The Town of Kent
Kent has long been considered one of Litchfield County’s favorite destinations. While simultaneously hip and quaint, this stylish town has remained primarily a rural community of about 3,000 residents comfortably located in small hamlets, such as Bulls Bridge, Kent Hollow, South Kent and The Cobble. While many designers, actors, authors and even a former Secretary of State call Kent home, we found a community rich in diversity and steeped cultural events.
Kent traditionally marks the beginning of vistas along the Housatonic River and into the northwestern hills of Connecticut. The drive north along Route 7 from Bulls Bridge to Kent is one of the most dramatic gateways to the Berkshires. Take a moment; just before entering the town, to stop at the inspiring and brilliantly organized Kent Greenhouse and Gardens. Open year round this Nursery and Design Center finds new and beautiful uses for even the simplest plants. www.kentgreenhouseandgardens.com Main Street greets its visitors with enormous and playful sculptures by artist Peter Woytuk. You must not miss these, and you won’t.
Further along, take note of The Kent Library, which boasts a proud tradition of talks by distinguished writers and speakers. Kent’s well-known art galleries, like the light-filled Ober Gallery or the stunning Morrison Gallery, regularly bring works of emerging regional artists, contemporary luminaries, and modern masters.www.morrisongallery.com Frequent artist receptions provide an opportunity to meet many of the most renowned artists in the country. Collectors come from New York City, the Berkshires, and New York’s Hudson Valley.
Shopping in Kent can fill an afternoon with some very special treats. One of our favorites is RT Facts, an important source for interior designers and savvy individuals. The shop at 22 Main Street invites you to delight in the beauty of a wide range of carefully curated pieces of furniture, lighting, architectural elements and garden objects. rtfacts.com
We also strongly suggest a visit to the shop for children called, Three Monkeys and Me on nearby Fuller Lane where European-designed toys and clothing fill the store with well-made, contemporary togs and toys.
The Kent landscape provides a very different perspective. Kent has some of the best trails in the area. Hikers can enjoy colorful autumn treks along the Appalachian Trail; while in winter, cross-country skiers maintain an elaborate number of trails to explore the 2300-acre Macedonia Brook State Park. Summer brings canoeists and kayakers exploring the rocky shores of the Housatonic River; and during the school year, students from the Kent School Crew Team can be spotted zipping along the river in preparation for the hugely popular New England regatta, known as The Head of the Charles.
Kent Falls State Park, just northeast of the village of Kent, provides a breathtaking view of Falls Brook. A magnificent waterfall drops approximately 70 feet against a backdrop of dark stone with mossy outcroppings. Of course no one should leave Kent without a visit to Bull's Bridge, another treasured destination, and one of three remaining covered bridges in Connecticut dating from the 19th century.
With great thanks to artist, Pieter Lefferts, for allowing us to use his painting, Winter Woods, as our banner.