Explore!Outdoor, Indoor & Around Town Adventures in A NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR www.thelastgreenvalley.org • TOLL FREE 866-363-7226 The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor - together we can care for it, enjoy it, EXPLORE! Table of Contents The Last Green Valley Map . 2 and pass it on. Accommodations . 4 Astronomy/Night Sky Views . 5 Bicycling & Mountain Biking . 6 Welcome Boating and/or Fishing . 8 Are you a modern Camping . 14 Chambers/Economic Development . 16 day Explorer? You can Disc Golf . 19 be! Discover the natural Education . 20 beauty of The Last Green Farms/Orchards/Nurseries . 21 Valley National Heritage Hiking, Walking & Strolling Trails . 24 Corridor (35 towns in Horseback Riding & Horse Camping . 36 northeast CT and south Hunting . 38 Labyrinths/Mazes . 39 central MA). Find wonder Letterboxing & Geocaching . 40 in the waterfalls, the fishing MORE! Outdoor Activities & Sites holes, the hilltops, and the Proud Supporters/Creators of Outdoor Fun . 41 farms. Hear stories from the Even More Outdoor Activities & Sites . 42 past, sip wine in a vineyard, Museums & Historic Sites . 44 Nonprofits . 48 shop til you drop, and savor Paddling . 50 local foods. Kayak, backpack, Retail - Arts, Antiques & Uniques . 56 pick an apple, or carve a Scenic Overlooks & Views . 58 pumpkin. Savor farm fresh Service Businesses food, photograph bald Medical Emergency Facilities . 60 eagles in flight, or gaze at General Services . 61 Skate Parks . 65 the stars. Explore! will help State & Federal Parks & Forests Chart . 66 you delve into every inch of State & Federal Parks & Forests Map . 70 The Last Green Valley. We State & Federal Parks & Forests Descriptions . 72 will increase your capacity Swimming & Scuba Diving . 76 for fun and enjoyment in the Tastes & Sips . 79 Theaters & Entertainment . 83 following pages. Invite your Winter Activities . 85 family and friends. Take a Index . 89 breath, be prepared to smile, and start your adventure. A publication of The Last Green Valley, Inc. Explore! and Explore! often. P.O. Box 29, 203B Main Street Danielson, CT 06239-0029 860-774-3300 • 866-363-7226 toll free [email protected] • www.thelastgreenvalley.org Graphics by Angell House Design. Printed by Chase Graphics. For your convenience, we have tried to make all information in this Guide accurate and up-to-date but assume no obligation for errors or omissions. We advise visitors to check times and charges to avoid disappointment since we cannot be responsible for changes or cancellations. No portion of this Guide may be reproduced without written permission from The Last Green Valley, Inc. © 2015. 1 2 3 Nathan Hale Inn & Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center Conference Center 855 Bolton Rd., Storrs, CT 06268 14 Mechanic St., Southbridge, MA 01550 860-427-7888 • Fax: 860-427-7850 508-765-8000 • Fax: 508-765-7600 [email protected] southbridgehotel.com Accommodations nathanhaleinn.com Wallis Cove Cabins Prindle Pond Conference Center Whitin Reservoir, 67 Island Rd. More than just a place to rest for the night, you’ll find a home away Explore! 19 Harrington Rd., Charlton, MA 01507 Douglas, MA 01516 • 508-259-7087 from home in these welcoming and diverse accommodations as you 508-248-2741 • Fax: 508-248-2745 [email protected] • walliscove.com Explore! The Last Green Valley. [email protected] naturesclassroom.org Americas Best Value Inn Bed & Breakfasts of the 479 Providence Rd. (Rte. 6), • Brooklyn, CT 06234 Mystic Coast & Country OUTDOOR ACTIVITY 860-774-9644 • [email protected] 111 Route 2A, Preston, CT 06365 quietcornerinn.com 860-887-7589 Whether you plan to stay one day, a weekend, [email protected] • thebbmc.com Astronomy/ or longer, we will ensure your stay is memo- rable. Beautifully remodeled property with Captain Grant’s, 1754 Night Sky exterior corridors. Amenities include A/C, WiFi, 109 Route 2A, Preston, CT 06365 cable TV with HBO, alarm clock/radio, hair dryer, 800-982-1772 Views in-room ironing board, refrigerator & micro- [email protected] • captaingrants.com wave. Non-smoking rooms available. Rooms: 25 The Daniel Rust House Although we are known for our B&B at Taylor’s Corner Bed & Breakfast "Dark Skies" in The Last Green 2011 Main St., Coventry, CT 06238 880 Route 171, Woodstock, CT 06281 Valley and have plenty of places 860-974-0490 860-742-0032 • [email protected] [email protected] • taylorsbb.com thedanielrusthouse.com to view them, here are a few Fireplaces, wide-board floors, private baths and Henrietta House Bed & Breakfast and outstanding choices. antique furniture are a few things decorating Red House Farm this 18th-century Colonial, listed on the 125 Ashford Center Rd., Ashford, CT 06278 Connecticut Audubon Society, National Register of Historic Places. Incredible 860-477-0318 Grassland Bird Conservation Center breakfasts, fresh baked goods, refreshments, [email protected] 218 Day Rd., Pomfret Center, CT 06259 WiFi, satellite TV, DVDs and games are all historichenriettahouse • bnbct.weebly.com 860-928-4948 included. Lush perennial gardens and old stone ctaudubon.org/center-at-pomfret walls surround the property. Rooms: 3 Inn at Woodstock Hill Take a seat in the grass or bring a blanket or 94 Plaine Hill Rd., Woodstock, CT 06281 lawn chair to look out to endless skies. Find the 860-928-0528 • Fax: 860-821-8561 stars, planets and constellations as they arrive [email protected] • woodstockhill.com to greet you! No fee. The King’s Inn Jacob Edwards Library 5 Heritage Rd., Putnam, CT 06260 236 Main St., Southbridge, MA 01550 860-928-7961 508-764-5426 • jacobedwardslibrary.org West Thompson Lake [email protected] A StarBlast 4.5" Astro ReflectorT elescope was 449 Reardon Rd., N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255 kingsinnputnam.com donated through the Aldrich Astronomical 860-923-2982 • nae.usace.army.mil Society, and the tabletop version is available The boat launch area offers dark skies in spite for a 1 week loan following the conditions of of the light at the dam. Bring a lawn chair Bed & Breakfast the borrowing agreement (no renewals, $5 and relax as you view the stars and meteor at Taylors Corner late fee per day, etc.) Astronomy and Sky and showers. No fee. Woodstock, CT • 888-974-0490 Telescope magazines may be borrowed with a www.taylorsbb.com library card. Contact library to learn more. 4 Green leaf indicates member of TLGV Accommodations and Astronomy/Night Sky Views 5 OUTDOOR ACTIVITY Putnam Quinebaug River Trail/ Cargill Falls Kennedy Dr. & Rte. 44, Putnam, CT 06260 Bicycling & Mountain Biking 860-963-6800 • putnamct.us Parking lots in a few locations along Kennedy Dr. The 1.32 mile Putnam River Trail, flat & paved, Pedaling offers great exercise plus a different view of The Last Green Valley. perfect for new/young pedalers, winds Safety is key when hopping aboard. Be sure your bike is in working order through the park & includes walk along Explore! and you are wearing proper attire, including a helmet and highly visible the Quinebaug River & past Cargill Falls. Interpretive plaques explain area's history clothing. Know what to expect of the terrain, stay hydrated, and be sure to with a storybook trail, too. No fee. let someone know where you are headed and when you expect to return. Quinebaug River Multi-Purpose Recreational Trail Jct. Rtes. 12 & 6, Killingly, CT 06239 Air Line State Park Trail Hodges Village Dam Moosup Valley State Park Trail 860-774-5310 • 860-234-0196 Lebanon, Windham, Chaplin, Hampton, 30 Howarth Rd. (off Charlton Rd.) Main St., Sterling, CT 06377 • ct.gov/deep killinglyconservation.org, killingly.org Pomfret, Putnam, Thompson, CT Oxford, MA 01540 Parking at Community Center. Parking by ball fields behind waste water 860-295-9523 • ct.gov/deep 508-248-5697 • nae.usace.army.mil Approximately 5 miles of this longer trail (which treatment facility. This linear gravel/pebble covered trail is flat, 1,200 varied acres include over 20 miles of runs from Coventry, RI to Plainfield and beyond) Just over 4 miles up and back, this easy paved easy and travels for almost 50 miles in The trails for year round use, including mountain cuts right through Sterling. A former rail trail, trail passes the town's dog park & has great Last Green Valley. Three sections: South from biking. Note that off-road vehicle trails allow you'll traverse gravel to ballast surfaces. Glimpse views of the Quinebaug River. Informative E. Hampton to Windham (22 miles), and North dirt bikes & snowmobiles. No fee. the Moosup River & Sterling Pond in this rural signage along the way. Scenic overlooks add from Windham to Pomfret (21 miles) plus setting. Great for all levels of pedalers. No fee. to this easy pedal experience. No fee. Thompson (6.6 miles). Ideal mountain biking. Hopeville Pond State Park Parking locations & section maps available on 929 Hopeville Rd., (Rtes. 201 & 395) Natchaug State Forest Robbins Preserve/ website. No fee. Griswold, CT 06351 66 Pilfershire Rd. (Rte. 198), Eastford, CT 06242 Wyndham Land Trust 860-376-2920 • 860-376-0313 • ct.gov/deep 860-928-6121 • 860-424-3200 • ct.gov/deep Fred Davis Rd. (off Quaddick Town Farm Rd.) Brimfield State Forest Many activity options. Open land plus trails for 13,200 acre park spreads over 6 towns. Year- Thompson, CT 06277 86 Dearth Hill Rd., Brimfield, MA 01010 hiking & biking. Restrooms on site. Main gate round activities include mountain biking and 860-963-2090 • [email protected] 413-267-9687 • mass.gov open seasonally. Some fees. more. No fee. wyndhamlandtrust.org 20+ miles of roads & trails offer room for Park at gate. 128 acre diverse tract, includes mountain biking & more! Some fees. James L. Goodwin State Forest N. Grosvenordale River Walk/Park forests & meadows and allows mountain 23 Potter Rd., (off Rte. 6), Hampton, CT 06247 Riverside Dr.