Activities
Attractions Near the Manor House Inn, Norfolk, CT
For more descriptive listings and full day-trip recommendations, please see our Area Guide page.
The serene beauty of the Litchfield Hills and nearby regions offers a tranquil getaway for Manor House Inn guests. There is much to explore in the forests and the foothills of the Berkshires, including mountain-fed lakes, gardens and glens, craft breweries and wineries, antique and artisan shops, cultural destinations, and historic architecture, all of which reflect Connecticut’s commitment to both preservation and progress.
Plus, for pet lovers, the Manor House Inn is located near Pooch Palace Resort (8 min) in East Canaan, which offers boarding (Please note: we cannot accommodate furry friends at the Manor House Inn).
New and exciting things are coming to the Manor House too! Please learn more our plans to develop the first intimate outdoor Nordic Spa in Connecticut.
Cycling & Ebiking ~ Build Your Own Back Hills Adventure
Call to order our Take-a-Hike picnic package, packed in an insulated backpack, or grab a picnic-to-go lunch at Berkshire Country Store!
- Norbrook Farm Brewery, Professionally Designed Mountainbike Trails, BYO-Bike (5 min)
- Covered Bridge Electric Bike Rentals & Tours (12 min)
- Housatonic Heritage Bike Routes (varies)
- Collinsville Canoe features bike rentals plus kayaks & paddleboards (30 min)
Inline Skating / Cycling / Walking / Running
- Sue Grossman Still River Greenway, 3.4-mile asphalt rail trail within a 5.6-mile total trail, including unpaved areas: 18 Lanson Dr, Winsted (12 min)
Adventure, Athletic & Water Activities
- Toby Pond (5 min) features a lifeguard-monitored sandy beach
- The Marina at Highland Lake (12 min) offers ski boat rentals and pontoons
- Highland Lake is a 444-acre lake and a perfect place for fishing, boating, water sports & swimming
- Edge Works Axe House (12 min)
- Burr Pond (20 min) has a sandy beach with lifeguards, kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals
- Clarke Outdoors (25 min) offers kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals
- Rustling Wind Horseback Riding (15 min) One week advance reservations are required
- White Memorial Conservation Center, 40 miles of trails, museum, nature center (30 min)
- Collinsville Canoe (30 min) features kayak, paddleboard, and bike rentals
- Norfolk Curling Club (5 min)
- Catamount Aerial Adventure Park & Zip Line Tours, Hillsdale, NY (30 min)
- Hot Air Ballooning with with Aer Blarney (Locations throughout Litchfield Hills)
- Lime Rock Park & Raceway, Egremont (30 min)
- Mohawk Mountain, Cornwell (30 min)
- Ski Butternut, Great Barrington, MA (30 min)
- Ski Sundown, Hartford (25 min)
- Catamount Skiing Hillsdale, NY (30 min)
- Windfield Morgan Farm, Horseback Riding, Litchfield (30 min)
- Satan’s Kingdom Recreation Area canoeing, kayaking, and tubing (50 min)
Beer, Wine & Distilleries
The Connecticut Beer Trail and Connecticut Wine Trail weave through Litchfield Hills. Favorite destinations include:
- Norbrook Farm Brewery, Colebrook (5 min)
- Little Red Barn Brewers, Winsted (10 min)
- Litchfield Distillery, Tours available with advance reservations, Litchfield (25 min)
- Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen (25 min)
- Land of Nod Winery, East Canaan (10 min)
- Hopkins Vineyard, Warren (50 min – beautiful scenic drive)
Hiking, Picnicking, Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing (Seasonally)
- Haystack Mountain, Norfolk
- Dennis Hill State Park, Norfolk
- Great Mountain Forest, Norfolk
- Norfolk Land Trust Trails, Norfolk
- Campbell Falls State Park (7 min)
- Beckley Furnace State Park (10 min)
Call to order our Take-a-Hike picnic package, packed in an insulated backpack, or grab a picnic-to-go lunch at Berkshire Country Store!
Music, Museums, Arts & Culture
- Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk (5 min walk)
- Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk (5 min walk)
- Norfolk Library with Art & Cultural Programs, Norfolk (3 min walk)
- Friday Night Summer Concerts, Norfolk (3 min walk)
- Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center, Norfolk (5 min drive)
- City Meadow, Norfolk (5 min walk)
- Norfolk Historical Society, Norfolk (5 min walk)
- Norfolk Hub, Norfolk (5 min walk)
- Weekend in Norfolk, Norfolk (events throughout town)
- The American Mural Project, Winsted (12 min)
- The American Museum of Tort Law, Winstead (12 min)
- Whiting Mills Featuring Artisans & Craftsman, Winsted (15 min)
- Gilsen Cafe & Cinema, Winsted (12 min)
- Colonial Theater, New Canaan (12 min)
- Five Points Art Center & Creative Workshops, Torrington (20 min)
- Pursue the Clues, Escape Room, Torrington (23 min)
- Music Mountain Summer Festival, Falls Village (23 min)
- Tanglewood, Stockbridge, MA (40 min)
- Railroad Museum of New England (RMNE), Thomaston (30 min)
- Chocolate Decadence Train Ride with RMNE, Naugatuck Valley (30 min)
- Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge (40 min)
- Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford (50 min)
Food & Drink “Experiences”
(Scroll further to see restaurant recommendations)
- Husky Meadows Farm in Norfolk (5 min)
- Freunds Farm Market & Bakery (5 min)
- Autumn Harvest Orchard, Seasonal Apple Picking (5 min), Call ahead
- Great Mountain Forest Annual Maple Weekend in March (5 min)
- Spice320 in Colebrook (15 min)
- Undermountain Pantry Cooking Classes & Workshops (15 min), Reservations required
- Thorncrest Farm and Milk House Chocolates (25 min)
- Fascia’s Chocolate Experience Make-Your-Own Chocolate Bar (35 min)
- Autumn Fall Foliage Train Ride & Decadent Chocolate Experience (30 min)
Antique Shopping
- Southern Berkshires Antique Shops (20 min)
- Antiques on the Farmington (30 min)
- Housatonic Trading Company (30 min)
- Woodbury (45 min)
Petals & Leaves
- Best New England Fall Foliage Drives
- Trade Secrets Garden Tours (throughout Litchfield Hills)
- White Flower Farm Store & Gardens (30 min)
- Naumkeag Public Garden & Historic Home (40 min)
- Berkshire Botanical Gardens (40 min)
Dining in Litchfield Hills & Surrounding Areas
10-25 Min Drive
2nd Home Lounge (Winsted, CT) (860) 238-4500
Blackberry River Bistro (Canaan, CT) (860) 453-4067
Gepetto Osteria e Bisteccheria (Torrington, CT) (860) 618-0721
Noujaim’s Mediterranean Bistro (Winsted, CT) (860) 379-0559
Mario’s Tuscany Grill (Winsted, CT) (860) 379-7415
Monaco’s Ristorante (Winsted, CT) (860) 379-6648
Mountainside Cafe (Falls Village, CT) (860) 824-7876
Neo (Salisbury, CT) (860) 596-4158
Railway Cafe & Ice Cream Parlor (Winsted, CT) (860) 238-7677
Old Inn on the Green* ** (New Marlborough, MA) (413) 229-7924
The Boat House (Lakeville, CT) (860) 435-2111
The Venetian (Torrington, CT) (860) 489-8592
The White Hart (Salisbury, CT) (860) 435-0030
YiaYia’s Greek Kitchen (Torrington, CT) (860) 618-3076
* Properties recognized for their romantic ambiance and beautiful locations for special occasion dinners.
10-25 Min Drive
Arethusa al tavalo* ** (Bantam, CT) (860) 567-0043
Black Rabbit Grille (Lakeville, CT) (860) 596-4227
Bizen Japanese and Sushi (Great Barrington) (413) 528-4343
Fern (Lakeville, CT) (860) 596-1930
Materia Ristorante* ** (Bantam, CT) (860) 567-3326
Millrights* ** (Simsbury, CT) (860) 651- 5500
Ore Hill* ** & Swyft (Kent, CT) (860) 592-0404
The Woodland* (Lakeville, CT) (860) 435-0578
West Street Grill (Litchfield, CT) (860) 567-3885
Xicohtencatl Mexican Restaurant Great Barrington, MA (413) 528-2002
** Owned by nationally recognized award-winning chefs
* Properties recognized for their romantic ambiance and beautiful locations for special occasion dinners.
Quintessential New England Towns Nearby
Winsted (15 min) features delightfully independent shops, including Live at Home, The Curious Cat Bookshop, and Rooted Market, along with The American Mural Project and Whiting Mills Featuring Artisans & Craftsman, The American Museum of Tort Law (truly fascinating!), and the wonderfully vintage Gilsen Cafe & Cinema. Also, be sure to pop into Railway Cafe, known for its coffee, ice cream, and good eats. Check out this full itinerary for a summer’s day in Winsted & Highland Lake. Visit Friends of Main Street Winsted for more ideas of where to visit.
Torrington (20 min) features the Warner Theater, Five Points Art Center & Creative Workshops (ceramics, stained glass, printmaking, etc.), Pursue the Clues Escape Room, and excellent restaurants, including Gepetto Osteria e Bisteccheria, YiaYia’s Greek Kitchen, and The Venetian. Looking for some vintage treasures? There’s also Wright’s Barn Antiques, Flea Market & Cafe.
Litchfield (25 min) A late 18th-century New England town with boutiques and restaurants along the historic town green. Nearby Bantam Lake offers outdoor activities and water sports. Horseback Riding and Sunset Meadows Vineyard in Goshen (25 min) make a perfect stop on the way. Litchfield Distillery also offers tours; see their website for details. White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield also offers 40 miles of trails plus a museum and nature center.
Millerton, NY (25 min) features boutique shops, cozy cafés, and bustling restaurants, including 52 Main and Millerton Inn. Also home to Harney & Sons Fine Teas and the independent bookstore Oblong Books. Spend some time outside on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail and round the day out with a movie at The Moviehouse.
Stockbridge, MA (35 min): Enjoy a scenic New England Drive to enjoy the Norman Rockwell Museum, The Naumkeag Estate, and Antique Shopping
