a marvelous 152- acre estate smack-dab in the middle of suburbia." Set high on a hill overlooking Farmington Valley, the Hill-Stead houses original artwork from Monet, Degas, Cassatt and Whistler, so it's definitely for the serious -- and maybe not so serious -- connoisseur of art.

-- Although I'm not an aviation buff, I highly recommend the New England Air Museum at Hartford's Bradley International Airport. This educational and just plain fun look at the development of aviation is worth a visit, mainly because of its myriad of indoor and outdoor full-scale exhibits, including more than 70 aircraft ranging from hot- air balloons to today's planes. I've been to a number of air museums, but this is one of the best with its mix of military and modern day aircraft.

-- If you really want a true taste of Farmington Valley country, stop in at Flamig Farms in West Simsbury. It's a petting zoo, organic farm -- eggs are their specialty -- and summer camp all rolled into one place. At Flamig, you'll find pigs, cats and dogs, emus, sheep, guineas, horses, peacocks, well, just about every animal you would expect to find on a farm. And you can take a hay ride, pony ride, horse-and-carriage ride or sleigh ride (in winter, of course) through the pastures surrounding the farm, all the while taking in the wonderful Connecticut scenery.

-- While Ski Sundown, a small winter resort, can hardly compare to the slopes of Colorado, it's a great place to learn to ski with its fifteen15 easy trails and wide boulevards. But don't let that throw you off balance if you're an expert skier, as Ski Sundown boasts lots of natural snow and the steepest trails in all of Connecticut -- including a "black diamond" named Gun Barrel and from where you can catch even more breathtaking views of the entire Farmington Valley.

-- Even the accommodations blend in perfectly with the scenery, with Classic Hotels of Connecticut offering four historical and distinct properties, including Avon Old Farms Hotel, the Farmington Inn, the Simsbury 1820 House, and the Simsbury Inn. Other good choices are the Centennial Inn Suites (complete with a 200-year-old carriage house), the Hartford Marriott Farmington, and the Dutch Iris Inn Bed & Breakfast, an 1812 Colonial home set on three acres of gardens.

"The best way to see the area is by car and by foot," says Florida visitor Margaret Burnside. "You can stop at one of these quaint shops, churches, or historic sites -- or not. Sometimes it's fun just to drive for the beauty you'll see."

Farmington Valley is one of those places that lingers in your mind long after you've left it, if for nothing more than its natural, quiet charm and historical value, so you should plan to stay awhile and explore all of its New England nooks and crannies.

If you go. . .

Farmington Valley begins just west of Hartford in the heart of northern Connecticut and ends only with your imagination. Most major airlines and car rental agencies serve Hartford's Bradley International Airport.

Contact the Farmington Valley Visitors Association toll-free at 800-4-WELCOME, 800-493-5266, or visit www.farmingtonvalleyvisit.com.

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