10 Reasons We Love Litchfield
Litchfield County features many classic New England towns with scenic outdoors and conscientious citizens, and the town of Litchfield proper does not disappoint. In addition to the many awe-inspiring natural settings, Litchfield offers a hub for sustainability, conservation, culinary treats, and community engagement. Here are some of the places we go to unwind, reconnect with the environment, and nourish.
1. Espresso 59 is a newer coffee shop just off the Litchfield Green in the building that once served as iconic home for the former family-owned fixture of 68 years — Murphy’s Pharmacy, which was known for home delivery and treating their patrons like family. Espresso 59 offers fresh baked pastries, donuts, gelato, and beverages, including more exotic, refined confections such as sfogliatella, zeppole and bombolonis. In a shop that was a local favorite for the soda fountain treats and penny candy, the café has big shoes to fill and based on many positive and five-star reviews, they are doing is right.
2. Litchfield Land Trust The Litchfield Land Trust (LLT) is a local nonprofit that oversees protected, outdoor spaces for conservation purposes. The LLT mission, “Preserving and Protecting. Forever.” reminds us that some of the most valued locations in the tri-state area are outside. Local trail areas include the Shepaug Crossing Preserve, the Upper Bantam River Preserve, and Prospect Mountain Preserve. The LLT focuses on land parcels that link wildlife corridors and ecologically valuable properties for protection, so don’t be surprised to see indigenous wildlife along the way.
3. Litchfield Farmers Market Every town needs a great farmers market and Litchfield does not disappoint. Founded in 2007, the Litchfield Farmers Market supports local growers, farmers, and producers, with fresh items each week including staples for the pantry. Options include but are by no means limited to honey products, maple syrup, local cheeses, locally roasted coffee, goat milk soap, flowers, seafood, and artisanal breads. These are just a few of the provisions you can find on Woodruff Lane from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday. (Check the website for more details and rain days.)
Topsmead. Photo by Lindsey Victoria Photography
4. Topsmead State Forest is a conservation property that features winding trails, native flowers and plants, fruit trees, butterfly gardens, and meadows for a lovely place to picnic, walk the kids and dogs, and simply enjoy time outside. The property was originally owned by a local industry leader that left part of the land to his daughter, Edith Morton Chase. Chase believed in ecological education and appreciation and made sure the land would be used in this manner for generations to come. Local intentional outdoor spaces such as this reverberate and mean so much to us, now perhaps more than ever as open spaces become harder to find.
5. Kula Collective is a local yoga, meditation, and wellness studio in town that provides classes, workshops, and individual sessions in various holistic arts. The practices are steeped in physiology and alignment-based instruction, as founder, Siri Hoffman, is a seasoned athlete and somatic teacher. Options also include energy work, breath work, and massage. “The concept and birth of this space is to bring people together, to support each other as teachers, as students, and as a community at large. To me, being a community member for the past 12 years, Litchfield is a town and area that is dedicated to the integrity of a close-knit community. It thrives on togetherness, and on spaces, organizations, and groups of individuals that encourage bringing people together to be with and connect to one another. Kula Collective couldn’t feel more rooted in the supportive environment of Litchfield,” shares Hoffman.
6. Litchfield Hills Audubon Sanctuary The Litchfield Hills Audubon Society offers natural sanctuaries, events, programs, and educational opportunities that support conservation and nature-based learning. The regional chapter currently oversees three locations, the largest at 306 acres being Boyd Woods Sanctuary, Kalmia Sanctuary, 13 acres, and and Wigwam Brook Sanctuary, which features 36 acres of explorable, protected land. Each area has its own character and host many varieties of birds, including chestnut-sided warblers, field sparrows, indigo buntings, eastern towhees, and others.
7. Chanticleer Acres Farm Chanticleer is a biodynamic and regenerative farm that has a community self-service store selling GMO-free and organic heirloom vegetables, eggs, and herbs, all grown with love. Owner and founder, Harvey Hubbell, a humanitarian and environmental advocate, and lead growing expert on the farm, Stephen Kassel, are both working in alignment with nature on their farm.
White Memorial Foundation. Photo by Lindsey Victoria Photography
8. White Memorial Foundation A very special spot that we’ve mentioned before, White Memorial Foundation is a lush oasis for experiencing nature’s beauty in Litchfield. With many trails for hiking, biking, dog walks, and time with friends and loved ones, it is a true gem. Beautiful marsh, lake, forest, and hillside vistas allow visitors to kayak, paddleboard, or navigate one of numerous easy to moderate-grade hiking trails. Expect to find indigenous plant and wildlife, such as turtle, blue heron, and resident beavers. The Little Pond Boardwalk Loop is spectacular at sunset.
9. Oliver Wolcott Library serves as a central source of activities for the town and provides a significant range of titles for all ages to enjoy. OWL is ranked first in the state of Connecticut for adult book circulation volume, demonstrating how vital it is to the town. The library features a children’s reading room, acting classes, knitting and crochet groups, senior exercise classes, walking groups, book clubs, an art gallery, and delivers to those who are homebound or unable to travel independently. There is something sacred about libraries in America, perhaps now more than ever, and The Oliver Woollcott library is a beacon in town.
10. Meraki is a centrally located café providing healthy local eats and a cozy place to enjoy a latte or chai with friends. Enjoy their vegan spring rolls, organic chicken pot pies, gluten-free stuffed portobellos, lemon chicken soup, Moroccan lentil salad, along with many delicious salads, sandwiches, rice bowls, and burritos. Meraki also caters and has pre-order dinner menus that can provide fully vegan, gluten-free fare. The owners, Patty and Martin, make delicious custom-prepared items for small groups and parties, and have a food truck that can be hired for events. The intimacy and camaraderie of Meraki, and their willingness to be creative for their clientele make the purveyor a long-standing favorite among locals.
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