Location: Simsbury
Top Things to do in Simsbury
10 Things to Do in Simsbury That You Shouldn't Miss
Simsbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 23,511 at the 2010 census. The town was incorporated as Connecticut's twenty-first town in May 1670. Simsbury was named the 4th best town in Connecticut on Connecticut Magazines list of top places to live 2013 and 9th best town to live in 2015 in the United States by Time magazine.
Restaurants in Simsbury
1. Talcott Mountain State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 154 reviews
Reviewed By RedVegMag - Hartford, Connecticut
Despite several reviews that say this is "easy" hike. That should be modified to "if you are young and in shape with no health issues". It is steep, very steep. There is loose gravel and earth for 80% of the pathway, so going down is problematic.
Also those with young children or animals should make sure they can keep them close and away from the many edges into nothingness.
2. Flamig Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
An Enviro-friendly Family-centered Farm with Petting Zoo, alternative energy sources, Earth Products (Mulch, Compost and Comp-soil) division, Farm Shop, Farm-raised fresh eggs and local honey, Pony/Hay-rides, Staycation accommodation, Birthday Parties and Summer Camp programs. Over the past 30 years, driven by Nevin Christensen's eco-environmental vision, Flamig Farm has grown from a modest Egg, Organic Vegetable, and Strawberry Farm into arichly-varied, education and entertainment Farm complex.
Reviewed By Chris F - Farmington, Connecticut
The Flamig Farm Halloween Hay Ride begins several weeks before Halloween and ends soon thereafter. Each Hayride seats about a dozen people and follows the same trail through a variety of Halloween scenes with live actors. Some of the effects are scary and may not be appropriate for young children and some seniors. Dress appropriately for an outdoor ride of about an hour duration. Also be sure to pick up some locally baked donuts before or after the ride.
3. New England Air Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 253 reviews
The New England Air Museum houses over 80 aircraft in three large hangars and outdoor display area, as well as an extensive collection of engines, instruments, aircraft parts, uniforms and personal memorabilia. Plan a visit today to check out exciting aircraft, displays, exhibits and programs that are perfect for all ages!
Reviewed By Amberjack03 - Brooklyn, Connecticut
Once you've paid the very reasonable admission fee, you enter the first room where right in front of you are all kinds of Viet Nam era warplanes and various helicopters. The second room provides you with more aircraft to view and in some cases, stand right up next to the cockpits for a good birds-eye view of what the pilots would see. The third room houses only a few planes but is the best example I've ever seen of a pristine condition B-29 Bomber and a couple of other propeller driven small planes. Overall, a great place to spend a couple of hours viewing the flying machines. The gift shop is quite filled with books, souveniers, and other memorabilia of the machines and military.
4. Northwest Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By kzsull01 - Windsor, Connecticut
We have visited Northwest Park and Nature Preserve in Windsor, Connecticut many times over the past 30 years and have always enjoyed it. The park is a diverse habitat with forests, fields, streams and a lot of scenic views. The many trails in the park vary in length, are well-marked and maintained and are nice to hike. The park offers a nice detailed map/guide of their trail system. Some of the trails even provide a good view of Rainbow Reservoir on the Farmington River and the associated boating activities happening on the river.
The park’s Nature Center has an interesting assortment of wildlife, including snakes, turtles, frogs and fish as well as additional exhibits on the species of animals native to the park, all with good write-ups and is educational. Exhibits on the weather associated with the park and the center’s geothermal heating and cooling system are also included as well as a gift shop.
The multiple types of gardens, including the butterfly and organic demonstration gardens are interesting and so is the maple sugar house, which is seasonal. The animal barn is quite nice with various types of heritage breed farm animals, including a donkey and a goat, sheep, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, pigs, and ducks. Two separate areas in the park include a pasture with the park’s cow, Strawberry, and another large section with a mule and a hinny, all quite unique. There is also a pond with turtles and multiple types of fish that children really enjoy.
The park even has a tobacco museum (Luddy Tobacco Museum and Archives) which is housed in two separate buildings. One of the buildings has exhibits of the early and modern types of equipment and the process used in growing and harvesting the cigar tobacco crop. The other building is an archive exhibiting paintings, photographs, writings and other artifacts related to tobacco. Both buildings provide a good representation of the history associated with the park and of the tobacco growing industry in the Connecticut River Valley.
The park could be used for picnicking as well as group functions, having multiple picnic areas, including a picnic pavilion, a warming shed and a group of picnic tables under trees. Some of the picnic areas require a permit in order to use them.
The park could be enjoyed by children as well as adults, and includes a playground with multiple activities for children. It is a nice place to walk a dog and includes a fenced in Dog Park with benches with two separate sections, one for small dogs and another for large dogs. The only thing is dogs are not allowed in most of the buildings in the park. The park is a hidden gem in Windsor, a great place to get away for a while, relax and enjoy nature as well as the exhibits on display. The park has changed throughout the many years that we have been going there, with many improvements. It has a lot to offer with something for everyone and changes with the seasons with several events throughout the year, including a country fair, coffee houses and day camps. It’s a great place to visit for the whole family.
5. Brignole Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By TomM1951 - Hartford, Connecticut
This vineyard gets top ratings for the service. The bartender who poured our tasting was not only knowledgeable, but she answered our questions with a smile and was flexible with their offering to meet our preferences.
They were also willing to allow us to take the wine outside to drink (but it was a cold afternoons).
On the downside, the wine was good, but not of the top level among Connecticut vineyards.
The indoor room is very nice and warm, but the view outside does not come close to the best in the state.
6. Elizabeth Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 332 reviews
This walkers' haven, with several gardens along its wildflower trail, a lovely pond and sports and concert facilities, is best known for its magnificent rose garden, with 800 varieties of roses.
Reviewed By Otis_108 - San Diego, California
What a lovely treasure in the middle of the city. Was such a treat to walk through it. We happened to be there in October when they had a lot of Halloween things up and that was really a bonus. Loved our time here!
7. Complexity: A Puzzling Adventure
Overall Ratings
5 based on 187 reviews
Complexity: A Puzzling Adventure An Escape Room type activity in Farmington, Connecticut Search the room, Find the clues, Solve the puzzles, Complete the mission! It is a great way to: Celebrate a birthday Engage in team building and be considered awesome for choosing it as your company event.
Reviewed By Rooindie - Farmington, Connecticut
We had a group of six, five of whom had never done one of these before. It was super fun, everyone contributed to the solution. I can't imagine doing this with a much smaller group, 6 felt like a good number. We thought we would make it without any hints, but in the last few minutes it became clear we needed help - we escaped with maybe 90 seconds to spare. We all agreed we'd like to come back and try one of the other rooms. We did the Cat Burglar room. We were there about an hour and a half in total.
8. Farmington Valley Arts Center
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
The Farmington Valley Arts Center is home to twenty professional artist studios, workshops and classes and located in a beautiful park like setting, right of Route 44, Avon, CT., Fisher Gallery with ongoing exhibits and The Drezner Gift Shop and Gallery. You will find painitng, illustration, ceramics, pottery, fine craft, mixed media, printmaking, photography, sculpture, decorative arts and more. Incorporated in 1974 as a not-for-profit organization, the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, Connecticut, is dedicated to the belief that artistic expression and creativity are vital to daily life. FVAC connects the community to the creative process by offering arts education for people of all ages, supporting and encouraging working artists, and serving as a community resource for promoting the arts. The Arts Center is a vibrant arts community that enables visitors to experience the entire creative process, from seeing artists at work to viewing finished creations in a gallery to learning the skills necessary to create works of their own.
Reviewed By mushroommarlene - connecticut
FVAC has been around for scores of years, supporting local artists, offering instruction, inspiration and connecting art to life! The center is a stone two story enclave that are artist studios, classrooms, a gallery and a visitors/gift gallery. The studio artists offer 'open studios' many weekends throughout the year, there are several special and juried shows, stimulating classes and seminars, live music concerts and great holiday or gift shopping to name just a few of the treats visitors have in store. The varied mediums of art from paintings to sculpture to jewelry and more are incredibly impressive, from local and consigned artists, at all price points. There is also an awesome summer camp for kids! It is a little hard to find, near the Avon Police Station, just off the center of Avon off Rt. 44 but the website will direct you well. Check it often, lots of activity and opportunity for budding artists and collectors of all ages.
9. Thomas Hooker Brewery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Connecticut's beer. Beer tasting and brewery tours every Saturday from 12-5pm $5, and the first and third Friday of each month from 5-8pm for $10 (includes pint glass to take home). Brewery gift shop and growler filling open Monday through Friday from 9-5. Now Pouring Pints! Sun/Mon: 12-5, Thurs 12-8, Fri 12-5
Reviewed By Daniele A - Blumenau, SC
I think we were the only people out in the middle of this snow storm that happened in Feb 12th. Turned out to be a great call to go out that day: besides meeting my love, I was able to have one of the greates beers I've ever had in CT. The funniest memory is that there was a super friendly dog that kept sitting between us on the couch. I am back in my country now (Brazil) and will carry this memory in my heart: hope I can visit you again anytime soon!
10. Rosedale Farms & Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By Food9er - Hartford, CT
Stopped in to get fresh breads and produce. Noticed the won't tasting while we were there. Seems nice. Priced right. Very low key environment. Just know it's more than a farm stand. Food is always fresh. Produce is fresh and well stocked with lots of it local. Plenty of parking. Nice location that's seems to be out in the country but is close to everything.
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