Norfolk, CT

Set high in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, Norfolk is a quiet, scenic town with a deep appreciation for the arts. Its biggest claim to fame is the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, run through the Yale School of Music on the Ellen Battell Stoeckel estate. Every summer, world-class musicians and students arrive to play in the historic Music Shed, bringing live classical concerts to the heart of the village. The rest of the year, the town settles back into a peaceful rhythm centered around its historic green, community library, and friendly local spots.

ATTRScan by NYPL / Public domain

Outdoor lovers will find plenty to explore right in their backyard. You can hike up to the stone tower atop Haystack Mountain for views across three states, walk the wooded trail to Campbell Falls, or wander through thousands of acres of protected forest in Great Mountain Forest. It is a warm, close-knit community with crisp mountain air, quiet country roads, and plenty of room to breathe.