What To Do :: 100 Things To Do in The Last Green Valley

1.  Walk over the Victorian Footbridge (c. 1906) in Willimantic (Windham), CT, the only footbridge in the eastern U.S. to cross a highway, river and active rail line.

2.  Hike in Bigelow Hollow State Park (Rte. 171) and enjoy its spectacular 9,600 acres in Union, CT.

3.  Search for the legendary Frog Rock (off Rte. 44) in Pomfret, CT. 

4.  Go to Zip’s Diner (Rtes. 12 and 101) for pancakes in Dayville (Killingly), CT.

5.  Pick luscious blueberries at Dumas Farm (57 Brown Rd.) in Oxford, MA.

6.  Find a perfect treasure at the Dudley Do-Right Flea Market (10 West Main St.) Dudley, MA.

7.  View the burial site of Grizzly Adams, bear-tamer and mountain man at the Bay Path Cemetery (Rte. 31) Charlton, MA. 

8.  Pet an alpaca at Burgis Brook Alpacas (44 N. Canterbury Rd.) Canterbury, CT.

9.  Pick the ultimate apple at Woodstock Orchards (494 Rte. 169) Woodstock, CT.

10.  Camp along the Natchaug River, a natural trout stream, at Charlie Brown Campground (98 Chaplin Rd., Rte. 198) Eastford, CT.

11.  Pamper yourself and relax away any stress at the Spa at Grand Lake (1667 Exeter Rd., Rte. 207) Lebanon, CT.

12.  Find a terrific T-Rex and other toys at Finder’s Keepers (626 School St., Rte. 44) Putnam, CT.

13.  Hear the music of the Shetucket River as you hike through the River Park (Rte. 97) in Sprague, CT.

14.  Tag your own Christmas tree at Hickory Ridge Tree Farm (108 S. River Rd.) in Coventry, CT.

15.  Indulge in Chocolate Essence at Taylor Brooke Winery (848 Rte. 171) in Woodstock, CT.

16.  Spend a day among the plaster casts of great sculpture and other art at the Slater Memorial Museum (108 Crescent St.) in Norwich, CT.

17.  Catch Huskie Fever at the Huskie Heritage Sports Museum on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs (Mansfield), CT.

18.  Practice your figure eights at the Norwich Ice Rink (641 New London Tpke.) Norwich, CT.

19.  Photograph a Polish Crested Chicken at Cook Hill Farm (114 Cook Hill Rd.) in Griswold, CT.

20.  Take a step back to the 1840s at Old Sturbridge Village (1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., off Rte. 20) in Sturbridge, MA.

21.  Enjoy nine holes at the Bay Path Golf Course (193 N. Brookfield Rd.) in E. Brookfield, MA.

22.  Spend an afternoon exploring the art and gifts at Celebrations Gallery & Shoppes (330 Pomfret St., Rtes. 44 and 169) in Pomfret, CT.

23.  Rest in an authentic 18th-century inn at the Yankee Cricket B&B (106 Five Bridge Rd.) in Brimfield, MA.

24.  Enjoy a great family adventure by camping and mining at River Bend Campground (41 Pond St., Rte. 14A) in Oneco (Sterling), CT.

25.  Learn about the “Angel of the Battlefield” at the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum (66 Clara Barton Rd.) in Oxford, MA.

26.  Get a bird’s eye view of the sunrise in a hot air balloon from Brighter Skies in Woodstock, CT.

27.  Choose a wonderful lunch to go from the Hampton General Store (258 Main St.) Hampton, CT.

28.  Connect with country traditions and visit a working farm museum at the Blue Slope Country Museum (138 Blue Hill Rd.) in Franklin, CT.

29.  Browse for antiques and collectibles at the Skeleton Key at the Hale House (4 Newent Rd.) in Lisbon, CT.

30.  Take in a great show at the Spirit of Broadway Theater (24 Chestnut St.) in Norwich, CT.

31.  Spend a spring weekend (late May) at the Annual River Fest (Bridge St.) in Willimantic (Windham), CT.

32.  Pamper the pooch with a get-a-way to Restful Paws B&B (70 Allen Hill Rd.) in Holland, MA.

33.  Go round and round the parterre garden at Roseland Cottage (556 Rte. 169) in Woodstock, CT.

34.  Take a picnic and hike through Mansfield Hollow State Park (Bassett Bridge Rd.) in Mansfield, CT.

35.  Participate in the Little River Naval Ceremony on Memorial Day weekend in Hampton, CT.

36.  Take the whole family to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort (30 River Rd.) in Sturbridge, MA.

37.  Enjoy the raw bar at 85 Main (85 Main St.) in Putnam, CT.

38.  Bowl a string or two at American Bowling Lanes (123 North St.) in Southbridge, MA.

39.  Celebrate the first crop of the year at River’s Edge Sugar House (326 Mansfield Rd. Rte. 89) in Ashford, CT.

40.  Find a great deal at the Preston Trading Post (651 Rte. 165) in Preston, CT.

41.  Grab some popcorn and settle in to enjoy a new release at the O’Neill Cinemas in Lisbon Landing (162 River Rd.) Lisbon, CT.

42.  Surround yourself with food, culture and art at the Third Thursday Celebration in downtown (Main St.) Willimantic (Windham), CT.

43.  Sink into the comfort of a canopy bed at the Inn at Woodstock Hill (94 Plaine Hill Rd.) in Woodstock, CT.

44.  Visit the fingerlings at Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery (141 Trout Hatchery Rd.) in Plainfield, CT.

45.  Imagine Pacific breezes blowing through your hair as you dine at the Wind Tiki Restaurant (154 Thompson Rd.) in Webster, MA.

46.  Explore more than 1,000 varieties of tropical plants and see a 100-year-old lemon tree at Logee’s Greenhouses (141 North St.) in Danielson (Killingly), CT.

47.  Enjoy an authentic brew at the Pioneer Brewing Company (195 Arnold Rd.) in Fiskdale (Sturbridge), MA.

48.  Pitch your tent or camper at Amos Lake Beach and Campground (36 Pendleton Rd.) in Preston, CT.

49.  Bounce around at the Trampoline Place (275 Putnam Rd.) in Wauregan (Plainfield), CT.

50.  Spend a day at the famous Brimfield Antiques and Collectible Show (Rte. 20) Brimfield, MA.

51.  Put your quilt in the car, kids in their pajamas and enjoy a great family night out at one of the last drive-in movies in New England – the Mansfield Drive In (228 Stafford Rd., Rtes. 31 and 32) in Mansfield, CT.

52.  Visit live animal exhibits at the 72-acre Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary (56 Capen Rd.) in Charlton, MA.

53.  Choose your favorite flavor of ice cream at We-Lik-It Farm (Rte. 97) in Pomfret, CT.

54.  Become a Connecticut Tigers fan and take in a game with the single A team at Dodd Stadium (14 Stott Ave.) in Norwich, CT.

55.  Take a break and go on a refreshing mid-week walk during Walktober (see the TLGV Walktober brochure for complete listings).

56.  Find the great(est) pumpkin at Palazzi Orchard (1393 North Rd.) Dayville, (Killingly), CT.

57.  Spend a rustic weekend in a cabin at the Tamarack Lodge (21 Ten Rod Rd.) in Voluntown, CT.

58.  See the magic as clay becomes art at Sawmill Pottery (112 Main St. #14) in Putnam, CT.

59.  Take a wagon ride pulled by Belgian or American Cream work horses at Ye Plain Ole Farm (493 Brooklyn Rd.) in Canterbury, CT. 

60.  Enjoy Lake Chargoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg and camp on its shores at Indian Ranch (200 Gore Rd., Rte. 16) in Webster, MA.

61.  Stroll under the lit marquee and catch a show at an historic theater, Theatre of Northeastern CT at the Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St.) in Putnam, CT. 

62.  Enjoy demonstrations, food and crafts at the annual (June) Herbfest at Topmost Herb Farm (244 N. School St.) in Coventry, CT.

63.  Indulge yourself with a weekend at the The Feather Hill B&B (151 Mashamoquet Rd.) Pomfret, CT.

64.  Go to the dogs – the sled dogs – and enjoy the mushing and races at Pachaug State Forest (Rte. 49) in Voluntown, CT.

65.  Double the deal at the same site:  enjoy Nathan Hale Homestead Museum and the Coventry Farmers Market (2299 South St.) in Coventry, CT.

66.  Take water skiing lessons at Hamilton Adventures (31 Massaconnic Trail) in Holland, MA.

67.  Enjoy a traditional Irish pub at the Harp & Dragon Pub (130 Main St.) Norwich, CT.

68.  Choose goat cheeses, honey and goat milk skin products at Meadow Stone Farm (199 Hartford Rd.) in Brooklyn, CT.

69.  Get your fix of quaint and eclectic coffee, gifts and books at Booklover’s Gourmet (55 E. Main St.) in Webster, MA.

70.  Welcome winter weather with a sleigh ride at Cedar Knoll Farm (57 Kimball Rd.) in Lisbon, CT.

71.  Take up knitting with help from Woolworks (26 Front St.) in Putnam, CT.

72.  Celebrate the holiday season by attending the annual Christmas production at the Stageloft Repertory Theater (456 A Main St.) in Sturbridge, MA.

73.  Learn about genealogy at the Killingly Historical Center Museum (196 Main St.) in Danielson (Killingly), CT.

74.  Indulge in a perfect dinner in a perfect setting at the Golden Lamb Buttery (449 Wolf Den Rd.) in Brooklyn, CT.

75.  Enjoy the charm of a c. 1744 center-hall Colonial in the historic district and spend the night at the Lathrop Manor B&B (380 Washington St.) in Norwich, CT.

76.  Hike on 15 miles of trails at the Hodges Village Dam (Howarth Rd. off Charlton Rd.) in Oxford, MA.

77.  Get lost in the corn maze and wonder at the lavender labyrinth at the Quintessential Gardens at Fort Hill Farms (260 Quaddick Rd.) in Thompson, CT.

78.  Dust off your canoe and enter the spring All-American River Race on the Quinebaug River for four miles from Sturbridge to Southbridge, MA, through class 2 rapids (508-347-9636).

79.  Visit the sites around the one-mile long Lebanon Town Green, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Rte. 207) in Lebanon, CT.

80.  Celebrate the beginning of the harvest season at the Brooklyn Fair, one of the nation’s oldest agricultural fairs, always held the weekend before Labor Day weekend (Rte. 169) Brooklyn, CT.

81.  Return to life’s simple pleasures at the Nathan Fuller House B&B (147 Plains Rd.) in Scotland, CT.

82.  Visit the first academy for African-American women at the Prudence Crandall Museum (1 S. Canterbury Rd., Rtes. 14 and 169) in Canterbury, CT.

83.  Jump into a go-kart, enjoy mini-golf and the arcade at the Tri-State Speedway/Islands Mini Golf (35 Chase Rd.) in Dudley, MA.

84.  Get your sugar fix at The Bake Shop at the Publick House (277 Main St., Rte. 131) in Sturbridge, MA.

85.  Enjoy the wonder of beekeeping at Hansen Apiaries (4 Miller Rd.) in Chaplin, CT.

86.  Stimulate your creativity with unusual paper products and supplies at Charlton Mills (13 Worcester Rd., Rte 20) in Charlton, MA.

87.  Celebrate the spring on a hunt for vernal pools at the James L. Goodwin Forest (off Rte. 6) in Hampton, CT.

88.  Take the kids fishing at Porter Pond (Porter Pond Rd.) in Sterling, CT.

89.  Enjoy a scenic drive on Route 14A and 49 through the Sterling Hill National Historic District, along the spine of Ekonk Hill and around the outskirts of Pachaug Forest in Plainfield, Sterling and Voluntown, CT.

90.  Celebrate all things Scottish at the annual Highland Festival at the Waldo Homestead (Station Rd.) in Scotland, CT.

91.  Untangle your strings at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (6 Bourne Place off Rte. 44) in Storrs (Mansfield), CT.

92.  Feel adventurous?  Visit Way Up Skydiving (41 Airport Rd.) in Danielson (Killingly), CT.

93.  Sooth your craving for Pad Thai Noodles at Thai Basil (187 North St.) Danielson (Killingly), CT.

94.  Find everything for your feathered friends at the Birdstore & More (4 Cedar St.) in Sturbridge, MA.

95.  Play indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf with your kids at Monster Mini Golf (37 Sutton Rd.) in Webster, MA.

96.  Visit the venerable Christmas Barn with its rooms filled with gifts, home décor and all things Christmas (835 Rte. 169) in Woodstock, CT.

97.  Revel in acres of sunflowers and gallons of homemade ice cream at Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream (473 Shetucket Tpke., Rtes. 165 and 201) Griswold, CT.

98.  Learn how to fly fish with David Langer through Windy Acres (Rte. 171) Woodstock, CT.

99.  Develop a liking for llamas at Crestland Llamas (2645 Boston Tpke., Rte. 44) in Coventry, CT.

100. Bite into the perfect peach at Buell’s Orchard (108 Crystal Pond Rd.) in Eastford, CT.