Are you considering moving to Farmington Valley? Smart choice! Farmington Valley is known for its tight-knit community, active lifestyle, and low crime rate. And with easy access to both the calm of the countryside and the bustle of nearby New York and Boston, Farmington Valley is a perfect place to call home.
To fit in with the locals immediately, you need to know a few things about daily life in the region. So here is everything you need to know before moving to Farmington Valley.
1. You’ll never run out of outdoor activities!
Farmington River dominates Farmington Valley and provides tons of activities to keep your family active and outdoors year-round. Try canoeing, kayaking, and tubing down the river. Enjoy the world-class trout fishing. Or try the many biking, running, hiking, and skating trails in the area. You’ll even find some rails-to-trails biking in Farmington (where old railways have been converted to scenic bike paths). And in the winter? Try ice skating at any of the local rinks or sledding down some local hills. Also, Roaring Brook Nature Center provides a great service to the community, offering summer classes for kids, educational programs with live animals, and nature conservancy events throughout the year.
2. The local schools are top-notch.
Whether you’re sending the kids to public school or a private school, you can rest assured that your children are getting a solid education. Farmington Valley schools consistently earn high marks on school ranking sites like GreatSchools.org. And you’ll find some top-tier private schools located in the area as well. Avon Old Farms School is a particularly prestigious all-boys boarding school. The building and grounds of the school were designed by famed Farmington architect Theodate Pope Riddle (who you may know as the architect behind the Hill-Stead Museum).
3. Our housing market can accommodate pretty much any budget.
Connecticut as a whole has earned its reputation for being expensive because of the housing markets located near NYC and the shoreline. But Farmington Valley has homes available across a wide range of prices. You’ll find cozy cabins under $150,000 and mansions over a million! If you’re having trouble finding a home in your price range, contact me. With my industry connections, I often hear about off-market properties you may not find in online searches.
4. Farmington Valley enjoys a strong job market.
With major area employers like UCONN Health Center, Otis Elevator Company, and United Technologies, Farmington Valley residents all benefit from low unemployment and strong job prospects. Our community feels confident in the stability of these organizations. And with so many solid employment options in the area, residents are comfortable choosing Farmington Valley as a community in which they can settle in and raise their families.
5. The Talcott Mountain Summer Music Festival is a can’t miss!
The Talcott Mountain Summer Music Festival, located in the beautiful Talcott Mountain State Park, is an event Farmington Valley residents look forward to every year. In June and July, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra performs a concert series under the stars. Grab your friends and family and pack a picnic for a truly memorable local experience!
6. Farmington Valley is Home to Several Impressive Museums
Farmington Valley celebrates art and culture. And nowhere is this more apparent than in our local museums. At the Hill-Stead Museum, which houses the Pope family’s collection of impressionist paintings, you’ll see original works by famous artists like Monet, Degas, Manet, and Whistler. Or you could take a family trip to The Children’s Museum in West Hartford to see the planetarium and wildlife sanctuary. Other notable museums and art exhibits include the Gallery on the Green in Canton, the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, and the Stanley-Whitman Museum in Farmington.
7. You’ll have a front-row seat to the fall foliage.
The foliage is an awe-inspiring spectacle, attracting travelers from all over the country to New England every fall. And Northwest Connecticut offers some of the most beautiful routes for a fall drive. Unlike those travelers who have to book their hotels months in advance in the hope of a few days of good foliage-viewing, you’ll have season-long access to this impressive show of nature every year.
8. History Comes to Life in Farmington Valley.
The Farmington Historical Society’s mission is to “preserve to educate and educate to preserve.” You’ll find this sentiment alive and well all over Farmington Valley. Visit the safe-houses of the Underground Railroad on Farmington’s Freedom Trail, see the colonial birthplace of Noah Webster, famed author of the first American dictionary, or enjoy a day shopping and dining in the well-preserved Collinsville Historic District.
9. We enjoy award-winning wines at Rosedale Farms and Vineyards
Wineries are surprisingly abundant in Farmington Valley. But perhaps the best of them is Rosedale Farms and Vineyards. Founded in 1920, Rosedale has been producing fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, and award-winning wines for a century. The farm hosts events throughout most of the year, including wine-tastings and “Chef-to-Farm” dinners, as well as special fall activities like the corn maze, pumpkin patch, and hayrides.
10. There’s no better place to enjoy the farm-to-table lifestyle
Farmington Valley residents value fresh produce and a healthy lifestyle. Which is why we’re so into farm-to-table meals. You can participate in crop-sharing programs at the local farmer’s markets, pick your own fruits at The Pickin’ Patch, get some dairy-fresh ice cream at Tulmeadow Farm, enjoy some old-school hard cider at Hogan’s Cider Mill, or try some fresh maple syrup at Lamothe’s Sugar House.
When you’re ready to plan your move, contact me! I’m happy to take you on a personal tour of the area and answer all your questions about moving to Farmington Valley!
