Welcome to Spring's Embrace
Savor the Spring in New England
There's something magical happening at our doorstep at the Manor House Inn in Norfolk. The azaleas are are blooming in perfect bouquets of purple and pink, and if you listen closely, you'll hear the cheerful chatter of warblers who've returned to call Litchfield Hills home. After a dreary spring, the world finally feels alive and inspired as we re-open for our 2025 season.
Joining us this year are Innkeepers, Blair Jennings and Chef Fell Cadwallader, whose hearts for hospitality perfectly align with our purpose – to inspire moments of connection, reflection and celebration. Like us, they’re compelled to support the wellbeing of people and the planet we all share.
Why Your Heart Needs Spring in New England
At the Manor House Inn, we've been welcoming guests for over half a century, and there's something we've learned: the seasons here don’t just change the landscape—they change how we engage with nature and with one another. It’s why many of our guests return throughout the seasons year after year.
In June, there’s something special about the way the morning light filters through the leaves outside and the Tiffany stained-glass throughout the Gilded-age country home. The air carries the promise of warmth and growth alongside birdsong and the buzz of the pollinators. The chipmunks and hummingbirds bring life to the courtyard, while the foxes and fawns are wander in the forest and alongside the brook. The spring season breathes new life into the Berkshire foothills of the northwest corner of Connecticut. Whatever this enchantment is, we see it in our guests' faces when they return from a morning hike at Campbell Falls, an afternoon exploring Litchfield Hills on E-Bikes, or after an early evening playing disc golf at Norbrook Farm Brewery.
Of course, science backs up what our hearts already know. When Dr. Martin Seligman developed his PERMA model of wellbeing, he identified positive emotions and engagement as fundamental to human flourishing[i]. And spring in the Litchfield Hills offers both in abundance. It's why so many city-dwellers are drawn to the region for a nature-immersive escape. Research shows that just twenty minutes in nature can lower your cortisol levels—that's your body literally relaxing into peace[ii]. But we think there's something even more profound at work here: the simple joy of being alive in a world that's coming back to life, and being in a place with people who honor our interconnectedness to one another and the earth. Norfolk is a community that is deeply devoted to conservation and nature-preservation.
Three Invitations to Wellbeing
We don't just offer activities at the Manor House—we offer connections that we believe are life-affirming. Here are three ways we'd love to share spring's gifts with you:
Hiking: Where Challenge Meets Beauty
When you lace up your boots for Haystack Mountain, you're not just taking a walk, you're embarking on a journey that engages every part of you. The trail rises gently at first, then asks a bit more of you, until suddenly you're standing at the summit with the entire Connecticut River Valley spread below you like a living map of spring's progress.
We love this trail because it offers the opportunity to achieve what psychologists call "flow"—that wonderful state where you're completely absorbed in what you're doing; when the challenge before you is aligned with your level of skill and engagement [iii]. Your mind quiets, your breathing deepens, and for those precious moments, you're exactly where you need to be. Research confirms what we see: hiking genuinely lifts mood and builds confidence [iv].
Jennifer, one of our recent guests, captured it perfectly when she returned from Haystack practically glowing: "After so much rain early spring, the climb made everything feel fresh and alive again — the smell of the forest and the vista at Haystack tower were truly breathtaking and a totally different experience than in years' past when I've been here in the autumn for
leaf-peeping season".
For guests wanting a a gentler climb, Dennis Hill offers an easier path where wildflowers bloom abundantly in the forest understory.
There are also paths of all levels maintained by the Norfolk Land Trust, which cares for 20+ miles of trails, with each woodland path revealing its own spring magic.
For guests who want to make a day of hiking, our innkeeping team can even pack trail lunches with advance notice; a charcuterie board with fresh and dried fruits and nuts, or a full gourmet picnics with fresh-baked croissants and house-made sweets. If there's one thing we believe it's that sharing good food in a beautiful place -- at a mountain summit or by the water’s edge -- somehow makes the joy of life even sweeter.
Forest Bathing: The Art of Simply Being
The Japanese have a beautiful practice called shinrin-yoku—literally "forest bathing." It's not about hiking or achieving anything. It's about opening your senses and letting the forest embrace you.
We guide our guests to special spots on our five-acre grounds or nearby at Campbell Falls, where the spring woods are bursting with new growth. You might sit by a stream and simply listen. You might touch the bark of an ancient oak. You might breathe in the green scent of unfurling ferns.
One guest told us it felt like "a soul reset," and we think that captures it beautifully. Research shows forest bathing reduces anxiety and boosts immunity through compounds called phytoncides that trees release. [v] But beyond the science, there's something profoundly healing about remembering you're part of something larger than yourself.
After your forest hike, we invite you to our sundrenched three seasons room with a warm cup of tea and a journal. Writing down five things you noticed—the sound of wind in pine needles, the feel of moss, the play of light on water—helps preserve these precious moments.[vi]
Bird Watching: Cultivating Wonder
Spring migration transforms our corner of Connecticut into a highway for hundreds of bird species. Many of our guests visit the
Norfolk's Birding Hotspots include Kelly Swamp, and leave feeling a deep sense of awe and appreciation. And we all intuitively know that this kind of wonder and delight is essential to wellbeing. [vii]
Imagine stepping into your morning and being greeted by the flash of a scarlet tanager's red wing or the liquid song of a wood thrush. These moments stop time. They remind us that beauty exists simply for its own sake, and research shows such experiences of awe increase life satisfaction. [viii]
We've had couples return from morning bird walks absolutely enchanted by a single cerulean warbler—"It was like being called back to nature, and with all the noise and chaos of life, there’s something profoundly simple and calming about birdsong”.
For guests who want to devote some serious time and attention to birdwatching, we are happy to provide binoculars and birding guides. And for those wishing for the wonder to unfold a little more effortlessly, some of our favorite birding happens right from our lawn's feeders with a cup of coffee in hand.
A Simple Practice We'd Love to Share
We've developed a gentle daily practice that deepens any stay with us:
Morning: Over a two-course served breakfast, set an intention to notice one moment of pure joy or delight during your day.
Midday: Whether you're hiking, forest bathing, or watching birds, allow yourself to be fully present for one perfect moment—the sighting of unexpected woodland creatures, the scent and sound of pine needles underfoot, or the call and response of red-winged blackbirds in the forests.
Evening: Back in your suite, perhaps in a reading chair or a soaking tub, consider that moment. How did it feel? What did it awaken in you? How can you savor the memory of the experience? Research shows that reflecting on positive experiences actually amplifies their benefits.[ix]
Why We Love New England Hospitality
Manor House Inn isn't just a place to stay—it's a piece of Connecticut's history. Every morning, we wake up grateful to share this corner of New England with people who need what nature freely offers: peace, wonder, and the profound rest that comes from remembering you belong to something magnificent. Whether guests are here for rest or romance, they always find the opportunity to reset and reconnect to the things that matter most.
Our guest rooms are curated with connection in mind. Each has its own personality—some with cozy fireplaces, others with luxurious whirlpool tubs—all designed with view of the outdoor spaces and as havens where you can process and integrate your experiences in nature.
We believe in sustainable living not just as environmental stewardship or because we're a Green Lodging Certified Inn, but as a way of honoring the interconnectedness with nature that activities like hiking, forest bathing and bird watching teach us. [x]
The digital reset we gently encourage isn't about rules—it's about creating space for the quieter conversations between your heart and the natural world; or conversations with your fellow travelers and innkeeping team who love this corner of Connecticut for the same reasons. When you put down your phone and pick up binoculars, you're choosing presence. When you share your wonder with others, you’re choosing connection. When you prioritize presence and engagement, you choose peace and possibility.
You're Already Welcome Here
Spring in Norfolk also brings life to the Norfolk Village center, where local nature-inspired artisans share their creations at the Norfolk Library or where our community gathers at the Norfolk Hub. It's another reminder that wellbeing isn't just personal—it flourishes in connection with others who have a shared sense of belonging. [xi]
Whether you're drawn to "spring hiking Connecticut," curious about "Litchfield Hills forest-bathing," or searching for a "bird-watching retreat Norfolk," what you're really seeking is what we most want to offer: a chance to come home to yourself in one of New England's most beautiful settings.
The robins and orioles are calling. The forests and foothills are beckoning. Your room is ready, and so are we! Come stay and savor spring in New England.
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References:
[iii] Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.
