TRAVEL TIME 2 hours 30 minutes by car
WHY? The highest town in the state, reaching a lofty 1,770 feet above sea level, Norfolk is a living museum of New England tradition.
MUST DO Most people who know Norfolk think of it as the home of the Yale School of Music and Art. Students spend six-week sessions here, paid for nearly completely by the trust of Ellen Battell Stoeckel — the school is actually housed on her bucolic estate tucked away just off the green. There certainly isn’t anything else around here that can top the school’s fantastic summer concert series, held in what’s known as the Music Shed. Located towards the back of the Stoeckel property, it dates back to 1906 and is not, contrary to mistaken first impressions, a renovated barn — the interior is modeled after Manhattan’s old Steinway Hall. Famous for stellar acoustics, the Shed regularly hosts world-renowned groups like the Tokyo String Quartet. The big news in town right now, though, is that the old Opera House, an artsy-craftsy wedding cake of a building dating back to the 1880s, has now become Infinity Hall, a handsome live music venue that, in its short life, has hosted big names like Todd Rundgren and Kenny Rankin. The in-house Infinity Bistro emphasizes local produce and offers outdoor seating (Route 44, 20 Greenwoods Rd., [860] 542-5531). Behind the music, what you want to do in Norfolk is get into the outdoors. The town covers nearly 50 square miles; the Norfolk Land Trust does its best to preserve as much of it as possible for open-space purposes. You can request maps from the Trust by writing in (Box 363, Norfolk, CT 06058), or you can just hike up Haystack Mountain like everyone else who doesn’t have time to send away to a land trust for brochures. Located right on the edge of town, the short, steep hike up rewards climbers with great views.
STAY HERE A pleasant walk from the green, the Music Shed and Infinity Hall, is the Manor House, a late-1880s Manor House
. The six-room bed & breakfast is located on a quiet side road, great for light sleepers (from $130; [866] 542-5690). Full up? Don’t fret — down the road is the charming Mountain View Inn
, a Victorian beaut on the Litchfield road. Don’t be fooled by the English Country look — this place isn’t stuffy (from $120, [866] 792-7812).
HAPPENINGS Beyond the concert series at the Music Shed (July 10-August 22), hit the Saturday Farmers Market (June 6 through late October) to hear the town gossip and see what’s fresh and local. August is traditionally the month for the yearly book sale on the green, not to mention the annual Christ Congregational Church Fair. (Mustn’t forget that.)
HOT TIP When the weather gets toasty up here, everyone heads to the nearest pond or lake. There are plenty of them, hiding out among the trees, particularly in the areas around Westside and Mountain Road. Most have various rules and regulations surrounding their use — if use is allowed at all — but ask your innkeeper for advice. These pristine beauties, hidden among the pines, are just too perfect to miss.
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