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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Top Foliage Town? Kent, Connecticut


The September/October issue of Yankee Magazine named the top 25 towns in New England for fall foliage travel, and Kent, Connecticut, won top honors and first place on the list. Although as I explained in my last blog post about our leaf peeping trip that the autumn foliage being less than ideal this fall, due to the dry summer and nor'easter storms that have passed through New England, we did see some beautiful sights on our drive through Kent. (All photos will enlarge if clicked on once, and then again when they re-open on a new page)

The Yankee Magazine article stated: "The heart of the New England leaf-peeping experience lies in the details: the farmstands and covered bridges, the waterfalls and antiques stores that provide the eye candy, framed by the colors of our most glorious season" writes Michael Blanding, author of the article. "All of these things Kent has in abundance, in a perfect blend of uncommon natural beauty and culture that might shame cities 10 times its size (just shy of 3,000 people in the 2000 census)."



The Town of Kent, Connecticut, is located in the scenic northwest corner of Litchfield County. Incorporated in 1739, Kent had a history as a farming community and as a thriving iron ore producer. My husband and I enjoyed strolling down its North Main Street, admiring the beautiful houses, many of which now are commercial businesses, art and sculpture galleries and antique shops.


The beautiful Kent Congregational Church has a history dating back to 1741.


A large crow sculpture near one of the galleries.



A vintage train engine near the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association located in Kent on U.S Rt. 7, less than a mile from the center of town. The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association is a non-profit, all volunteer organization and museum dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and demonstration of antique machinery from Connecticut's rich industrial and agricultural past.


The Kent Memorial Library was having a giant outdoor book sale which captured my attention for an hour. I was happily browsing all the books when I saw a sign that for $6 I could buy a bag and fill it with as many books that could fit! Here is some of the selection that I came away with.


Kent Falls is a series of several waterfalls, dropping 250 feet in under a quarter mile, located in Kent Falls State Park.  The largest cascade drops more than 70 feet into a reflecting pool, before traveling over the lesser falls. My husband and I climbed a steep trail that follows the path of the falls to the top with intermittent platforms to view them, to take this series of photos. To get a perspective of their size look at the upper right hand photo and you can see people standing near one of the cascades.


 Kent Falls from a midway viewing platform

According to the Department of Environmental Protection website information about Kent Falls State Park: "Kent Falls, located in the northeastern section of the town of Kent, is a series of waterfalls on a mountain stream known as Falls Brook. The stream begins in the town of Warren, draining an area of six or seven square miles. It then flows west to the big fall where it plunges approximately 70 feet in a dramatic cascade. From here the stream descends in a series of lesser falls and cascades to the valley, where it enters the Housatonic River some 200 feet below the brink of the big fall only a quarter mile away. Much of the limestone over which the brook flows has been carved into interesting shapes including numerous potholes of all sizes."


Bull's Bridge, built in 1842, is a single-lane vehicular wooden covered bridge across the Housantonic River in the town of Kent, Connecticut. It is one of three remaining covered bridges in Connecticut dating from the 19th century.  (To see the very scenic West Cornwall Covered Bridge see my prior blog post).  George Washington crossed the Housatonic River near the site of the present bridge in 1781.


We really enjoyed our ride through the back roads around Kent on a beautiful autumn day. It certainly was a wonderful area to visit and I hope these photo mosaics enticed you to plan a trip to this area one day.

I'm linking to Mary of The Little Red House "Mosaic Monday" Please visit Mary today to see her beautiful mosaic and links to all the blogs participating today.  Thanks, Mary!





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62 comments:

  1. WOW that looks fantastic. You can write a beautiful book. Of course your blog is the beautiful book of travels and history. Fantastic photos.

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  2. How beautiful it looks! I would love to visit Kent someday.
    Hugs,
    Penny
    p.s. I am having a giveaway of a expresso/coffee maker...come enter!

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  3. Wow, these are gorgeous! Of course your photos are always gorgeous. Thanks for taking us along. ~ Sarah

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  4. Pat....I have tears welling up. So much beauty and my hubby and I LOVE waterfalls. The colors may not be as good this year but they are stunning to me........thank you

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  5. The last collage and last picture are my favorites. Wow, I have always wanted to go to New England in the fall. The colors are wonderful! What's up with the crow statue, a good bit of whimsy thrown in! The colors in the first collage are beautiful, and I love the lake reflection, train, and waterfall! Gosh, you sure fit a lot of things into this trip! How long did you stay, did you only drive through?

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  6. Pat, what a precious town! It has a storybook quality about it. And I cannot believe the picture of those leaves in that lake... the color is so brilliant it looks like flames!

    All of these photos are wonderful. And that white clapboard church is precious! So are the buildings in this town. I would love to visit there.

    Connecticut is truly one of my favorite places to visit in New England. My BIL lived there for many years, and we enjoyed visiting. So much to see and do, as you just proved with this post.

    Thanks so much, Pat!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  7. I only live a couple of hours away from Litchfield county so I really can make a plan to visit Kent soon! The falls are spectacular...

    Our local library had a book sale this weekend too...and just think the money goes to a good cause:)

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  8. What a truly gorgeous place. I'd love to see it. We honeymooned in New England in the fall back in 1986 but I don't think we hit Kent.

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  9. New England is so beautiful, you really captured it's beauty, Pat! Enjoyed the post very much! Cool haul with the bag of books :)

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  10. Amazing photos Pat & your posts are always so packed with info. You are an excellent travel writer & photographer!
    I love Bull's Bridge too.

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  11. What an adorable place! I'm really jealous about all those books you got for $6!

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  12. Undeniably wonderful mosaics. The colors you pt together are very complementary of each other.

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  13. What a beautiful place! Kent seems to have everything for a great afternoon in the fall. Posts like this one make me miss the eastern provinces at this time of year.

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  14. So, here we have a post on the details!! Perfect!!
    And the colours keep being stunning...

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  15. Wow! What a beautiful and utterly beguiling town - wow!!! It's so pretty and picturesque!! Wow!! I'm just so impressed!! As always with your posts, I feel I am strolling around with you admiring these stunning houses and going shopping too! The fill the bag with books for $6 is such a bargain!!

    Oh I have a soft spot for the machine people!! The best museum I visited in York was the Railway Museum and these fantastic trains were on display - all restored very lovingly and painstakingly by very enthusiastic volunteers!! And I really felt their pride at these fully restored trains. So thank you for the link to CAMA!! I hope they got to keep railway no.5?? I hope so!!!

    Oh Kent has everything - even these fab waterfalls!!! My goodness!! So pretty! And those covered bridges are so unique. I'm so glad they're looked after too - they're truly historic!!

    Thanks lovely Pat for such a pleasant and amazing stroll through this treasure of a place! Take care
    x

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  16. Morning Pat, Kent is the Garden of England in the UK and it looks like it is the Autumn paradise in New England. What wonderful colours especially of the wonderful reflection in the lake, incredible. This Saturday weather permitting we are going to Leeds Castle in Kent, for my hubby to have a ride on a segway with a few other family members. Hopefully I will get some lovely Autumnal photographs in the castle grounds but I do not think they will be nearly as good as yours. Have a good day, Jackie in Surrey, UK.

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  17. GLORIOUS!!! I need to go google Kent & see just how long it might take to drive there. :-)

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  18. Pat, what gorgeous photos. This is exactly what I think of when I picture autumn in New England. The mosaics are beautiful. And the shot of that beautiful little church against the glorious blue sky is just breathtaking. Kat

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  19. Most of the colourful leaves in our area have dropped. We enjoyed the autumn in the country and long walks through our parks brings me a lot of enjoyment.
    Your pictures are beautiful and reflect the lovely country sides of your country.
    Isn't it true that you forget the daily problems and misery in the world if you looks at nature??
    I do..
    All the best,
    Gisela
    In all things of nature there is something marvelous.
    - Aristotle

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  20. As always your pictures are just gorgeous!!! It would be a grand way to spend a week in the fall. Just traveling the winding road of God's creation and soaking up the WONDER! Thank you! Cathy

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  21. What pretty colors and beautiful light of autumn.

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  22. Pat, Your photos making up the mosaics are just beautiful! I especially like the shot looking across the river in the mosaic with the covered bridges. Just spectacular color and composition. I love taking trips with you.
    ~ Sue

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  23. Thanks for taking me on this delightful trip . It is such a historical and beautiful place. I love the last shot, it makes you want to run down the road.

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  24. What a beautiful community with so many attractions! Some of the trees' leaves appear purple, which is a beautiful addition to what I see here in foliage. Quaint covered bridge and the quiet back roads are a delight. It must have been very pleasant for you to get out of the city and take this journey.

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  25. The waterfall mosaic is spectacular. If we are ever in the area we will remember how lovely Kent is. I would love to visit New York sometime. I agree with Debbie. you should investigate the possibility and then we could all have a book of Pat's Perspective on our coffee tables. Your photos are wonderful and the fact that your husband will stop the car for you to take pictures impresses me so much. He deserves some of the great food he'll be getting when you test some of the old recipes in those cookbooks!

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  26. Dazzling... Simply dazzling mosaics, Pat... I'm lost in all that autumn splendor...*sigh*... Happy Week, my friend :o) ((HUGS))

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  27. Breath taking views Pat! Your mosaics are beautiful and that area of Connecticut is New England at its best. Just stunning.
    ♥, Susan

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  28. Like being with you as your travel. Such glorious color this time of the year. I miss being up north for this reason, although the cold weather would chill me to my sea witch bones. LOL

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  29. My cousin George lives in Kent.
    He travels into Manhattan, is an architect there. Boy that was a fantastic post. The leaves are more brillant this year.
    yvonne

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  30. Another spectacular post! Your photos are breathtaking and you have truly captured the beautiful town of Kent. There are so many wonderful little towns in New England but there is something so extra special about Kent. I know I keep repeating myself but I am always in awe of your spectacular photos and writings. Thank you so very much. Another gorgeous post, I don't know how you do it!

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  31. Goodness, Pat. I just love traveling with you! Beautiful Autumn images. Loved the bridge. I love trains and waterfalls. So much here to see and appreciate. Brava!

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  32. That looks so beautiful, Pat! What wonderful shots. I am sorry I haven't visited, but I am going back to the doc for the 4th time with pneu. Can't seem to shake it.

    Looks like you had a wonderful day trip! It looks a lot like the North Fork, you think? The back roads...

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  33. Gorgeous photos, Pat. Visiting your area of the USA is one thing I want to do - preferably in the fall so I can see those beautiful colours.

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  34. I just fell into those photos. Closed my eyes and was there. Good thing I didn't get to the booksale before you - there would have been nothing left.

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  35. STUNNING! I've never seen purple trees. Your photos are exquisite. La

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  36. I don't think I've ever seen such beautiful pictures of New England fall foliage! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: your blog is one of the best on the net, Pat!

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  37. What a beautiful part of our country! You've really taken the best photos for us to enjoy! And I will write this down for places I would like to visit. We love to drive up into the North East in the Fall! Enjoy your Monday! ♥

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  38. Inspired me? Heck, I'm ready to pack up the car and head out now. Oh my goodness, what a wonderful trip and your photos are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  39. Wow, that must be a beautiful country. The fall colours are fabulous and I also love those beautiful old houses and churches. That must have been a wonderful trip Pat.

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  40. I love that sequence of waterfalls. Water is one of my favorites.

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  41. Love those vibrant colours...and your pictures are beautiful! One day I would like to see the leaves of the east coast in autumn.

    Kent looks like a charming little town...and you captured it beautifully!

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  42. Hi Pat -- These photos are gorgeous! I haven't been to Kent in about 20 years, and your photos make it look even more beautiful than I remember. The waterfalls, covered bridges and scenery look fantastic. I was also happy to see some Vermont towns on the Yankee top foliage list (including my hometown of Manchester).

    Anyway, thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hello. I look forward to reading more of your wonderful posts.

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  43. Each photo is spectacular...you will have enough to browse through all winter when there is a lack of color!

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  44. Your posts are always a joy to my eyes and my heart and this one is simply amazing. Thank you so much!
    Eli

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  45. Wow your blog is fantastic. When I can sit down and really relax, I'm going to go through your blog post to post.The photos are amazing. Thank you for stopping by my blog and visiting. Looking forward to many more lovely visits.

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  46. I don't know what would excite me more....the leaf peeping, the great old town, or filling a bag with books for 6 bucks! Once again, what a great trip!

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  47. Thank you everyone for your nice comments!

    I was puzzled by the "purple trees" that a few of you have mentioned and I realize that you are seeing bare trees among the colorful ones in the hills. I guess they do have a purplish hue when seen from a distance. It may have been the time of day and slant of light hitting them. It was overcast at times the weekend I visited this area.

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  48. Pat, your photos are so inspiringly beautiful! Your visit to these beautiful places gave us a FREE tour! The covered bridge, waterfalls, countless of beauties!

    You got my vote for NE!

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  49. Oh those are simply amazing photos. I think it would certainly get my vote as well for top foliage and for its quaint surroundings.

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  50. Esos puentes me recuerdan a la película " Los puentes de Madison ". Salen tan bonitos como en la película. Un saludo.

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  51. WOW, gorgeous fall mosaic and colors. The waterfalls shots are beautiful. I loved your mosaics.

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  52. What fabulous fall color!! You made me want to hop in the car and drive til I get there~ What a wonderfully scenic town with the bridges & waterfalls...thank you for my dose of fall! We are pitifully colorless by comparison in our neck of the woods :-)

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  53. beautiful pic...iLOVE new england in the fall

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  54. I can't believe the amount of purple in that first photograph. In UK we do not see this!

    Until I read your caption, I totally believed that the crow was real.

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  55. Pat, Your photos are stellar. There's nothing like autumn in New England or Christmas in Manhattan.

    My brother and his family live right outside of Kent; his in-laws have lived in Kent for decades. It's like a fairy tale there.

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  56. OH Pat, As much as I love the mountains, I'd love to see the colors in your area... Kent, Connecticut sounds like a fabulous place... Seeing the colors, the waterfalls, the covered-bridges..... WOW WOW--WOW....

    I have been gone for a week---so need to catch up.. I don't EVER want to miss any of your posts.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  57. Dropping back by, Pat, to wish you a Happy Outdoor Wednesday!

    Your photographs are just as beautiful as they were when I first saw them. Outstanding!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  58. If this year isn't an optimum leaf viewing year, then I can't imagine how beautiful a good year could be.

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  59. In this early morning hour with my cup of hot coffee, I have really enjoyed my visit here to your beautifully illustrated blog. Your pictures are outstanding in how they depict the Fall season of the year. I wanted to put a "for sale" sign on my house and move to the one with the red roof. What an quaint, cozy looking house. The colors of the leaves, the roads that you traveled on, and the places you visited are so interesting to me. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. I always look forward to my visits here. You and your husband certainlly live a fascinating life.

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  60. Beautiful pictures of Kent Falls. We have hiked, and camped, up in that area many times.

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  61. Hello, Your photos are just breath taking. Sooo much beauty here. Thank you for sharing. I would love to visit there some day.

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