Villages
1. Wethersfield, Connecticut
Founded in 1634 as one of Connecticut’s original three settlements, Wethersfield remains an enclave of some of the most striking Colonial architecture in the country – though architecture buffs can get equally excited about the distinctive early-20th-century Hubbard Bungalows. Visit the three 18th-century homes of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum to understand the roots of the Colonial Revival movement in American style.
Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum • 211 Main St., Wethersfield CT • 860 569 0612 • open May–Oct • adm • www.webb-deane-stevens.org
2. Wiscasset, Maine
A thriving shipbuilding town in the 18th and 19th centuries, Wiscasset immodestly claims to be the “prettiest village in Maine.” With baronial sea captains’ homes that define the Federal style, a charming waterfront, and a generous sprinkling of boutiques and restaurants, it just might be. The 1807 Nickels-Sortwell House, built for a wealthy ship owner, recaptures Wiscasset’s glorious past.Nickels-Sortwell House • 121 Main St., Wiscasset, ME • 207 882 7169 • open Jun–mid-Oct • adm • www.historicnewengland.org
3. Tiverton Four Corners, Rhode Island
The crossroads center of rural Tiverton on the east side of Narragansett Bay is filled with boutiques, antiques shops, and art galleries set in largely 18th-century buildings. The surrounding countryside is noted for its handsome historical stone walls and pastoral landscapes. The town also boasts an outstanding ice cream stand, an excellent bakery, and a gourmet shop featuring local products (for further details see Tiverton/Little Compton).
4. Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
Many artisans, musicians, and Sixties counterculture holdouts make their homes in this quirky village on the Mohawk Trail. Cross the Deerfield River, which divides the town, on the Bridge of Flowers, a former railroad trestle heavily planted in blooms. The geological curiosity of glacial potholes scoured by a natural falls made the spot famous centuries ago.
5. Grafton, Vermont
This genteel village bunched around a 200-year-old tavern epitomizes rustic Vermont charm. Grafton Village Cheese Company makes top Vermont cheddars.
6. Old Lyme, Connecticut
If Old Lyme was not actually the cradle of American Impressionism, it was at least the art movement’s summer camp from 1899 into the 1930s. Surprisingly little of either the landscape or the town has changed since that artistic heyday. Unlock the history with a visit to the Florence Griswold House, where many of the artists lodged.
7. Littleton, New Hampshire
In 1913, Littleton author Eleanor H. Porter created Pollyanna, the world’s most optimistic character, and this Ammonoosuc River mill town at the edge of the White Mountains and New Hampshire’s timber forests remains an upbeat place. Don’t miss the world’s longest candy counter at Chutter General Store (Main St.), or the Littleton Grist Mill (Mill St.).
8. Watch Hill, Rhode Island
The giddy gingerbread architecture of Westerly’s seaside village of Watch Hill betrays its Victorian roots – there’s even a Victorian tea shop – but sport fishermen come here for the perfect confluence of surf and shoreline currents.
9. New London, New Hampshire
Without the overhead power lines and asphalt on the roads, New London would look as if time had stopped around 1850. Home to Colby-Sawyer College, a prestigious liberal arts school, New London bustles during the summer as the shopping and dining center for Lake Sunapee vacationers; another draw is the Barn Playhouse’s summer stock theater season.
10. Kingfield, Maine
Gateway to the Sugarloaf ski resort, this characterful mountain village is a favorite with outdoors enthusiasts. The Stanley Museum chronicles the achievements of twin native sons Francis Edgar and Freelan Oscar Stanley, best known for inventing the steam-powered Stanley Steamer cars. Their sister Chansonetta’s documentary photographs capture rural life.Stanley Museum • 40 School St., Kingfield, ME • 207 265 2729 • open year round • adm • www.stanleymuseum.org
