26 Fun Things to Do in Litchfield, CT; Hikes, History, Food!
Nature, adventure, arts, and the best eats – you won’t believe all the fun things there are to do here in Litchfield! Living in Connecticut most of my life and living in Litchfield for several years, I’ve compiled this list so you can experience the very best of Litchfield.
From museums to nature walks, hikes, historic sites, stone towers, a wildlife center, the best restaurants in the state, and the first law school in the county – there’s a ton to do in Litchfield!
Designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1968, Litchfield is an example of a well-preserved late 18th-century New England village. 🌳
“A small town that more than carries its weight on the history, charm, and scenic beauty fronts. This picture-book spot in rural western Connecticut has an oak-shaded town green and hundreds of historic buildings.” Travel + Leisure Magazine
So whether you’re taking a day trip in Connecticut to Litchfield or visiting for the whole weekend, I am confident you’ll find plenty to do both in and outside – as adventurous as you want to be! – in this best of Litchfield list. ⬇️
The Best Things to Do in Litchfield, CT (from a local!)
1. Visit White Memorial Conservation Center & Trails
A popular place to walk in Litchfield, White Memorial is 4,000-acre Environmental Education Center and Nature Museum.
There are over 40 miles of trails here and all provide a peaceful, non-technical walk in the woods.
A couple of my favorites are the 3.1-mile Marsh and Boardwalk Trail and the 3.6-mile Beaver Pond Plunge Pool Loop. 🙂 Whatever trail you take here, you won’t be disappointed!
2. Walk to the Top of a Historic Tower (2 choices below!)
🌅There are 8 towers in Connecticut you can hike to for a view and we’ve got two of them right here in Litchfield!
Mount Tom Tower 🏰
You’ll get 360-degree views from the top of the 34-foot-tall stone Mount Tom Tower making it ideal for sunrise or sunset! At just 1.2 miles roundtrip it’s a family friendly climb but is a little rocky near the top so wear sturdy hiking boots!
Camp Columbia Tower 🏰
This is a super short walk at just 0.6 miles round trip! And as long as you’re not afraid of heights this is a must-see when in Litchfield.
Camp Columbia State Park was used during the First World War where it served as a military combat training facility for Columbia students.
3. Visit Topsmead State Forest & Historic Estate
There isn’t a CT state park I love more than Topsmead. From the moment you drive in on Buell Road through the tunnel of tall pines – you’ll feel transported to another country! 🌲🌲
This park is very accessible with a wide short driveway you can walk up to the mansion. If you want to get adventurous there are several trails leading from the mansion to the east and west.
4. Thorncrest Farm & Milkhouse Chocolates
Are you hungry yet?! If you love and appreciate good chocolate then the stop at Thorncrest Farm & Milkhouse is a must when visiting Litchfield!
I’m not exaggerating when I say Litchfield has the best of everything! Thorncrest is a Best of Connecticut award winner for their farm-made chocolates! 🏆🍫🐄
Chocolate is made with milk from their happy cows on the farm. I interviewed the owner, Clint who said the following;
“Our job is to make sure that today is the best day of these cows’ lives.” He explained how they can tell when a cow is stressed by the acidic flavor of their milk and how each chocolate is connected to a very specific cow.
“The whole barn is designed for flavor, and flavor comes from lack of stress,” says Clint. “Any kind of stress shows up right away in the milk… that’s my job, to keep the cows really stress-free.”
5. Visit a Magical Flower Garden
If you’re visiting Litchfield in the spring, summer, or fall – you’ ‘re in luck and you have 3 different flower gardens to visit. Each one has something unique! 🌷
White Flower Farm
White Flower Farm has gorgeous display gardens spread across the whole property for you to walk through and enjoy. A family-owned business with a garden center on Route 63 just south of the Litchfield line in Morris.
Laurel Ridge Daffodil Field
If you’re lucky to be visiting Litchfield in mid April through early June, be sure to stop by Laurel Ridge/Northfield Daffodils on Wigwam Road in Litchfield. Visit the Facebook page for bloom updates and details. 🌼
Hollister House Garden
If you’re visiting Litchfield for more than one day I highly recommend taking the 20 minute ride to Hollister House Garden in Washington. Wander and prepare to be in awe of this stunning 25-acre public garden inspired by classic English garden design where formal paths and “garden rooms” blend into lush, seasonal plantings.
6. Shop & Stroll West Main Street, Downtown
Find a spot to park along West Street and enjoy the multiple antique shops, clothing, jewelry, home & gift shops here.
7. Sip Tea at an Authentic British Tearoom 🫖
Nestled at 11 Watertown Road in Morris, minutes from downtown Litchfield, Penny Farthing Tea Room & Bakery is a British-inspired café and tea room. Open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., it’s one of my favorite places to stop when adventuring in Litchfield.
The menu features a quiche of the day, sandwiches, baked goods, and specialty teas. Opened by friends from Britain, they aim to recreate an authentic British tea room atmosphere. 🇬🇧
8. Walking Tour of Historic Litchfield
Novelist Sinclair Lewis stated, “The only street in America more beautiful than North Street in Litchfield is South Street in Litchfield.” 🌳🌳
Take yourself on a self-guided walking tour of Litchfield’s historic homes. Download a map or pop into Litchfield Historical Society to get one! 🙂
I was fortunate to live right off North Street for a few years and my favorite daily activity was walking my dog up and down the sidewalk streets, admiring the super old, beautiful, historic homes.
Laid out in the mid 1700s, these huge, immaculate homes seem unchanged yet clearly maintained to pristine condition! See if you can spot some of the hitching posts in front of houses. These carriage steps (or mounting blocks) that dot North and South Streets allowed passengers an easier way of climbing on board a carriage or stagecoach. 🙂 Cool!
9. See the Longest Covered Bridge in CT
At just 20 minutes from the center of Litchfield in the quaint village of Cornwall, you can find the longest covered bridges in CT – the historic West Cornwall Covered Bridge. ❤️
Located on RT 128, AKA the Sharon-Goshen Turnpike, this iconic CT landmark spans 172 feet long over the Housatonic River. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s still a bridge you can walk or drive through (one car at a time).
10. Get cozy in a cafe ☕️🫖
Whenever I visit Litchfield, I always stop at one of the cafes and it’s always hard to choose which one!
Here are my favorites..which doesn’t help much since there are 4 of them!
- Toast & Co (dog-friendly 🐶) Best for breakfast sandwiches and lattes to go! They also open very early.
- Arethusa A Mano Best for pastries and special items. 🙂 🥐
- Espresso 59 Best for a latte and cookie or a filling, homemade lunch.
- Meraki Best for food to go and heat at home or if you’re in the mood for a breakfast burrito. :)🌯
11. Discover an old nickel mine 🪨
If you’re up for an adventure, go on a mine hunt 💎 at Prospect Mountain Preserve. Take the blue trail from the small parking area on Cathole Road and after just 0.3/0.4 miles look for a trail on the left leading to the site of the historic mine shafts!
In the 1860s, a mining company carved out a 75-foot shaft on the mountain in hopes of hitting gold. Today, hikers can look down into its dark opening and picture the tough conditions miners once faced while working here.
12. Visit the Nation’s First Law School
The Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School takes visitors on a journey through the 19th century life of a real student who came to Litchfield for an education at the Litchfield Law School or the Litchfield Female Academy.
Through role-playing, hands-on areas, and interpretive exhibits, each visitor explores timeless issues of travel, communication, education, and community.
While the house closes mid-December to April, I love just coming here to see the outside (such a pretty house) and to roam the Tapping Reeve Meadow out back! It’s also a 5 minute walk from downtown Litchfield so it’s worth the visit!
13. Ski or Hike at Mohawk Mountain in West Cornwall
A 16 minute drive from the center of Litchfield, Mohawk Mountain offers a more adventurous hike or great place to ski in the winter. In the spring, summer, and fall you can drive to the top of Mohawk Mountain to get these sunset views.
If you’d like you can hike here; check out this 4-mile route. For skiing and snowboarding information at Mohawk Mountain click here! ⛷
14. Sunset Meadow Vineyards 🍷
“Our goal at Sunset Meadow Vineyards is to provide our patrons with high quality, estate grown wines that reflect the character and charm of the Litchfield Hills.”
Sunset Meadow Vineyards is minutes from downtown Litchfield and in addition to great wine it has amazing views on the lawn and entertainment on certain nights!
15. Litchfield Distillery 🍻
Today, we take the best our local farmers have to offer and distill fine craft spirits, one batch at a time. They do the growing. We do the batching. And you get a little share in this luscious little section of Connecticut called Litchfield County.
Taste The Spirit of Hard Work® as they like to say the Litchfield Distillery! Stop in to shop, taste, or even book a tour at Litchfield Distillery!
16. Eat at an award winning restaurant 🍝
It’s worth mentioning in this Litchfield guide that you’ve got two of the highest rated and award winning restaurants right in town.
1st: Arethusa al tavolo has won the inaugural CRAzy award as the state’s best restaurant, bestowed by the Connecticut Restaurant Association.
You’ll need to make a reservation well in advance at this renowned farm-to-table restaurant. I finally got the chance to eat here and overall – I loved it but the portions are small – see photo below. 😆
2nd: Materia Ristorante is an Italian restaurant in Litchfield and has gotten just as much attention. Newer, it won Best Restaurant in Litchfield County and the chef is a James Beard semifinalist.
17. Visit Action Wildlife Foundation 🦌
Nine minutes from downtown Litchfield is where you’ll find practically a whole zoo! It’s a great spot to visit with the whole family.
At Action Wildlife you can feed animals, visit a petting zoo, a museum housing animals from 6 of the 7 continents, yard games throughout the property and more!
18. Take a Hike 🥾
Take advantage of the rolling hills and acres of land and choose a beautiful hike in Litchfield. Below are images from two of my favorites right in town.
19. Bantam Cinema & Arts Center 🎬
A non-profit film and arts center located minutes from downtown Litchfield, Bantam Cinema is the oldest continuously operated movie theater in Connecticut!
The mission of the Bantam Cinema & Arts Center, Inc. is to preserve and operate the historic Bantam Cinema and enhance the cultural vitality of the Litchfield Hills through offering a diverse program of film, theater, music and visual arts that seeks to inspire, educate, and engage its audience.
20. Litchfield History Museum
The Litchfield History Museum exhibits the evolution of the town of Litchfield, CT from its settlement in 1719 to today. Through exhibits, artifacts and archives, as well as hands-on areas, visitors can explore the diverse history of the town. litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
The museum generously offers free admission to explore Litchfield’s history but they are closed from December through mid-April. Be sure to check the hours!
21. Lake & Beach Activities 🛶⛵️
Covering 947 acres, Bantam Lake is the largest natural lake in CT! Bantam Lake is home to two public beaches in Litchfield; Morris Town Beach and Sandy Beach in Litchfield.
From swimming, fishing, hiking, sailing, and even winter activities – check out this page for more info!
22. Winvian Farm (lodging, spa, dining)
Named of the 17 best wellness retreats in the world;
Set on 113 acres and bordering extensive woods and lakes, Winvian Farm was created to recharge and indulge. A place like this is difficult to describe for it lacks nothing.
Winvian Farm aspires to host you with no airs but graces, no extravagance or opulence, only warmth and treats. The 5-star cuisine, the wines, the Spa and the team are as unexpected as the experiences that one ultimately enjoys.
Of course, all of the above comes at a price, so this would be the option for someone looking to spoil themselves or someone else when visiting Litchfield.
23. Rachel’s Quality Consignment
One of my favorite things to do when in Litchfield is to visit here and see what fun and different items I can find for myself or as gifts for others.
Known as being a designer bargain-hunters heaven, brands range from Hermes to Coach, Patagonia to Lululemon, and everything in between. There’s even a small houseware items section, collectibles, and jewelry.
Stop in on your way through Litchfield and see what you can find! 💎
24. Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy is your chance to traverse the natural habitats of more than 80 species of rare and endangered birds, while experiencing the beauty of nature and urgency of waterfowl conservation.
One of the largest collections of waterfowl in North America, their goal is to “educate visitors of all ages on the importance of wildlife conservation through hands-on experiences with our waterfowl, their habitats, and our conservation programs.”
Providing a home to more than 80 species, totaling more than 400 birds from around the world, click here to book a tour or check out visiting hours!
25. Charym Yoga Studio – Take a class!
If you’re staying for the weekend or several days why not wind down and take a class at a studio that’s repeatedly voted Best Yoga Studio in Connecticut! 🏆
26. The Spa at Litchfield Hills
Pamper yourself with a manicure, hair cut and blow dry, a massage, or a unique piece of jewelry or candle from their giftshop (which I love!).
If spending some time in Litchfield, you’ll love any time spent in this relaxing spa! Aside from the array of gifts, I’ve gone in for hair services, a massage, and mani/pedicure and always leave feeling better somehow.
Fun Facts About Litchfield:
- Home to the oldest continuously operated movie theater in Connecticut 🎞
- Home to the oldest CT state park system (Mount Tom State Park) 🌲
- Home to two different historic towers with views at the top! 🥾
- Home to the ‘best restaurant in CT’ 🥇 as well as one of the ’17 best wellness retreats in the world’!
I hope you enjoyed this compilation of all the best things to do in Litchfield, CT!
I sure love visiting here and doing any number of these so I’m confident if you pick a few you’ll have a beautiful day, too.
Enjoy! :))
Looking for more hikes and adventures in CT? ⬇️⬇️
Click here for all of my Connecticut posts or this next post about 24 things to do in Kent, CT!
