When
one thinks of Connecticut, country inns immediately come to mind. It's
easy to imagine yourself wrapped up in front of a roaring fireplace,
snowed in with one you love inside a quaint old mansion. Don't miss out
on the larger chain hotels though. You'll find many of them have taken
their decorating cues from their older neighbors. With endless beaches
along the southern coast, city activities inland, and miles upon miles
of country roads to explore, there is something for everyone in this
beautiful state.
Notes:
Incredibly
beautiful hotel. But else what would you expect from a furniture
company
like this? Offering Ethan Allen furnishings throughout, this
traditional hotel features a lobby with fireplace, a restaurant with
American fare, and a lounge with live weekend entertainment. Separate
saunas for men and women are provided in the fitness room. A outdoor
spa tub and pool are also on site
Hyatt Greenwich
1800 East Putnam Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
203 637 1234
Theme rooms: No
Appropriate for families?
Not really. You could bring your kids here, but it's such a formal hotel, and there is not much there that would interest them.
Notes:
My all time favorite! Conveniently situated just off the Connecticut
Turnpike, the Hyatt Regency Greenwich is a luxurious English
manor-style hotel overlooking landscaped lawns and gardens
Beautifully
renovated, the hotel features posh guestrooms, exceptional meeting
facilities, an indoor pool with sundeck, and an exercise facility with
sauna and steam room.
Be
aware though that the rates vary widely on different dates. I've seen
the exact same room go for $99, $140 and as much as $280 on a variety
of days. Compare the rates at Expedia and the hotel's official
website at Hyatt Greenwich as the rates change with the weather.
Notes: Located
in the Northeast, the theme rooms at this Inn will be a little more
expensive than the rest of the country. However their standard rooms
are affordable and just as beautiful. For themes, they have
Western, Irish, Lace, Presidential, Lady Agnew, Sherlock Holmes, Queen
Victoria, and Gainsborough's Blue Boy & Pinky. There's also a
lovely bistro on site.
Litchfield Informantion and links:
Litchfield Connecticut is home to some amazing antique stores. For something different, the Marie Louise Trichet Gallery located in the Wisdom House Retreat center offers exhibits that call to your spiritual side. The P.S. Gallery houses some of Connecticut's most talented artists in a charming little store.
While an aerial view of the state is wonderful anytime of year, a fall trip in ether the Aer Blarney Balloons or Preston Aviation's
1941 biplane is a definite must. Another must - if visiting in
September or October, hop in your car and make a quick half hour drive
up to Lime Rock to visit While Hollow Farm's Corn Maze. They offer moonlight mazes that are just too fun.
Where to eat? Why, right in the Inn of course, at their beautiful bistro! For other choices, LaCupola is one of the finest Italian restaurants in northwestern Connecticut. Or visit the Tollgate Hill Restauarant, a 1745 Restored Tavern and Inn listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
What else to do in Litchfield? The Litchfield Jazz Festival every August offers you great food and drink, art & photography and crafts of all kind in addition to the music.
