(Route 202/Torrington line)
632 Torrington Road | 860-496-7536
Homemade since 1982, Peaches N’ Cream ice cream comes in a staggering number of flavors, many of them seasonal like Pina Colada, Peppermint Stick, Creamsicle, and Orange Pineapple. If there’s a flavor you love, chances are you’ll find it and can enjoy it in a homemade waffle cone. There’s also sorbet, as well as ice cream cakes, in-stock or special order.
(Litchfield Center)
245 West St. | 860-567-1500
The Litchfield Candy Company is that magical emporium some of us remember from our youth, and others have seen depicted in movies and wondered why there wasn’t a local candy store overflowing with sweet treats of every size, shape, and flavor. In this tiny shop tucked between Meraki and Sunshine Car Repair, you can also find truffles, gift baskets, boxed chocolates, and seasonal offerings—essentially anything your sweet tooth can imagine.
1293 Bantam Rd. | 860-567-9356
Located along Route 202 southwest of Bantam on the way to Mount Tom Pond, Gooseboro Drive-In is a popular roadside spot for burgers, hot dogs, onion rings & fries, and ice cream + Sundaes that’s been around since 1961! In the summer of 2021, Gooseboro won the first annual Dog Days of Summer Hot Dog Contest … and was named Top Dog!
*Outdoor dining.
Good for: BOATING | FISHING | SWIMMING
Litchfield Town Beach is open to residents by permit (as is Morris Town Beach). Out of town visitors may visit by paying a daily fee at the gate. The town beach features a sandy beach area, a boat launch, and picnic tables.
Good for: BOATING | FISHING | SWIMMING
Sandy Beach Bantam Lake, billed as “the best kept secret on Bantam Lake.” Boats can also be launched here, and summer swimming lessons are available.
Good for: BIRDING | HIKING
The Litchfield Land Trust offers approximately 13 miles of trails on five preserves. The heavily-wooded, 340-acre Prospect Mountain Preserve, for example, features more than six miles of trails, a high plateau, a 1,350-foot summit elevation, rock outcroppings, stone walls, former nickel mining sites, and more. Head here for details about all the preserves and trail maps.
Good for: BIRDING | HIKING
Litchfield Hills Audubon Society’s Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary, located on Route 254, was originally owned by longtime member and active birder Margery Boyd. She kept a daily record of the birds seen on the property for three decades! After her death in 1992, her cousin and heir gave the property to the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society. The 106 acres have well-marked trails, two ponds, a brook, and lots of birds, of course. More info and a trail map are found on their website.
Good for: BIKING | HIKING
The Litchfield Community Greenway is a work in progress and the completed sections are popular, especially as part of an extended way to experience the main property of White Memorial. In fact, a portion of the greenway overlays on White Memorial trails, and in the fall of 2021 the greenway added an impressive new boardwalk along a section of Bissell Road. The gorgeous map for the greenway, which roughly follows the route of the old Shepaug Valley Railroad, beautifully contextualizes the greenway’s connection to the town.
Good for: BOATING | FISHING | HIKING
Mount Tom State Park along Route 202 on the southwestern edge of Litchfield near the Washington border offers boating and a beach for swimming in the summer, and it’s popular in all seasons for the uphill hike to a signature stone tower at the top offering stunning panoramic views. More info can be found on the website.
Good for: BIRDING | HIKING | HORSEBACK RIDING | SNOWSHOEING
Topsmead State Forest (cared for by the Friends of Topsmead State Forest) is anchored by the English Tudor style “cottage” of Edith Morton Chase, built on land she received from her father, Henry, president of Chase Brass & Copper Company of Waterbury. In 1927 Ms. Chase purchased the adjacent Buell Farm, and on her death 1972 she left the estate to the State of Connecticut to preserve its natural beauty. The trails flow through woods and open meadows emanating from the cottage at the top of the mead. Check the website for details on visiting and cottage tours, and make sure to look at the great series of Lectures on the Lawn under Events.