Norfolk

Founded in 1758, Norfolk (pronounced NOR-fork) was long popular as a vacation destination for industrialists who owned mills and factories along Connecticut's rivers. At the very least, drive into the center for a look at the village green. It is highlighted by a monument that involved the participation of two of the late 19th century's most celebrated creative people -- sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and architect Stanford White.

At the opposite corner is the 90-year-old "Music Shed," the venue for an eagerly awaited series of summer events, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (tel. 860/542-3000; www.yale.edu/norfolk). Held from July to August, it hosts performances by such luminaries as the Tokyo String Quartet and the Vermeer Quartet.

Two prime recreational areas are near each other on Route 272, north of town. A mile from the village green is Haystack Mountain State Park, Route 272 (tel. 860/482-1817; www.ct.gov). Its chief feature is a short trail leading to a three-story stone tower at the 1,715-foot crest. On clear days, the views from the top take in a panorama stretching from the Catskill Mountains to Long Island Sound.

Another 5 miles farther north, on the Massachusetts border, you can enjoy the abundant streams, rapids, and cascades at Campbell Falls, Route 272 (tel. 860/482-1817; www.ct.gov). Fishing, hiking, and picnicking are all possibilities.