Farmington is one of those Connecticut towns and villages that were founded before the American Revolution and bear the label “quaint” but are indeed far more than that tainted word implies. Farmington, like many others, is inhabited by people who care about the part their town played in American history and about maintaining the buildings and traditions from the past, but they also live very much in the present – all of which makes their town a fascinating place to explore.

You’ll be starting the ride from the Park and Ride parking lot on Fieneman Road, where Batterson Park Road joins Fieneman at exit 37 off I-84. Fieneman Road is also called Farmington Avenue east of here – one of the idiosyncrasies of life in Connecticut. Whatever it’s called, come out of Park and Ride and turn right on it, crossing over I-84 on the sidewalk if you deem it wise. Within ½ mile you’ll come to the intersection of Fieneman, Colt Highway (Route 6), and Birdseye. Cross Colt Highway at a forty-five-degree angle onto Birdseye, then turn left onto Mountain Road, the first left.

After a mile turn left at the stop sign onto Reservoir Road, keeping a sharp eye out for traffic coming up the road from your right. In about a mile turn right onto Route 6, Colt Highway. At the intersection of Routes 6 and 10, turn right onto Route 10. Within a mile Route 10 becomes Main Street and you’ll be in the beautiful town of Farmington. Take a side trip to the Grist Mill by turning left on Mill Lane (across from the Congregational church) and going down to the Farmington River. In the mill there’s a bookstore, which has carried this book for many years, and a lovely restaurant. Back on Main Street (Route 10), ride by the Congregational church and the buildings of Miss Porter’s School.

Cross Route 4 (Farmington Avenue) at the traffic light and continue on Route 10 north about 2 miles, past the golf course, to Aqueduct Lane. Turn right, and go up this short but steep hill to a T intersection with Talcott Notch Road, where you turn right. At Mountain Spring Road, turn right again, and within another 1-1/2 miles you’ll be back at Farmington Avenue. Turn right onto Farmington, go down a short, steep hill to High Street, where you turn left at the caution light, exercising extreme caution.

Midway up High Street you’ll see the Stanley-Whitman House (1660). It’s open to the public on Sundays only. There is a small entrance fee.

When you reach Mountain Road (a T intersection), turn left and go a short distance uphill to the entrance driveway to the Hill-Stead Museum. Turn left and ride through the grounds to the Stanford White-designated house. Hill-Stead is an unusual museum in that the owners stipulated that it was to remain exactly as it had been when they lived in it, with their beautiful paintings and sculpture by Manet, Monet, Degas, and other French Impressionists in their original settings. It is open May through October, noon to 5:0 p.m. and November through April, noon to 4:0 0 p.m. A moderate admission fee is charged.

When you are ready, continue the ride by going back along the entrance driveway to Mountain Road, where you turn left. Mountain Road lives up to its name now, illustrating the old saw that “what goes up must come down” – the up side of the mountain. It is actually a hill, but it is steep. This is the same Mountain Road that you cam in on, and it will take you back to Birdseye where you turn right then across Colt Highway and left on Fieneman Road and the Park and Ride.

TAKEN FROM

Short Bike Rides in Connecticut (Fifth Edition), written by Edwin Mullen and Jane Griffith

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