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