Two Helpful New Guides Available From Visitors Bureau

The Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau has published two new guides to help local residents and tourists alike discover – or rediscover – the attractions of the 48 towns in the northwest region of the state.

From village greens and cosmopolitan urban centers to winding country roads and rippling rivers, this section of Connecticut stretching from Ridgefield and Derby north to the Massachusetts border is rich with history and treasures for visitors.

Compact and interesting itineraries can be planned easily using the listings of sites and lodgings and the detailed map included in Northwest Connecticut’s Attractions and Lodging Map & Directory. None of the attractions are more than one hour apart.

Readers can discover some of the surprises that can be combined in a short trip, like the exotic wildlife that can be seen at Action Wildlife Foundation in Goshen or the military drills and musical rides of the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard in Newtown, one of the last active cavalry militia units in the United States. Learn where to experience rafting thrills on the rapids of the Housatonic River or hike a country nature trail.

One route might focus on time travel in two exceptional museums: The American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol and TimeExpo in Waterbury. Another could take in some of the best summer music festivals in the Northeast, starting with Ives Concert Park in Danbury, then moving north to Music Mountain in Falls Village, and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in Norfolk.

The entire region is within an easy drive from New York, Hartford or Boston. Detailed driving directions from each city are included in the brochure.

For a free copy of Northwest Connecticut’s Attractions and Lodging Map and Directory, contact the Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759; call 800-663-1273; or visit www.NorthwestCT.com.

Also Available

From amusement parks and vineyards to country inns and concerts, all the ingredients for a perfect getaway in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut can be found in the second publication, Unwind, a full-color, 40-page free booklet.

This useful guide for all seasons details the many options that make this beautiful and unspoiled corner of Connecticut so appealing. Art galleries, book shops, cooking classes, farm markets, gardens, performing arts, shops, spas and outdoor recreation are among 20 categories organized alphabetically to guide visitors.

Two of America’s oldest and best summer music festivals are among the entertainment options. Outdoor lovers will find suggestions for hiking, biking, canoeing, rafting, tubing and horseback riding.

Some of the more unusual outings include hot air ballooning in Litchfield, bi-plane flights in Sherman, and some of the most exciting sports car racing in the Northeast at Lime Rock Park.

A comprehensive lodgings section gives over 70 choices for every taste and budget, from comfortable country inns, posh resorts and world class hotels to dozens of charming bed and breakfasts. More than 40 restaurants, trendy to traditional, include many four-star choices. Planning a trip is made simple with driving directions from major cities and a calendar of seasonal events.

Free copies of Unwind are available from the Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau (see details above).