If you're driving by on route 44 in Avon, CT, you might see this giant rocking chair. It's located…read morenear the traffic light and one of the entrances to the Old Avon Village. It's a 9-foot high rocking chair that used to be located at a furniture store in West Hartford. As of the 1960s, it's moved to its current location in Avon. I think it's random but unique; it's definitely an Avon landmark. I heard that they decorate it for the holidays. If you're in the plaza, go up close and admire this old random gem.

"Drive up Route 44 and turn by the giant 9' tall rocking chair...." What ????…read more Yes, there really is a giant 9' tall rocking chair standing guardian at one of the entrances to Old Avon Village The big rocking chair started it's life as a roof ornament on the old Spinning Jenny furniture store in West Hartford. When the store owners moved the business to Avon, they took along their 9' tall rocker and it quickly became a landmark as the symbol for Old Avon Village. It's been repaired and repainted a few times over the year, and on one windy day it was blown off its foundation and ended up in the street. It is very noticeable from the road. Many a wedding photo has been taken in front of the Giant Rocker.

One more example of the incredibly rich history that can be found in every corner of our state. The…read moreWhite Fountain is located on the Southbound side of Hopmeadow Street, pretty much across the street from Abigail's Restaurant, where Route 202/10 intersects Route 185. The Fountain honors Dr. Roderick White (1809-1887), who dedicated nearly 50 years of his life traveling around the Simsbury area by horse to practice medicine and offer healthcare advice to the community. He studied medicine at Yale, and began his medical career in Manchester and Granville before he settled in Simsbury in 1842. Dr. White passed away in 1887, and his wife Elizabeth passed away two years later. Her will stated "I desire to leave a memorial of my late husband in the community where he so long lived and practiced his profession, and for that purpose I have determined that it would be suitable and proper to erect in the village of Weatogue a memorial fountain supplied with running water." A granite base supports the granite fountain. There is a large basin with lion heads, and three round basins above. Decorations on the fountain include a portrait of Dr. and Mrs. White, a sculpture of a Healing Serpent (symbol for medical profession),an engraving of Hippocrates, and an inscription honoring Dr. White. The inscription reads: In Memory of Roderick A. White, M.D., who died Dec. 2, 1887. The beloved Physician of this town for nearly fifty years. Erected by his wife, Elizabeth Hungerford White. Defunctus adhunc ministrat I popped that phrase into a Latin to English Google Translate and came up with "Died hitherto serveth"

This beautiful gazebo is located on the Town Green near the corner of Route 10 and Route 202. It's…read moreadjacent to Town Hall and is very close to Avon's Veterans Memorial. Built in 1994, it's a very nice place to sit, enjoy the pretty scenery, and spend a few quiet moments. There are quite a few plaques inside the gazebo dedicated to local sponsors, donors, and individuals. A hexagonal plaque at the entrance reads: DEDICATED TO THE LOYAL CITIZENS OF AVON BOTH PAST AND PRESENT

Connecticut trivia for $100, please…read more Q: What is CT's state animal? A: The Sperm Whale. For bonus points--where can you find a 60-foot long replica of such a creature? The answer is on the grounds of the CT Children's Museum. This iron and cement whale model even has a name - "Conny". It was built between 1975 and 1976 -the result of thousands of hours of volunteer labor. Conny is hollow, so you can enter and exit Conny's innards via two doors carved into its blubber. Be sure to check out Conny's impressive fluke and lower jaw. All in all, quite a bizarre but wondrous site..

The Avon Veteran's Memorial is located on the Town Green at the intersection of West Main Street…read more(Route 202) and Ensign Drive. It lists 719 Veterans from Avon who served their country from the Mexican War to the Persian Gulf War, and separately honors 41 Veterans who gave their lives in four wars. The inscription that precedes the names of the deceased reads "Avon Remembers, No Greater Gift". The names are engraved on a series of seven panels that fan out in a gentle arc. A central stone podium bears the inscription "Dedicated to veterans of all wars". There are two large flagpoles in the center of the monument. The memorial is often used as a gathering place for Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances and ceremonies. The memorial was erected in 1986, and updated in 1996 by Avon VFW Post 3272. The flagpoles were sponsored by the Avon-Canton Rotary Club.

This 2-sided State of CT historical marker was dedicated in 1979. It is located just west of the…read morebusy intersection of Routes 202 and 10, in a pretty town green near the Veterans Memorial and Town Gazebo. The inscription gives a brief account of Avon's history - how it spun off from Farmington, its farming heritage, and its boom on the heels of the Farmington Canal's completion. The plaque has identical engraving on both sides. The plaque and its paint finish are in very good condition. The inscription reads: Avon This area, formerly Northington or the North Parish of Farmington, was settled in 1645 on land that had belonged to the Tunxis Indians. It prospered as a farming community and, in 1830, after the construction and opening of the Farmington Canal, Avon was incorporated as a separate town with a population of 1,025. It was named after the Avon River in England. The Albany Turnpike (Route 44) was a heavily traveled thoroughfare, and its junction with the canal gave Avon considerable importance during the early to mid-nineteenth century as a transportation and commercial center. The brownstone buildings which house the Town Hall were constructed from local material by the Climax Fuse Company in 1907 and the buildings continued to be used for the manufacture of safety fuses until 1968. Many homes now dot the hillsides of Avon which once rang to the call of the canalmen. Erected by the Town of Avon The Avon Historical Society, Inc. and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1979

If you've ever driven on Route 167 between Simsbury and Farmington, you've probably seen a huge…read moremeadow with a white split rail fence around it. Maybe you've been lucky enough to drive by when you can see dozens of horses frolicking around inside the fences. These horses are the newest generation of a very cool piece of American history. They are the current equine members of the 1st Company Governor's Horse Guards - the "oldest continuously active mounted cavalry unit in the United States" according to their website. The unit goes way back to 1778 when some prominent Hartford men, including quite a bit of Revolutionary War vets grouped together to form a mounted honor guard for the Governor. They wore elaborate ceremonial uniforms and also escorted prominent visitors to Hartford. The Horse Guard has their complex in Avon, and there is a historical marker close to Arch Road. It's set in a boulder and located between twin flag poles. It was dedicated in 1978 on the 200th Anniversary of it's founding. The plaque's inscription has become tarnished and, faded, making it hard to read. I did some research to find the full inscription, and it reads: 1778 1978 1st Company Governor's Horse Guards Organized Militia - State of Connecticut 20 May, 1978 This memorial is dedicated to the Horse Guardsmen who have honorably served this illustrious cavalry unit since it's founding during the American Revolution. E.H. Kandarian, Major Commandant D.F. Manise, Captain Of Troops Troop Officers 1st Lieutenants W.J. Lane * J.H. Williams 2nd Lieutenants C.L. Lyon - Adjutant * C.H. Bassett Troopers 1st Sergeant R.A. Matthewson Sergeants First Class D.L. Miller * S.A. Vasquez Corporals J.V. Blain * J.F. Connors * J.M. Lackner * D.L. Loveland Privates First Class R.L. Bertolo * G.F. Brooks * G.E. Cooley * J.A. Langlais * N.J. Lavnickevich * D.S. Matthewson * J.L. Murdock * W.I. Nowsch * N.R. Perersen * W.S. Smith * J.B.G. Trouern-Trend * J.R. Urban * R. Wegscheider Privates H.A. Cutris * B.P. Horan * G.K. Kertzman * T.A. Riccio * J.P. Salvatore Member Unit - Centennial Legion Of Historical Military Commands

A memorial statue of Amy E. Toyen who tragically lost her life, amongst others on 9/11. She was…read morethere for a technology conference and she was only 24. This statue was based on a picture of her as a young child; it is located in the parking lot of the Avon Free Public Library. A flag pole is also nearby. I think this is a great statue to honor those who've fallen during this horrible event. May Amy's and all the others memories live on.

Avon's 9/11 memorial is located on a grassy area in front of the main entrance of the library. The…read morememorial is a 22" bronze statue of a young girl sitting on a granite bench, holding a teddy bear and reading a book. The statue was modeled after a photograph chosen by the family of Amy Toyen, a 1999 graduate of Avon High School, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. A plaque on the bench is inscribed: Presented by the 2001-2002 Avon High School Student Government and the Avon community in memory of Amy E. Toyen, age 24 and all the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. The residents of Avon leave flowers on the bench on Amy's birthday and every September 11th.

I always return to popular places that I didn't connect with in the same way super fans do…read more Sometimes, I think I got it right. And sometimes, I have to admit I got it wrong. In the case of Tulmeadow Farm and Lacroix's Homemade (I'm posting the same update for both), I have to admit that I had it somewhat wrong. Both Tulmeadow and Lacroix's made @cticecreamtour's Top 15 CT Creameries. My original reviews for both Tulmeadow and Lacroix's were both good btw. I just didn't initially connect with the flavors I tried in the way that I did with my other CT favorites. Since those initial reviews, everything I tried at each has been a banger. At Tulmeadow, I recently had Red Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Marshmallow Toasted Cornflake, Chocolate Raspberry Raspberry Curd and the best flavor I've had this year -- Double Raspberry Crumbcake. The flavors all popped. The use of intensely flavored raspberry curd in a couple of the ice creams was next level. The colors were right on. The texture was top tier. Service was friendly and the farm setting adds to the experience. Tulmeadow is 5 Stars and I'm upgrading my earlier review.

I was recommended Tulmeadow Farm's ice cream by one of my most trusted foodie friends, so I was…read moreextremely excited to try it. That said, I don't often like high butterfat ice cream. It's also a textural thing for me. So there was a bit of hesitation as well. I thought the ice cream was excellent. They had great flavors to choose from. I went with the bestselling red raspberry chocolate chip, and then the burnt honey sea salt. Service was super friendly. I asked what the smallest size was that they could do two flavors in and they were more than willing to accommodate the kiddie cup, which was still plenty of ice cream for me. I think the sign said it's 3 oz, but it at least seemed like more to me. As good as the red raspberry was, I think I preferred the burnt honey. The flavor was strong went well with the naturally occurring cream flavor. There was a lot of parking on the side of the building. I think there was an indoor area, though I can't confirm if you can order ice cream inside. I used the outdoor window to order. I also found the prices to be reasonable. Great first experience. I would definitely recommend the ice cream. It did not disappoint, and I look forward to having it again.

Take a hike and then get some ice cream!…read more Parking for this trail is behind the Tulmeadow Farm store; there is signage regarding the trail. The trail through the farm is wide and flat; the corn and hay field is on 60 acres and 73 acres of that is woodlot. The trail connects to 0.4 miles which is located on the town's property. This is a working farm so it is advised to stay on the trail; the markers were clear. The Heublein Tower can be seen from a distance. This is an out and back trail when reaching Town Forest Road and back; a little less than 3 miles total. Overall, a fun and easy trail!

Ever had an ice cream at Tulmeadow Farm? Its one of Simsbury's landmark attractions…read more Well, if you walk through the parking lot at the back of the store, you'll see a wood kiosk welcoming you to the beginning of the Tulmeadow Farm Trail. The trail is divided into a few sections and everything is clearly marked with blue markings on poles or trees. The trail starts off as a farm road between two fields, and we saw a tractor working the land as we walked today, that was pretty cool. Eventually, the trail turns and you walk across some beautiful green hills that reminded me of a golf course, and then turns again to approach the tree line and enter the woods. The trail is fairly flat, with a few slight inclines. You'll see a few rocks here and there, but no tree roots or tree limbs on the path. We did see some presents from our canine friends on the trail (disgusting) and two unleashed dogs strolling around while their inconsiderate owners yacked on their cell phones. It's a very cool trail where you'll see views of Tulmeadow Farm and its crops, and a glimpse of the Heublein Tower. You'll also see an ominous sign asking you to be mindful of hunters in the area.