Welcome to Norfolk, Connecticut… where the arts and nature meet.

Our small, unspoiled New England town, surrounded by the beautiful northwestern Connecticut hills and forests, offers you a wonderful variety of things to do. We've got a top ten list, but let's give a bit of context, first...

If outdoor adventure is your love, there are miles of trails to explore, birds to add to your life list, and fish just waiting to be caught. If our flourishing arts community is your fancy, you can hear world-class musicians play at two different venues or take in one or more shows of work by area artists. And, on some summer Saturdays, you can attend a free concert presented by students of the Yale Summer School of Music, then head for the farmers market for fresh local foods and hand made treasures.

As a change of pace, you can stay in one of our fine bed and breakfasts, eat at one or more of our lively restaurants or go shopping downtown. History buffs will enjoy taking a self-guided tour and browsing the exhibits at our historical society's museum.

Come to meet people and socialize or enjoy the exquisite quiet in solitude... Come by yourself or bring your family... Whatever your pleasure, friendly Norfolk will welcome you.

ROAM THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Grass, trees, hills…wind, water, snow…. You can enjoy an outdoor adventure in Norfolk any time of year. In spring, summer and fall you can hike the Land Trust trails or cycle the back roads in Great Mountain Forest. You can drive up Haystack Mountain or Dennis Hill for a view and a picnic, launch your boat on Wood Creek Pond or cool your toes at the foot of Campbell Falls. Winter is perfect for cross-country skiing, ice fishing or snowshoeing. Birders will find many different habitats to explore any time of year. Pack a picnic or order one from downtown.

Norfolk Land Trust Trails
A comprehensive network of hiking and skiing trails offers the opportunity for nature study, photography or just unwinding, not to mention a glimpse of Norfolk history. Trails begin right near the Norfolk town green. For maps, visit norfolklandtrust.org or purchase a guide downtown.

Great Mountain Forest
This unique working forest of more than 6,000 acres offers hiking, cycling, skiing or snowshoeing on its roads and trails. The forest is actively managed for forest products and wildlife habitat, and extensively used for research and educational purposes, including public lectures and workshops. Park near the trailhead (201 Windrow Road) and sign in. In late winter, when the weather cooperates, Great Mountain Forest taps its sugar maples and boils down the sap to produce syrup. Visitors are welcome at the sugar house in season; call ahead if you want to be sure it’s open. Oh, yes, the birding is great! Information and trail map: 860-824-8188, greatmountainforest.org.

Aton Forest
This 1,300-acre, private ecological research forest is a magnet for bird watchers; its staff welcomes visitors but asks that you call before you come. Aton Forest also holds public workshops and other events throughout the year on topics related to its fields of study; 860-542-5125, atonforest.org.

State Parks, Boat Launch
In addition to Great Mountain Forest and Aton Forest, Norfolk has three state parks and a state boat launch site where you can hike, picnic, boat, fish, and enjoy spectacular views.

Park your car and walk the wooded trail in Campbell Falls State Park to the pool at the foot of the fall. In summer, you can drive to the open top of Dennis Hill and sit in the shady shelter or on the grass; on clear days you can see into Massachusetts. At Haystack Mountain State Park, you can park near the top, then take the trail uphill to its iconic lookout tower, or enjoy the many trails that crisscross the slopes. And take your canoe or kayak to the boat launch site on Wood Creek Pond and paddle north to check out Holleran Swamp; you may even spot a pitcher plant or two. Look on stateparks.com or ct.gov/deep/ for details.

Winter Sport
In the winter, there is still plenty to do. For outdoors enthusiasts, Norfolk’s many trails welcome cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Indoors, the Norfolk Curling Club is open to visitors during bonspiels and its other events. The club offers classes and welcomes new members; 70 Golf Drive, 860-542-1100, norfolkcurlingclub.org.

EXPLORE HISTORY
Incorporated in 1758, Norfolk still preserves traces of its colonial past, the rise of industry and the railroad, the Victorian era and the Gilded Age. If your special interest is history, a visit to the Norfolk Historical Society Museum is a must. In addition to its permanent displays and special exhibitions, which offer a look back at the various eras of our town, the museum has books on Norfolk's history and a walking tour map of historic houses. The museum also offers several special guided tours, such as walks along the Blackberry River to unearth the remnants of our vital industrial past—you are welcome to join them; 860-542-5761, norfolkhistoricalsociety.org.

Center Cemetery, which dates from 1757, contains the grave of former slave and Norfolk resident, James Mars, a stop on both the Connecticut Freedom Trail and the African-American Heritage Trail.

The railroad, which came to Norfolk in 1871, was important to local industry and farming, and to vacationers attracted by the town’s pure air and water. Much of the original right of way is now Land Trust trails, one of which winds through Stoney Lonesome, a rocky gorge that in 1882 was the scene of an epic derailment. The railroad station, still on Station Place in downtown Norfolk, is now home to offices and a cozy café.

ARCHITECTURE
Notable buildings of various periods cluster around the village green, among them the Historical Society museum (1840), the Joseph Jones House (1776), the Norfolk Library (1888), the former Pettibone Tavern (1794) and the Congregational Church (1813). Elsewhere in town are more than 50 buildings and houses designed by noted architect Alfredo Taylor in the early 20th century, including the Royal Arcanum with its lively pub. Taylor's work in Norfolk has been designated a thematic group on the National Register of Historic Places. Although only a few historic buildings are open to the public today, a walk or drive around town will reveal many interesting houses in all Norfolk's neighborhoods.

MUSIC AND ART
Norfolk has long been home to a wealth of visual artists, artisans, writers, and musicians...perhaps that's why the arts flourish so strongly in this small New England town. Music in particular has been part of the town, supported by the establishment in 1939 of the Ellen Battell Stoeckel trust to fund the use of her property by the Yale Summer School of Music and Art.

Infinity Music Hall: Concerts by a variety of famous rock, pop, blues and jazz artists are presented year round in a restored vintage theater; 866-666-6306, infinityhall.com.

Norfolk Art Gallery, Yale Summer School of Art: Events are held in the Art and Music Barn on the Ellen Battell Stoeckel Estate during the art school session in May and June; art.yale.edu.

Norfolk Artists & Friends: Organization of professional visual artists from Norfolk and the surrounding area holds an annual arts weekend in August, studio tours in June; norfolkart.org.

Norfolk Chamber Music Festival: More than 30 concerts are held during nine weeks in summer, featuring performances by world-class artists, who also teach and mentor students at the Yale Summer School of Music. Other events include lectures and free Saturday morning student concerts. Most concerts are held in the historic Music Shed, the box office is in Battell House; 860-542-3000, norfolk.yale.edu.

Norfolk Library: Norfolk’s jewel box of a library is a real community treasure. It hosts monthly shows of area artists, plus frequent concerts, lectures, film showings and other kinds of events for adults and children; 860-542-5075, norfolklibrary.org.

Look for much more art displayed in stores and restaurants, including the Artisan's Guild and Infinity Bistro (downtown), and Turi's (across from the library).

...AND DON'T MISS

Norfolk Now, Norfolk's own monthly newspaper, posts articles and photos from current and previous issues on the Internet at nornow.org. Free paper copies are usually available at the library, the post office and other places around town.

Norfolk Natural Resource Inventory: This 126-page work documents Norfolk, from its geography and geology to its wildlife and historic resources; a link to a low-resolution downloadable version resides on the town web site: http://norfolkct.org/perch/resources/nriforweb.pdf.

Norfolk’s churches: Beautiful stained glass windows adorn all three Norfolk churches. See them during services or by special arrangement. Church of the Transfiguration is seasonal; churchofthetransfiguration.net. Church of the Immaculate Conception has services year round; 860-542-5442, sacrament7.org. Church of Christ Congregational and its adjoining Battell Chapel are also open all year; 860-542-5721, norfolkctucc.org.

SEE THE MAP

A friendly painted map illustrating Norfolk and its pleasures was produced recently by a town committee. To view and download it, visit: 
http://weekendinnorfolk.org/visitors-map-of-norfolk/

Top Ten Things to See and Do in Norfolk, Connecticut

1. Go to a performance at Infinity Hall. 

Photo: Infinity Hall

2. Attend a concert at the one of the oldest music festivals in the U.S. at The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and, before the music starts, be sure and enjoy a picnic on the lawn.

Photo: Music Shed

3. Get outside! Take a Hike to Campbell Falls State Park, or go hiking or biking on the Land Trust Trails...maps available on line at http://norfolklandtrust.org/trail-maps.html for Campbell Falls.

Photo: Michael Melford

4. Take in the Views of the unspoiled Litchfield Hills at Dennis Hill State Park or Haystack Mountain State Park.

Photo: Michael Melford

5. Admire the stained glass work of Louis Tiffany at the Battell Chapel at the Norfolk Church of Christ Congregational. 

Photo Christopher Little

6. Pick up creative crafts at the Norfolk Artisans Guild.

Perfect, isn't it? Mary Bazzano-Reeve holds up a handknitted sweater inside the Artisans Guild for her twin sister, Margaret Alexson, to admire. Their t-shirts proclaim that the first weekend in August is also Weekend in Norfolk, a town-wide open house with almost 70 events. See http://weekendinnorfolk.org/ for details. Photo © Bruce Frisch.

7. Visit a working forest -- Great Mountain Forest.

Norfolk's thousands of acres of woods and fields are laced with trails for everyone to enjoy. Weekend in Norfolk, August 5, 6, and 7, features several outdoor events including a wildflower workshop, a guided hike and a six-peak trail challenge. Photo courtesy Great Mountain Forest.

8. Visit the Norfolk Boatworks to see wooden canoes and boats being made and restored.
 By appointment only...sometimes they're out delivering or working on projects elsewhere. Call 860-542-5081 and leave a message, or talk to Schuyler or Frank.

Schuyler Thomson (foreground) and Frank Christinat will be setting up their Norfolk Boatworks on Station Place during Weekend in Norfolk, August 5, 6 and 7. They will be demonstrating their wooden boatmaking and restoration techiques to all comers. Photo © Bruce Frisch.

9. Get farm fresh at the Norfolk Farmers Market every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm.

Raspberries lead the display at this farmer's Norfolk Farmers Market booth, along with dill, beets and various greens. Photo © Bruce Frisch.

10. Check out the art exhibitions and programs at the Norfolk Library.

The Norfolk Library offers a variety of programs, including monthly art shows, lectures and discussions, and movies. It has been awarded five stars several times by Library Journal. Photo © Bruce Frisch.

Pin for later:

Photo: Great Mountain Forest

Learn more:
http://weekendinnorfolk.org/
norfolkct.org

Sue Frisch was born in Ohio, grew up in Virginia, and moved to New York City. In 1970, she and her husband discovered Norfolk, Conn., as the ideal place to visit; 30 years later they retired and moved there permanently. Sue now gardens, volunteers for town projects, and never misses a chance to say nice things about the place she lives. As a former editor, she considers herself an educator, and claims to have taught several things to herself and at least one thing to her grandson.