| Fall foliage scenic drives in Connecticut
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| | close-by C. Vaughan Ferguson, Jr.
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| include the Long Island Sound coastal
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| | Conservancy offers walking trails among
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| routes, and the Litchfield Hills in
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| | marshlands and hills.
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| Northwestern Connecticut. These areas
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| | The easiest way of visiting Brooklyn
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| offer dramatic scenic drives any season,
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| | Green is simply to park the car and walk.
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| but for me, the trip that comes alive in
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| | With five churches on the green and a
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| the fall is nestled in eastern
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| | cluster of historical buildings, statues,
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| Connecticut's "Quiet Corner" and is Route
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| | and commemorative stones, something is
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| 169. This is a gem of a fall foliage
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| | bound to catch your eye to explore
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| scenic drive in Connecticut. Let me take
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| | further.
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| you for a quick spin...
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| | Leaving Brooklyn on Route 169 and heading
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| Peak fall foliage in Connecticut usually
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| | north towards Pomfret, you'll pass the
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| starts mid-October and lasts through end
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| | 200-acre Lapsley Orchards in the Bush
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| of October, sometimes drifting into early
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| | Hill historic district. Here during the
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| November. Connecticut has a milder
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| | fall you can pick crisp apples or
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| climate than many other areas of New
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| | purchase the perfect pumpkin for your
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| England, as evidence by the plethora of
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| | front porch.
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| wineries and vineyards enjoyed by the
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| | Another side trip worth taking before you
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| region these days. Many scenic routes
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| | reach Pomfret is Mashamoquet Brook State
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| take you close to one of the 16 open for
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| | Park and Putnam Wolf Den. At the junction
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| visiting.
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| | with Route 101 head west and take the
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| But back to our fall foliage route...
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| | entrance into the park less than a mile
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| Traveling Route 169 is as much about
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| | down Route 101. With the abundance of
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| historic buildings and communities with
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| | maples and oaks in the park the fall
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| traditions, as about brilliant color
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| | foliage dazzles. Be sure to take the path
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| changes - although you'll be blessed with
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| | and short walk to the Wolf Den where a
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| plenty of opportunities to soak up the
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| | plaque describes the events leading to
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| color and take an eye-popping memory
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| | the killing of the last wolf in
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| snap. The drive follows Route 169 from
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| | Connecticut.
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| Lisbon, CT, to the border with
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| | Back on Route 169 take the next few miles
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| Massachusetts. Though it's just a short
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| | into the center of Pomfret. A walk
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| drive of over 30 miles, nonetheless as
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| | through Pomfret presents another chance
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| you'll see it packs a lot into a small
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| | to check out an 18th century graveyard at
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| area.
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| | The Sabin Cemetery, 19th century
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| Begin your scenic drive in the town of
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| | churches, and a 13th century French
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| Lisbon, which can be reached, from I-395
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| | window at the Pomfret School chapel.
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| exit 83A. The center of town is known as
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| | Pomfret is also home to Sharpe Hill
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| Newent. In the town visit the Bishop
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| | Vineyard, one of the wineries on the
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| House Museum and the Newent
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| | Connecticut Wine Trail, and open for
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| Congregational Church for a flavor of
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| | touring and wine-tasting.
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| some of the architectural styles in this
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| | Continue the drive north on Route 169 out
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| region of Connecticut.
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| | of Pomfret for Woodstock, the final leg
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| Follow Route 169 out of Lisbon/Newent and
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| | of this scenic drive. Before reaching the
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| drive the 8 miles to Canterbury.
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| | picturesque New England village of
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| Named for the cathedral city in Kent,
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| | Woodstock, you'll have the chance to
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| England, Canterbury was originally
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| | explore many more hiking trails at The
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| settled in 1697, and offers a window into
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| | Connecticut Audobon-Pomfret Farms and The
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| Connecticut's early American past.
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| | Air Line Trail.
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| Highlights are the classic New England
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| | Connecticut is deep in museums and
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| Town Green and the Prudence Crandall
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| | historic homes, and in Woodstock it comes
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| Museum.
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| | together at Roseland Cottage - a striking
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| Prudence was an extraordinary woman, and
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| | pink Gothic Revival style house which is
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| The Prudence Crandall Museum documents
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| | also home to the Bowen Museum. The house
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| her attempt to provide education for
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| | has original furnishings and tours are
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| black women during a time of violent
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| | offered June - October.
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| oppression. Prudence's neighbors and
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| | Woodstock has a classic New England
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| friends eventually ostracized here and
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| | village feel to it, with a village green
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| forced her to close her school and move
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| | lined by Maples and an old burying
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| away from the area never to return.
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| | ground, meeting house, and many 18th
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| Wright's Mill Tree Farm is a
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| | century homes on the perimeter. And if
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| pick-your-own local favorite, and during
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| | you prefer not to head back to where you
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| the fall foliage season offers a spooky
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| | started but relax in Woodstock for the
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| hayride, and the chance to pick-your-own
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| | evening, then the Inn at Woodstock Hill
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| pumpkin. This 250-acre farm is in the
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| | have suites and rooms with fireplaces.
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| north end of Canterbury.
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| | The inn is on the National Register of
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| Travel the 7 miles to Brooklyn, where
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| | Historic places, and is a fitting end to
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| along the way you'll pass farms and homes
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| | this scenic tour in eastern Connecticut.
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| set among the rolling hills and fields of
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| | As you travel along Route 169 keep your
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| the region. Brooklyn is steeped in
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| | eyes open for the antique and bargain
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| history. You'll discover historical
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| | shops in the towns and villages.
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| buildings galore with a high
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| | Connecticut is the antique "capital" of
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| concentration of them in a 1.75-acre area
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| | New England and with the right browsing
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| known as Brooklyn Green. Both Brooklyn
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| | you're bound to discover that perfect
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| and Brooklyn Green are on the National
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| | treasure for your home.
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| Register of Historic Districts.
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| | Traveling on Connecticut's Route 169 is a
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| Places to view include Friendship Valley
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| | perfect New England ramble any season,
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| Inn, a stop on the Underground Railroad,
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| | but especially during fall foliage, when
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| and where Prudence Crandall was given
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| | the scent of autumn fills the countryside
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| refuge during her trial, and the 18th
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| | farms and the villages along the route.
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| century Old Brooklyn Burying Ground. The
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