What’s not to love? 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓 Yes, sweet, juicy, heart-shaped strawberries are ripe for the picking! This wonderful fruit (the only ones with their seeds on the outside) are delicious right off the vine, and in jams, jellies, tarts, pies, and of course, the ever-popular strawberry shortcake. So, keep your eyes peeled at your local farmers market or, for an exceptional harvest-your-own experience, visit any of these local, family-oriented farms, grab a basket, and pick ‘til your heart’s content:
🍓Jones Family Farm in Shelton https://www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/
🍓 Deeply Rooted Farms in Harwinton
https://www.deeplyrootedfarms.net/
🍓 Or attend the Monroe Strawberry Festival (6/15 & 6/16) where the picking is done for you.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1658174831604705
#CTVisit #VisitWesternCT #MakeitHere #Strawberries #Fruit #Summer2024
If you’re feeling bleu on such a gouda day, that’s okay – it’s #NationalCheeseDay! Today, more than 2,000 different varieties of this salty, savory, hard, soft, creamy, spicy, smelly, mild, delicious invention are enjoyed the world over. And for good reason – what doesn’t taste better with cheese? Maybe this is the day you take a break from the dairy aisle in the supermarket and try a new variety from any of these wonderful cheese destinations (btw, the most popular cheese recipe in the U.S. is – wait for it – mac ‘n cheese):
🧀 Greenwich Cheese Company and Fairfield Cheese Company
https://fairfieldcheese.com/
🧀 No. 109 Cheese & Wine in Ridgefield and No. 109 Cheese Market in Kent
http://109cheeseandwine.com/
🧀 Plum Plums Cheese in New Canaan
http://www.plumplumscheese.com/
🧀 Arethusa Farm in Litchfield and Bantam
https://www.arethusafarm.com/
🧀 The Dutch Epicure Shop in Litchfield https://www.dutchepicure.com/
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #MakeItHere #SayCheese #Cheese
Connecticut may be the third smallest state in the nation, but with 1,750 hiking trails, mountain biking routes, backpacking routes and more, we’re passionate about our hike & bike paths. Connecticut Trails Weekend (June 1st & 2nd) is part of #NationalTrailsDay, a nationwide hiking initiative established by the American Hiking Society in 1993 to inspire the love of the outdoors and the protection of our forests, parks, and trails. So, lace up your hiking boots, put on your pedal pushers, visit our favorite trail(s), and participate in the many FREE events. https://ctvisit.com/events/ct-trails-day-2024
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #HikingTrails #FreshAir #Exercise #Outdoors #GetMoving
Have a cow, man (hopefully, on a bun), as we celebrate #NationalHamburgerDay, when carnivores the world over honor this juicy meal-in-your-hand that originated in Hamburg, Germany (see what they did there?). Stateside, we cow-boys and cow-girls consume over 50 billion burgers a year; so it’s only fitting we give these savory sandwiches their due (rumor has it, bovines walk a little taller today). Burger varieties, recipes, and toppings are endless – way too many to mention; so, if you don’t feel like sparking up the grill, why not meat up with friends and get your juices flowing at these notable burger joints (What’s YOUR favorite?)
🍔 Rawley’s Drive-In in Fairfield
http://www.rawleysdrivein.com/
🍔 Prime Burger in Ridgefield
https://www.primeburgerct.com/
🍔 Merritt Canteen in Bridgeport
https://www.merrittcanteen.com/
🍔 Sycamore Drive-In Restaurant in Bethel
http://www.sycamoredrivein.com/
🍔 Litchfield Saltwater Grille in Litchfield
https://www.saltwater-grille.com/
🍔 Lucky’s Classic in Stamford
https://luckysclassic.com/
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #MakeItHere #NomNom #WherestheBeef #Hamburger
There’s no bad day for authentic, savory, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue. But on #NationalBarbecueDay? Come on – put the fish on ice, leave the veggies in the fridge, and enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes, dating back to colonial days, where no get-together was complete without food over a fire. After the Revolutionary War was won and the first bridge was built over the Missouri River, barbecue celebrations erupted all over the nation. Are you BBQ-challenged? No worries...here are a few pits that will have you drooling and asking for more (napkins). Tell us YOUR favorite:
🥩 Zach & Lou’s Barbecue in Torrington
https://www.zachandlous.com/
🥩 HooDoo Brown BBQ in Ridgefield
http://hoodoobrownbbq.com/
🥩 Farmboys Smokin’ BBQ in Danbury
https://farmboyssmokinbbq.com/
🥩 When Pigs Fly South in Sharon
http://whenpigsflysouth.com/
🥩 Hindsight BBQ in Waterbury
https://www.hindsightbbq.com/
🥩 Wild Bill’s BBQ in Waterbury
https://www.wildbillsbbqwaterbury.com/
🥩 Wire Mill Saloon & Barbecue in Georgetown
https://wiremillbbq.com/
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #MakeItHere #BBQ #NomNom #Barbecue
Today is Earth Day; and unless you’re Elon Musk or have a launch pad in your backyard, you’re stuck here. Before there was an EPA, or the Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act, there was Earth Day, instituted in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to increase public awareness of planetary threats like air and water pollution. Now acknowledged and celebrated around the globe, Earth Day reminds us that the lifestyle choices we make every day to reduce, reuse, and recycle our natural resources do make a difference. You can commemorate this important day by reducing your own carbon footprint – walk, scoot, or bike instead of driving; plant a tree or vegetable garden, and of course, recycle to the max.
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #EarthDay #SavethePlanet #MakeitHere
“Passport to CT Libraries” is a month-long program intended to encourage library users to experience the ambiance and collections of other libraries in the state. From April 1st to 30th, readers of all ages can pick up a “passport” at a participating library and use it to collect stamps from any other library you visit. After collecting five or more, you become eligible to enter a grand prize drawing for a $200 VISA gift card (some libraries may also offer a small prize for collecting a stamp). For details and participating libraries, visit https://fairfieldpubliclibrary.org/passportctlibraries/
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #Library #LovetoRead
National Gardening Day is here! As most green thumbers know, the benefits of gardening extend beyond the flowers, plants, and vegetables that spring up as a result. Tending to a garden also provides physical activity, serenity, and the satisfaction of knowing that you produced something beautiful or delicious from tiny seeds. So, get out there and plant some flowers or a vegetable garden. If you’ve never gotten your hands dirty before, get your feet wet with a small herb garden, and experience new growth, wonderful aromas, and a summer’s worth of fresh herbs. Need inspiration or helpful tips? Visit one of these beautiful gardens or garden centers in our area:
🪴 Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford https://www.bartlettarboretum.org/
🪴 Fort Stamford https://www.stamfordct.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/54/507
🪴 Colorblends House & Spring Garden in Bridgeport https://www.colorblendsspringgarden.com/
🪴 White Flower Farm in Litchfield https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/
🪴 Hollister House Garden in Washington https://hollisterhousegarden.org/
🪴 Bellamy-Ferriday House & Gardens in Bethlehem
https://ctlandmarks.org/properties/bellamy-ferriday-house-garden/
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #Gardening #Flowers #Spring2024 #GreenThumb
Holy Jalepeño – it’s #NationalBurritoDay! This tasty and versatile Mexican dish is a meal-in-the-hand favorite – a heavy tortilla wrapped around meat, cheese, tomato, rice, beans, vegetables, and sauces. The meat can be ground beef, shredded chicken, shredded beef, or shredded pork; bean choices range from black to red, to white, or refried; the cheese – usually cheddar. For vegetables, take your pick – as long as they’re fresh. Then add spices like cumin, chili powder, and oregano to provide an authentic Mexican flavor. Flexibility is key. So, gather the chicos and chicas and search for the perfect burrito today. Here are a few great restorantes to get you started (what’s your favorite?)
🇲🇽 Senor Panchos in Middlebury, Prospect and Southbury
https://senorpanchos.com/
🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta in Danbury, Stamford and Fairfield
https://puertovallartausa.com/
🇲🇽 Rincon Taqueria in Norwalk https://www.rincontaqueria.com/
#CTvisit #VisitWestermCT #Burrito #MexicanFood #NomNom
Arriving just in time to usher in our marvelous spring weather, National Take a Walk in the Park Day reminds #walkers, #hikers, #joggers, and their furry pals that Western Connecticut is home to spectacular natural beauty and wonder, to be explored in our State Parks on hundreds of #trails of every variety and difficulty, providing exercise and serenity as you listen to the sounds of nature, breathe fresh air and take in the sights. Here are several popular locations in our neck of the...woods:
👟 Lovers Leap State Park, New Milford
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Lovers-Leap-State-Park
👟 Black Rock State Park, Watertown
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Black-Rock-State-Park
👟 Collis P. Huntington State Park, Bethel, Newtown and Redding
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Collis-P-Huntington-State-Park
👟 Southford Falls, Oxford https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Southford-Falls-State-Park
👟 Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Forests/American-Legion-and-Peoples-State-Forests
👟 Kent Falls State Park, Kent https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Kent-Falls-State-Park
👟 Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Sherwood-Island-State-Park
👟 Osbornedale State Park, Derby
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Osbornedale-State-Park
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #WalkinthePark #FreshAir #Exercise #Outdoors
It’s National Spanish Paella Day! Considered by many to be the national dish of Spain, paella originated as a “peasant” food prepared over an open fire in a round, flat-bottomed pan with handles, usually containing some or all of these savory ingredients: chicken, sausage, clams, mussels, calamari or even rabbit. The open flame is essential, as it creates a layer of toasted rice at the bottom of the pan that is extremely flavorful and unique to paella. Sounds delicious, right? Celebrate this exceptionally satisfying dish at these great places:
• Paella in Norwalk
https://www.paellarestaurantnorwalkct.com/
• Barcelona Wine Bar in Fairfield, Stamford & Norwalk
https://barcelonawinebar.com/#CT
• Tablao Wine Bar and Restaurant in Norwalk, Ridgefield & Fairfield
https://www.tablaosono.com/
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #NomNom #Paella
Vive le pain – it’s #NationalFrenchBreadDay! Also called a #baguette (makes sense – that’s French), these long, thin loaves made from basic dough are defined by their crisp crust and elongated shape – made that way to bake quickly and evenly, convenient for slicing and storing. French bread adds taste and class to any sandwich, elevates soup to a meal, and provides the anchor for sensational French Toast. Lots of local bakeries bake fresh French bread. Two winners (according to Food & Wine Magazine) are:
🥖 Bantam Bread
http://www.bantambread.com/
🥖 Wave Hill Breads in Norwalk
http://www.wavehillbreads.com/
What’s your favorite?
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #FrenchBread #NomNom #BantamCT #NorwalkCT
For an exciting group activity that will test your wits, your initiative, and your ability to work as a team, try an Escape Room challenge. 60 minutes is all you get to search for clues, solve puzzles and crack codes to decipher the riddle and escape from your locked room. Adventures await in a wide range of themed rooms for teams of 8-10 (if you don’t have a team, you’ll be paired up with others). Here are some great escape rooms with locks on all the doors (think YOU can get out in time?):
🔍 Panic Room in Stamford & Norwalk
https://www.panicroomct.com/
🔍 Escape 101 in Danbury
https://esc101.com/
🔍 Escapology Escape Rooms in Trumbull
https://www.escapology.com/en/trumbull-ct
🔍 Mind Factory Escape Games in Bridgeport
https://www.mindfactoryct.com
🔍 Pursue the Clues in Torrington
https://pursuetheclues.com
#CTvisit #VisitWesternCT #EscapeRoom #FamiyFun #Puzzles
