Kids Boston - June 08, 2009

Quiet Down

Road Trip to Connecticut's Quiet Corner

Swap city living for some country time in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner. In less than an hour, you’ll find yourself in sweet small towns in the northeastern area of the state.

Spend the night at The Inn at Woodstock Hill (94 Plaine Hill Road, Woodstock; 860-928-0528 or innwood@gmail.com), a National Historic Registry property set on fourteen rolling acres. Drop your bags and head to nearby Putnam for a quick stop at the Gertrude Chandler Warner Box Car Museum (Main Street and Union Square, Putman; 860-963-0092) to see some of her books come to life.

Book a wagon ride at the Creamery Brook Bison Farm (19 Purvis Road, Brooklyn; 860-779-0837) and watch more than 100 bison at feeding time.

Fuel up at The Vanilla Bean Cafe (intersection of Routes 44, 169, and 97, Pomfret; 860-928-1562) with homemade, local, seasonal dishes. End the night at the Mansfield Drive-In (228 Stafford Road, Mansfield Center; 860-423-4441), which plays family films every weekend.

And take that country road all the way home.

SCOOP
Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl
What: All-you-can-eat ice cream fundraiser for cancer research.
Why: Um, all-you-can-eat ice cream.
When: Tues.-Thurs., noon-8 p.m.
Where: City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plz. (617-632-5008).

EAT
Topsfield Strawberry Festival
What: Enjoy berries galore, plus arts and crafts, a book sale, games, and a Revolutionary War reenactment.
Why: Strawberry fields forever.
When: Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Topsfield Town Common, 4 N. Common St., Topsfield (978-500-0711).

PLAY
Super Sunday at Stoneman Playground
What: Enjoy time at the park and groove to the sounds of Music Fun.
Why: Monkey around.
When: Sun., 2-4 p.m.
Where: On the Esplanade, b/t Fairfield & Massachusetts Aves. (617-227-0365).