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CITY FOLKS DOWN ON THE FARMS
Sept/Oct 2008
By Kim Foley MacKinnon
As we sat in a wagon pulled by a tractor while dozens of bison swarmed around us angling for grain tossed over the side, I thought: This was Connecticut?
My family was on a weekend quest from Boston to find some "small town" fun. We had settled on the area the tourist board calls the "Quiet Corner" of the state, the northeastern section framed by Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The Creamery Brook Bison Farm in Brooklyn (860-779-0837; www.creamerybrookbison.com) is home to more than 100 bison. After our wagon ride, we bought some bison jerky to bring home, just as proof. At another stop, we picked up fresh goat cheese at Meadow Stone Farm (860-617-2982; www.meadowstonefarm.com). And in nearby Hampton, we found the Safe Haven Alpaca Farm (860-455-0054; www.safehavenalpaca.com) where on the day we visited two alpacas were born that very morning. At every stop, our city-bred 9-year-old daughter was delighted with seeing farm animals.
We stayed at the Inn at Tonmar in Pomfet, a B&B with just two rooms for visitors, owned by Martha and Tony Emilio(860-974-1583; $110 per night). After eating Martha's wonderful blueberry pancakes for breakfast (made with local berries), we followed her to Windsong Farm (860-974-3098) to pick our own. Charmingly, payment was by an honor system with a scale and cash box left out for you to tally what you owed and pay. Try that in the city!
Other attractions in the area include the Mansfield Drive-In (860-423-4441; www.mansfielddrivein.com) where we went to see the latest Pixar flick. It was our daughter's first drive-in experience and ages since my husband and I had been to one. Our amateur status was immediately clear when we saw others with chairs, blankets and coolers. We just had our car and snacks from the concession stand, but we still a great time.
Our last farm experience was an exceptional dinner at the Golden Lamb Buttery, located in a converted barn on a 1,000-acre farm (860-774-4423; www.thegoldenlamb.com) in Brooklyn. With stunning views and just one seating a night, you're encouraged to take your time and relax. Once again we went on a wagon ride, this time while being entertained by a guitar-toting singer before we sat down to eat. Diners pick a main dish then servers roam through with various sides to try. Admittedly, it's a long affair for a child and at one point our daughter wandered off to explore. We found her hanging out in the main barn with the farm cat. It was the perfect ending to our weekend in the country.
A version of this piece ran in Gatehouse Media in 2008
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