8 Connecticut Towns With A Slower Pace Of Life

As the third-smallest state by area, Connecticut is not typically considered fast-paced, especially when compared to frenetic neighbors like New York and Massachusetts. Yet for a state of its size, it does have a relatively large population concentrated among several 100,000-plus-people cities. But outside of those cities and their big bedroom communities are truly slow-paced CT towns. From Chester with its unbumped bumper sticker to Sharon with its dandy greenery, behold eight Connecticut towns with a slower pace of life.

Chester

Chester is so remote it spurred a running joke. On the off-chance you enter bumper-to-bumper traffic in this small, sleepy town, you might see a sticker that reads, “Chester, CT. We Know Where It Is.” The joke is that not many people, including Connecticuters themselves, know where Chester is. In fact, many out-of-towners confuse it for Cheshire, a much larger town north of New Haven. But the lucky few who know Chester's location (in Middlesex County along the Connecticut River) know Chester's awesomeness. Get inside the joke to get inside Otto Pizza, Honeycone Craft Ice Cream, and The Terris Theatre. After sampling the best of Chester, you are unlikely to forget Chester. Buy the bumper sticker to really make it stick.

Barkhamsted

Barkhamsted is mostly bark. We mean it is full of trees, mainly thanks to preserves like the Enders State Forest, American Legion State Forest, and Peoples State Forest. Yes, all of those sanctuaries, which span thousands of luxuriant acres, are at least partly within Barkhamsted's borders. Also contained in Barkhamsted is the Barkhamsted Reservoir, an 8.5-mile artificial lake that was made with the Saville Dam, itself a feat of pseudo-natural engineering. The dam is composed of earth and bedecked with a medieval-style stone gatehouse. Believe it or not, Barkhamsted has space for some commercial attractions. Dismount from your earthen adventure at the Brass Horse Cafe.

Warren

Another Connecticut settlement that looks like it sounds, Warren is as cozy and concealed as a rabbit's warren. Tucked away in Litchfield County, this town boasts about 1,300 residents over roughly 26 square miles. Since few inhabit or hop through Warren, its attractions are extra charming. They include Hopkins Vineyard, an award-winning winery nestled in the Litchfield Hills and overlooking Lake Waramaug; Warren General, a picturesque general store selling everything from coffee to sandwiches to groceries to Kaluga caviar; and Wyantenock State Forest, which, having little public access and "virtually no developed recreation areas," is considered one of Litchfield County's best-kept secrets. We will go a step further by calling the forest—and Warren as a whole—one of Connecticut's best-kept secrets.

Pomfret

Far-flung in the opposite direction, Pomfret occupies northeastern Connecticut as an island unto itself. This town is not actually an island, of course, but it is separated from even the remote locales on this list by seas of trees. Flanking Pomfret are Natchaug State Forest, Mashamoquet Brook State Park, and the Connecticut Audubon Society. The last of those manages the 700-acre Bafflin Sanctuary and the 168-acre Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary at Trail Wood. But if looking for commercial rather than natural fun in Pomfret, do not fret. Though not exactly a bustling metropolis, Pomfret has over 4,000 residents and several restaurants scattered throughout. Enjoy food and vibes at Grill 37 and Pizza 101.

Deep River

A neighbor of Chester's, Deep River is also a town that most people cannot locate. They should take a hint from its name since Deep River straddles the Connecticut River. Serene aquatic views can thus be had on foot while traipsing through town or on watercraft via Deep River Landing. In addition to the obvious vessels you can launch from the landing, you can take the Becky Thatcher riverboat for the scenic river ride of a lifetime. On the other side of the river sits Selden Neck State Park, an actual island preserve that is accessible only by boat. After docking back in Deep River, revive your land-legs at the Pandemonium Thrift Shop, Deep River Pizza, and/or High Nine Brewing.

Litchfield

Another Litchfield County linchpin, Litchfield is bigger than Warren but similarly serene. Over 8,000 people are lucky to have quotidian access to its quaint sites. Chief among them are the First Congregational Church, a nearly 200-year-old meetinghouse serving an over 300-year-old congregation; Arethusa Farm Dairy, a delectable dairy shop spun off from the historic Arethusa Farm; and Litchfield Distillery, a family-owned spirit-maker using local grains. Moreover, like virtually all CT towns, Litchfield is full of storybook-style woods. Get pleasantly lost in the Topsmead State Forest and the White Memorial Conservation Center.

Canton

You can have a ton of fun in Canton, which is a hearty town of ~10,000 in Hartford County. Some of its busiest attractions include Matterhorn Mini Golf, the Roaring Brook Nature Center, and The Shops at Farmington Valley. Do not think we forgot the slow-paced theme of this article. Inside Canton is a village called Collinsville, one of Connecticut's hidden gems. Collinsville charms with historic buildings containing such whimsical businesses as the LaSalle Market & Deli. But even Collinsville can get busy, especially for the annual Collinsville Halloween Parade. Go during the off-season for a low-key Collinsville and, by extension, Canton.

Sharon

Yet another Litchfield County retreat, Sharon straddles New York State and is in a constant state of serenity. Sharon is so green that many of its attractions line a one-mile green, which is among the longest verdant town squares in New England. Feel like a European dandy while strolling the green and stopping at the Hotchkiss Library, Sharon Historical Society & Museum, and Emily Butler Ogden Wheeler Memorial Clock Tower. Sharon basically forces you to walk at a slow pace, not just on the green but on the Appalachian Trail, a section of which crosses town atop Sharon Mountain.

Connecticut may have a high population density, but most of its residents are centrally and coastally located. As you branch out from those busy locales, you will find a slower pace of life, where actual branches entangle historic buildings and mom-and-pop shops as a natural-architectural-commercial wonderland. Whether exploring the Saville Dam in Barkhamsted or sampling Hopkins Vineyard in Warren, or tasting Arethusa Farm Dairy in Litchfield, you can have a serene yet stimulating vacation in rural CT.