Here are my unofficial Farmington Valley Awards for fall: totally biased, fully debatable. Best apple cider donut goes to Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard in Granby (weekends). Best fall walk with a view is Talcott Mountain and Heublein Tower in Simsbury, with a runner-up on the Farmington River Trail through Collinsville. Then: Pop Over Eatery for breakfast, Giv Coffee for coffee, Tulmeadow Farm Store for the farm stand (and ice cream window), and Naples Pizza in Farmington. Agree? Disagree? Tell me on the Instagram carousel.
I put this carousel together as my own unofficial, totally biased take on a few favorite Farmington Valley stops this fall. These are my picks, not a ranking contest and not a paid list. Hours and menus change, so confirm with each spot before you go.
See the full set on Instagram: The Unofficial Farmington Valley Awards, fall edition.
Best Apple Cider Donut
Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard, Granby. Warm, sugary and worth the drive. Get one for the car and a dozen for later. Clark Farms has listed cider donuts for weekend regular sales. Confirm they're baking before you go (Clark Farms apple cider donuts).
Best Fall Walk with a View
Talcott Mountain and Heublein Tower, Simsbury. About 1.25 miles up the Tower Trail to the top (Connecticut DEEP, Heublein Tower). Connecticut State Parks lists the yellow-blazed Tower Trail as a 2.5-mile out-and-back (Talcott Mountain State Park).
Runner-up: the Farmington River Trail through Collinsville: flat, easy, and right along the river.
Heads-up: the Heublein Tower museum opens Memorial Day weekend and closes for the season after October 31, while Talcott Mountain State Park stays open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset (Connecticut State Parks; Facebook).
Best Breakfast Spot
Pop Over Eatery, Simsbury. Home of the popover. Go in the morning and get one warm.
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Best Coffee
Giv Coffee, Canton. They roast right across the parking lot, and you can tell.
Best Farm Stand (and Ice Cream Window)
Tulmeadow Farm Store, West Simsbury. Get your produce inside, then go to the ice cream window. Those are the rules.
Best Pizza
Naples Pizza, Farmington. A Farmington staple since 1995 (Naples Pizza story page). It fills up, so go early.
Agree? Disagree?
Who did I miss? Tell me in the comments on the Instagram post, or contact me.
I'm Fred Moore of Keller Williams Legacy Partners.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Tower Trail to Heublein Tower?
Connecticut DEEP lists the trail to Heublein Tower as 1.25 miles long. Connecticut State Parks describes the yellow-blazed Tower Trail as a moderate 2.5-mile out-and-back.
When does Heublein Tower close for the season?
Connecticut State Parks says the museum opens Memorial Day weekend and closes for the season after October 31. The park itself stays open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.
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See the buyer guide Contact FredPersonal opinions only, not a paid endorsement, rating service, or recommendation to buy or sell. Confirm hours, menus and trail conditions with each business or park before you go. Equal Housing Opportunity.