Activities
The serene beauty of the Litchfield Hills region offers a tranquil getaway for Manor House Inn guests. There is much to explore with historic architecture, forests and lakes, gardens and glens, craft breweries and wineries, antique and artisan shops, and more. Established in 1758, Norfolk has been called “the unspoiled and largely undiscovered gem of Connecticut’s historic Northwest corner, serving a spellbinding concoction of natural beauty and culture.”
Rest. Reflect. Reconnect.
Coming Soon! Prepare for the ultimate relaxation vacation with the upcoming Alderspa—a serene outdoor and indoor retreat featuring saunas, spas, and rejuvenating hot/cold installations. Follow our journey on Facebook as we unveil this haven for rest and renewal; perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape in Northwest Connecticut.
Massage Therapy is available with Eileen M. Fitzgibbons, a local Licensed Therapist located steps away from the Manor House. A visit with her is a perfect way to unwind. Call to schedule a private session: 860-309-7775
Vintage lawn games, board games, and birdwatching books are all available at the Manor House Inn where digital detox is strongly encouraged, and reconnecting with nature settles the nerves and stills the soul. With some of the darkest night skies in Connecticut, we also offer the ideal location for stargazers.
Hiking & Picnicking
There are countless areas of inspiration for hiking and picnicking through Litchfield Hills, many with breathtaking vistas. Call to order our Take-a-Hike picnic package in advance, or grab a picnic-to-go lunch at Berkshire Country Store!
Here are the best nearby options: Haystack Mountain, Dennis Hill State Park, Campbell Falls State Park, Great Mountain Forest, Norfolk Land Trust
Cycling & Ebiking
Norbrook Farm Brewery offers world-class mountain bike trails and a disc golf course, alongside their award-winning microbrews. Live music is also available most weekends! Remember to BYO bike! Ask our innkeeper if you’d like to borrow our frisbees.
Covered Bridge Electric Bike Tours in nearby North Canaan offers many trail recommendations to enjoy the scenic beauty of biking through Litchfield Hills and the Berkshire foothills. Rent an electric bike that allows you to pedal and have assistance when needed so you can go further and easily navigate hills to explore a lovely, serene part of Connecticut. Maps and training are provided to ensure you have a memorable exercise experience. Bike rentals are available by the hour, 1/2 day, or full day.
Collinsville Canoe offers regular bike rentals along the Farmington River, along with Kayaks and Paddleboards if you want to design your own “Back Hills” experience in Litchfield Hills or a Self-Guided Berkshire Foothills Adventure.
Norfolk Rails to Trails hosts the annual Tour de Forest each autumn.
Housatonic Heritage Bike Routes: The Upper Housatonic River Valley is ideal for biking. One of the most popular routes is the covered bridge trail.
Harlem Valley Rail Trail: 16 miles of paved trail through nearby Duchess County, NY from Copake to Wassaic.
Novel Fun
Catamount in nearby New York offers the longest dual zip line in the United States, at 55+ mph and 250 feet! There’s also a scenic chair lift ride with spectacular views of Upstate NY and the Berkshires of Western MA! Below the beautiful canopy of trees is an Aerial Adventure Park, comprised of 9 aerial courses with varying difficulty — a perfect day-trip from the inn only 30 minutes away!
Hot Air Ballooning with Aer Blarney: New England’s premier non-direction airline taking an uncharted course where the destination is irrelevant and the experience is everything!
Norfolk Curling Club offers group lessons and hosts regular bonspiels; many corporate clients coordinate a day at the club for team-building!
Norbrook Farm Brewery has a three-mile disc golf course! Don’t fret if you’ve never played; it’s fun and easy to learn.
Water Activities
Burr Pond, fed by mountain streams, features a sandy beach with lifeguards, plus kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals.
Clarke Outdoors offers kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals. For a half-day adventure, they recommend an 8-mile trip on the Housatonic between Falls Village and West Cornwall.
Collinsville Canoe features kayak, paddleboard, and bike rentals along the Farmington River.
The Marina at Highland Lake offers ski boat rentals and pontoons
O’Hara’s Landing in nearby Salisbury also offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, plus a boat launch.
Toby Pond in Norfolk features a lifeguard-monitored sandy beach where time stands still and life feels simpler. Passes, towels, & beach chairs are available through the inn.
Wood Creek Pond is a tranquil 145-acre lake, just 2 1/2 miles from the Manor House, and is a nature lover’s paradise. Grab your canoe, kayak, or paddle board and spend the afternoon on the water viewing the amazing local wildlife and plants.
Satan’s Kingdom Recreation Area is a premier attraction on the Farmington River for canoeing, kayaking, and tubing (50 min)
Norfolk Town
Norfolk Library is an utterly enchanting building and the heartbeat of Norfolk’s community. A beautiful brownstone structure with unique architectural features, the library is worth a visit just for its extraordinary interior. The library hosts speakers, musicians, and programs year-round. Visit Library Event Calendar to see what’s happening during your stay.
The Norfolk Hub is a natural first stop for visitors who want to learn about the town, view maps, see local art exhibits, and find information about local attractions. They also offer a coworking space with free high-speed WiFi.
Infinity Music Hall is an intimate concert venue just a short walk from the inn.
City Meadow is a beautifully designed nature preserve with boardwalks, wetlands, and meadows in the very center of the Historic Norfolk Business District. It’s also a gorgeous location for photography against the backdrop of the mountains.
Norfolk Self-Guided Walking Tours of our quintessential New England village are delightful! Be sure to pick up a map at the Norfolk Hub! And don’t forget to stop by the historic Battell Chapel with its famous Tiffany stained glass.
The Haystack Book Festival, a program of the Norfolk Foundation, brings together writers and thinkers to explore new ideas in literature and the arts.
Norfolk Historical Society will take you back in time with curated exhibits, featuring historical architecture, and our rich history of founding families. Open Saturday and Sunday.
Husky Meadows Farm is a beloved farm committed to sustainable ecosystem stewardship offering certified organic vegetables and fresh flowers. Offerings cooking classes, farm tours, an abundant farm stand, and Friday night dinner pick-up (pre-order required, see website for details), Husky Meadows is located at 26 Doolittle Drive Norfolk, CT 06058. See their events calendar. We have plates, flatware, and a microwave in our beverage room for those who wish to order Friday night dinner through Husky Meadows (self-pick-up required); this can be enjoyed in the Three Seasons Room at the Manor House Inn.
Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center is engaged in the exchange and educational activities of Asian culture. The exhibition hall consists of three floors – each dedicated to one Eastern religious culture. The Taoist culture area is on the first floor, the Confucian culture area is on the second floor, and the Buddhist culture area is on the third floor. Each of the floors has engaging and interactive displays that allow the visitor to immerse themselves in the time, theme, and core tenets of the culture. Open seasonally. 207A Westside Rd., Norfolk CT 06058 USA
Petals & Leaves
The Best New England Fall Foliage drive can be enjoyed from Torrington to Norfolk Through People’s State Forest.
Trade Secrets Garden Tours, inspired by Bunny Williams and Naomi Blumenthal, and guided by horticulturist Deborah Munson support the valuable work of Project SAGE in Lakeville, CT, whose mission is to create social change to end interpersonal, relationship violence by challenging attitudes and beliefs about power, control, and gender norms and by advocating for victims and survivors.
Naumkeag Public Garden & Historic Home: A public garden and historic home in the heart of the Berkshires, Massachusetts. Open seasonally. Please visit the website for details. 5 Prospect Hill Rd, Stockbridge, MA 01262. 40 minutes from the inn.
White Flower Farm: White Flower Farm in nearby Morris, CT is surrounded by display gardens designed to entice, teach, and inspire gardeners of all ability levels. They also offer gardening lectures and workshops on Saturday mornings at 10 AM from May to October.
Berkshire Botanical Garden: Nestled in the scenic Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, the Berkshire Botanical Garden (BBG) offers visitors a peaceful refuge of natural beauty on 15 acres. Classes, workshops, lectures and special events are offered year-round. 40 min from the Manor House Inn.
Quaint, Quintessential New England Towns
Winsted: About 15 minutes from the Manor House, visitors can enjoy delightfully independent Boutiques & Bookstores, The American Mural Project and Whiting Mills Featuring Artisans & Craftsman, or the wonderfully vintage Gilsen Cafe & Cinema.
Want some outdoor adventures on the same day? Highland Lake is a 444-acre lake nearby in the Berkshire Mountains and a perfect place to spend the day fishing, boating, water skiing, or swimming.
Litchfield: A late 18th-century New England town with boutiques and restaurants along the historic town green. Nearby Bantam Lake offers outdoor activities and water sports. Horseback Riding and Sunset Meadows Vineyard in Goshen (25 min) is a perfect stop on the way. Litchfield Distillery also offers tours; see their website for details.
Millerton, NY: Located just 30 minutes away via a scenic drive through Litchfield and Dutchess Counties, Millerton is filled with boutique shops, cozy cafés, and bustling restaurants, including 52 Main and Millerton Inn. Also home to Harney & Sons Fine Teas and independent bookstore Oblong Books. Spend some time outside on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail and round the day out with a movie at The Moviehouse.
Stockbridge, MA: Located about 35 minutes from Norfolk, visitors enjoy the Norman Rockwell Museum, The Naumkeag Estate, and antique shops galore along with many other boutiques and eateries.
The Connecticut Beer Trail
The Connecticut Beer Trail Map includes numerous acclaimed breweries and brewpubs, many of which provide culinary experiences, live music, and exclusive events. Experience locally crafted beer firsthand, join tastings, and partake in brewery tours! Limo Services for winery and brewery tours include All Transportation Network in Lakeville and Avon Limo in Torrington.
Norbrook Farm Brewery
Norbrook Farm Brewery is just 3 miles from the inn and has quickly become one of the area’s favorite watering holes. Norbrook offers tastings of its specialty beers named after local landmarks, including Dennis Hill Estate Saison, Ol’ Man McMullen’s Porter, and Mt. Pisgah American IPA. Enjoy the brews in their bright tasting room or by the outdoor fire pit. And Norbrook Farm Brewery offers more than just award-winning beer and good food. Located on more than 450 acres, guests can enjoy more than 10 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails plus a 3-mile disc golf course. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
Great Falls Brewing Company
Great Falls Brewing Company is located in the recently refurbished Canaan train station. Great Falls offers 9 craft beers to please diverse beer tastes including Cascadia Farewell IPA, Derailed Brown Ale, Lazy Hazy Housy New England IPA and Canaan Mountain Lager in a fun brewpub complete with food from local eateries, dart boards, foosball, and live music on the weekends. Open 7 days a week.
Little Red Barn Brewers
True to its name, two brothers started this business in 2013 in a small red barn in Barkhamstead. In 2017, they opened a large tasting room in nearby Winsted, where they offer a large selection of hand-crafted brews, including Mad River Pilsner, Squires Tavern Ale, Rescue Red, Cow Tippin’ Copper Ale, Roll in the Hay Double IPA, and more! LRB is popular for its live music and food. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
Big Elm Brewing
Big Elm is on historic Rt. 7 in nearby Sheffield, MA. Taste a flight of their award-winning lagers, ales, stouts, and IPAs. Keep an eye on their calendar for special events such as Yoga and Beer (how awesome is that?!?) and beer release parties with live music. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Wine Tastings & Tours
Be sure to check out the Connecticut Wine Trail & Litchfield Distillery tours.
The Connecticut wine trail offers one of the most exciting and fastest-growing wine regions in the U.S. The Litchfield Hills region provides a cool climate for intricate flavor development and is the home of dedicated farmers, passionate winemakers, and New England charm. Limo Services for winery and brewery tours include All Transportation Network in Lakeville and Avon Limo in Torrington. Here are a few of our favorite local wineries:
Sunset Meadow Vineyards
Relax and enjoy a day at the vineyard and taste award-winning estate wines in an 1800’s barn-style tasting room. In 2017, Sunset Meadow was voted one of the Top 101 Wineries in America and is the largest winery in Connecticut. Lovely patio with panoramic vineyard views. Wine and chocolate tastings are available. Open year round Wednesday to Sunday. 25 min scenic drive; close to downtown Litchfield with restaurants and boutique shops. See their events calendar for inspiration!
Hopkins Vineyard
Wine tastings in a picturesque heritage farm set in the scenic hills of Litchfield County overlooking Lake Waramaug. Special events include live music and food trucks on select dates. Open year-round; hours vary depending on the season. 50-minute scenic drive with spectacular views and an independent restaurant adjacent to the vineyard.
Land of Nod Winery
Located on one of the oldest working farms in Connecticut, the Land of Nod Winery is nestled next to Canaan Mountain Forest and the Blackberry River. Offers tastings of grape and fruit wines, including chocolate raspberry dessert wine. Open Friday-Sunday from April to October. A 10-minute drive from the Manor House.
Visit CT Wine Trail for More Info. & Maps
Unique Museums and Experiences in Northwest CT
The American Mural Project
The largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world, the 120-foot, five-story high mural is a tribute to American workers and highlights what has defined the country over the last century. It serves as the center for AMP’s education programs and seeks to inspire, to educate, to invite collaboration, and reveal to people of all ages the many contributions they can make to American culture.
Visit AMP in Winsted, Connecticut, Friday and Saturday, 10 am–5 pm, and Sunday, 12–5 pm, year-round.
90 Whiting Street, Winsted, CT 06098. 15 minutes from the inn, close to Little Red Barn Brewers and Gilson Cinema.
Gilson Cafe & Cinema
View movies and eat dinner at this quaint independent art deco theater in Winsted. Offers a pub menu and a full bar. 354 Main Street, Winsted, CT 06098. 15 minutes from the inn, close to Little Red Barn Brewers and the American Mural Project
Colonial Theater
Over 100 years old, the vintage Colonial Theater shows movies and features multi-use event spaces with flexible floorplans providing an ideal location for a diverse array of entertainment as well as civic and private events. Located in nearby North Canaan (12 min).
Facia’s Chocolates
A family-owned and operated business, Facia’s handcrafts gourmet chocolates in Waterbury (30 min drive). Sign up for a Chocolate Experience and the opportunity to handcraft your own bar and enjoy a sweet and unique daytime date activity or a memorable group outing! (3
Mark Twain House & Museum
The Mark Twain House (located in Hartford, Connecticut) is only shown by guided tour. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended.
Thorncrest Farm and Milk House Chocolates
Thorncrest Farm offers delectable artisanal small-batch chocolates made from fresh milk, cream, and butter. Each week, a selection of white, milk, and dark chocolate truffles, barks, enrobed fruits, and bars is crafted. Clint and Kimberly Thorn visited artisan chocolate shops in 13 European countries and then modeled their farm and chocolate business after them. Every chocolate uses milk from specific cows which are blended at different percentages. Enjoy a tasting and stop to see their cows in the stable. If you’re lucky, you may even see a baby calf! Open 7 days a week from May until October with limited days/hours from November through April. Location: 280 Town Hill Road, Goshen, Connecticut 06756. 25 minutes from the inn.
Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Raceway is a 1.53-mile natural terrain motorsport road racing venue located in nearby Salisbury with several popular car racing events annually, including the Memorial Day Classic, Pirelli World Challenge, the IMCA Northeast Grand Prix, Labor Day Historic Festival. See the Lime Rock 2024 calendar and Buy Tickets to Lime Rock. For car lovers who can’t get enough, Sundays at the Speed are free motoring meet events.
Celebrating something special and want to capture your time in photos? Connect with our featured photographers! Perfect for proposals, engagement shoots, fine art boudoir photography, anniversaries, and babymoons.
Sue Yang is a widely traveled photographer with work featured in New York Bride Magazine, Hola! and People. A graduate of Duke University and Columbia University, she chose to pursue her passion for photography and music, leaving behind a well-published career in medical research. With the technical mind of a scientist and the heart of a musician, she has a careful eye for light and a sense of the dramatic. Sue’s brilliance and eye for beauty can be seen in some of the breathtaking images in our Photo Gallery.
David & Shayna Photography specializes in engagement, wedding, newborn, and family photography. Shayna’s particular superpower is putting clients at ease to capture candid moments of love and laughter. She brings joy, playfulness and passion to every project!
Paddling
Wood Creek Pond
This tranquil 145-acre lake, just 2 1/2 miles from the Manor House, is a nature lover’s paradise. Grab your canoe, kayak, or paddle board and spend the afternoon on the water viewing the amazing local wildlife and plants. Directions to access Wood Creek Pond.
Twin Lakes
Salisbury’s Twin Lakes are rimmed by forests and surrounded by hills and mountains. Popular for kayaking and fishing- known as one of the best trout fisheries in Connecticut. Bring your boat and launch at the public launch or rent canoes, kayaks, or pontoon boats at O’Hara’s Landing Marina for a day of fun on the water. Directions to Access Salisbury Twin Lakes.
Tobey Pond
Just two miles away, Tobey Pond is a great place to relax on the beach, swim in the water, or just enjoy nature. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, we offer a limited number of passes for our guests to visit this serene and peaceful respite. Head southwest on Maple Ave toward Pettibone Ln (.3 mi), turn right onto US-44 W (.4 mi), turn left onto Westside Rd (0.5 mi), turn right onto Mountain Rd (0.5 mi), turn left onto Golf Dr. Destination will be past the Country Club and Curling Club; look for a private road and follow signs. Remember to reserve your passes with us! We have beach towels and chairs for guest use also.
Housatonic River
Take a rafting or canoeing journey down a 6 or 10-mile stretch of the beautiful Housatonic River. Clarke Outdoors offers excursions on sections of the river that offer a mix of moving flatwater and easy whitewater, suitable for beginner paddlers. The famous covered bridge in West Cornwall is the perfect scenic spot for you to stop and have a picnic lunch! 30 minutes from the inn and close to Covered Bridge Electric Bikes. 163 Route 7, West Cornwall, CT 06796. 30 minutes from the inn.
Farmington River
The Farmington River is known for world-class fishing, boating, scenic beauty, and historical importance. With rapids ranging from flat water to Class III in Satan’s Kingdom, it’s popular with kayakers and canoeists as well.
Main Stream Canoe and Kayak in New Hartford offers canoe, kayak, and paddle board rentals. Choose from an Upper Farmington or Lower Farmington river trip (trips range from 6 to 12 miles) offering all levels a variety of beautiful valley scenery of hills, swamps, grassy fields and forested areas.
Collinsville Canoe offers Kayak, Canoe, Paddleboard, and Bike Rentals and excursions on the Farmington River
World-Class Music
Infinity Hall Norfolk
Built in 1883, this stunning arts-and-crafts style building was restored in 2007 to include a world-class sound system and seating for an audience of 300. Infinity Hall Norfolk has hosted more than 1,200 concerts and music of all genres. Click here to view upcoming shows.
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival
The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival offers world-renowned instruction to graduate students from the esteemed Yale School of Music. Esteemed professional musicians from all over the world perform concerts in the historic Music Shed in July and August.
Sign up for the Schedule of Events to learn about free and paid concert options
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is about a 40-minute drive from the inn. Summer season tickets go on sale in the spring so get your picnics ready!
Antiques and Artisan Shops
Antique shops in the area are known for unparalleled variety and unsurpassed quality. Craft shops, art galleries, and bookshops provide hours and days of unique shopping experiences in Litchfield County and the Southern Berkshires. We recommend Antiques Alley in CT & MA, and in nearby Litchfield CT
Whiting Mills Artisan Shops
Since 2004, Whiting Mills has been the home to a variety of artists, craftspeople, retail shops, small manufacturing companies, and a center for artistic community. Spend an hour or two wandering through this historic building and perusing the unique shops. It is to be the future home of the nationally acclaimed American Mural Project.
Housatonic Trading Company
3,600 sq ft of fine art, antiques, and home furnishings in Bantam, CT. Café with pastries, teas and sandwiches.
Antiques on the Farmington
Over 70 dealers in the historic Collins Company Axe Factory along the scenic Farmington River offer a selection of furniture, collectibles, jewelry, glass, china, books, vintage clothing, and more.
Woodbury
Known as the “antique capital of Connecticut,” Woodbury offers many shops and restaurants.
Southern Berkshires Antique Shops
32 nearby antique shops in the Southern Berkshires towns of Sheffield, Great Barrington, and other nearby towns in the southwest corner of MA.
Hiking/Snowshoeing/Cross Country Skiing
With 3 state parks and over 6,000 acres of public forestland in Great Mountain Forest, Norfolk offers a plethora of opportunities for those who want to spend time outdoors.
At more than 1,700 feet, Haystack Mountain is one of Connecticut’s highest peaks. The historic stone tower at the top, designed by Ehrick Rossiter, the famed architect who also designed the Manor House Inn, provides views of mountain peaks in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Take the trail from the park entrance (~1.5 miles) with a gradual incline to the top or walk up the winding road to a small parking area and hike just ½ mile up to the tower. You’ll be rewarded with a stunning view no matter which path you choose. See Alltrails recommendations for details.
Enjoy a short hike to a picturesque waterfall. The trail starts flat and then crosses into Massachusetts just before you reach a zigzagging plunge down to an impressive 100ft waterfall. It’s the perfect spot to dip your feet in the cool waters of the pool on a warm day! Alltrails offers more information.
This 240-acre estate was gifted to Connecticut in 1935 by Dr. Frederick Shepard Dennis, a noted New York surgeon. The stone pavilion at the summit, formerly the doctor’s summer residence, sits at an elevation of just over 1,600 feet and offers incredible views. It’s a ¾ mile hike to the top from the park entrance. Non-hikers can drive all the way up to the pavilion.
Enjoy 6,000 acres of pristine forestland for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Seasonal events and activities include group day hikes, fly-tying workshops, poetry readings, wreath and flower arranging workshops, and more.
Skiing
With ample cross-country ski trails steps from the inn, and four downhill skiing areas within 30 minutes, you’ll find the perfect place to spend the day skiing in Connecticut.
Mohawk Mountain
Downhill skiing and tubing in Cornwall, CT (30 min)
Ski Butternut
100 skiable acres, 10 lifts, and trails for all levels, in nearby Great Barrington, MA (30 min)
Ski Sundown
70 acres, 5 lifts and trails for all levels, in New Hartford, CT (25 min)
Catamount
Catamount has become one the best mid-sized ski areas on the East coast and offers the most varied terrain in southern New England. Catamount is oriented towards all skier types and also offer the longest zipline in the U.S. at 5,523 feet. Catamount is located just across the NY border in Hillsdale, NY. (30 min)
Horseback Riding
Windfield Morgan Farm, Litchfield CT (30 min)
Dining
In Downtown Norfolk:
Within 10-35 minute drive
Old Inn on the Green* **(New Marlborough, MA) (413) 229-7924
Arethusa al tavalo* **(Bantam, CT) (860) 567-0043
Ore Hill* ** & Swyft (Kent, CT) (860) 592-0404
Millrights* ** (Simsbury, CT) (860) 651- 5500
Neo (Salisbury, CT) (860) 596-4158
Materia Ristorante* ** (Bantam, CT) (860) 567 3326
Noujaim’s Mediterranean Bistro (Winsted, CT) (860) 379-0559
Black Rabbit Grille (Lakeville, CT) (860) 596-4227
The Boat House (Lakeville, CT) (860) 435-2111
Mario’s Tuscany Grill (Winsted, CT) (860) 379-7415
Monaco’s Ristorante (Winsted, CT) (860) 379-6648
The White Hart (Salisbury, CT) (860) 435-0030
The Woodland* (Lakeville, CT) (860) 435-0578
West Street Grill (Litchfield, CT) (860) 567-3885
John Andrews Farmhouse Restaurant* (S. Egremont, MA) (413) 528-3469
Bizen Japanese and Sushi (Great Barrington, MA) (413) 528-4343
Xicohtencatl Mexican Restaurant (Great Barrington, MA) (413) 528-2002
* Properties recognized for their romantic ambiance and nice locations for special dinners.
**Owned by nationally recognized award-winning chefs
