Main Street Musts
In Chester, 19th century shops huddle the town’s curved Main Street like a collection of gingerbread houses, home to art galleries, elegant shops and boutiques. One such shop, the aptly named Ceramics, peddles Renaissance-inspired Italian majolica ceramics, hand-painted by artisans in Tuscany and Umbria and amounting to an extraordinary collection of tableware and decorative accessories. www.visit-chester.com
Near Essex is the village of Ivoryton, which gained its name from its piano-making history – at one time 90% of all ivory imported to the U.S. passed through this tiny municipality. Today, Ivoryton’s main attraction is its Main Street, a small-yet-stocked mix of adorable shops and period buildings highlighted by the Ivoryton Playhouse, which operates year-round.
Old Wethersfield offers another throwback Main Street, located in its “Old Village” section. Antiques and boutiques line the thoroughfare and, for those gearing up for garden season, it is worth noting that the town seemingly has a collective green thumb, with garden shops ready to get gardeners going as spring gets into bloom. Self-indulgent visitors are encouraged to give Narcissus Chocolate Café a try. www.historicwethersfield.org.
Guilford features five historic house museums, all outstanding examples of the 17th, 18th and 19th century homes dotted throughout the town. The Henry Whitfield State Museum remains the oldest stone house in New England, dating to the early 1600s. Add to this a wide array of quaint shops and restaurants – as well as the largest town green in the state – and Guilford exemplifies New England’s past and present charm. www.guilfordct.com
Up for arts and antiques? Bantam Road in Litchfield is not to be missed. Nearly a dozen line this charming street in the wonderful western Connecticut town. Historic buildings line this street and several others running parallel and perpendicular. The town was incorporated in 1719 and is considered one of state’s best preserved towns. www.litchfieldct.com
Ridgefield is a beautiful, colonial town founded in 1708. The town is famed for its handsome Main Street, which stretches more than a mile and is lined with stately homes, museums, churches and shops. Ridgefield also is an artistic haven; patrons of the arts will enjoy The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and The Ridgefield Playhouse to name a few. www.ridgefieldct.org
For a town of just over 2,000, Kent certainly has its share of outstanding antique shops. Main Street offers a bevy of finds. R.T. Facts specializes in unusual sculptural and figurative vintage objects. Lyme Regis focuses primarily on antiques from the British Isles. Foreign Cargo focuses on items from Africa and Asia, while Main Street Antiques focuses on American throwbacks. Add in an excellent restaurant or two and Kent is a small-towner’s dream. www.kentct.com
Looking to mix a little of modern with old charm? With over 200 shops and restaurants, the historically preserved West Hartford Center coupled with Blue Back Square blends a traditional New England town center with an upbeat mix of specialty shops, restaurants, coffee shops, one-of-a-kind boutiques and more in this posh suburb of Connecticut’s capital city. www.centerandsquare.com
