Everything Chester I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Chester CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If … [Read more...]
Cockaponset State Forest Intro
Cockaponset State Forest Haddam, Chester, Deep River, Killingworth, Durham, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Middletown & Middlefield I listed all the towns above not because there are worthy CTMQ things do within the Cockaponset in each, but just to make the point that this is a disjointed and sprawling … [Read more...]
Book Review: Ferryboat
It Goes Both Ways Ferryboat, Betsy & Giulio Maestro Look, man, leave me alone. I'm just a grown man over here reviewing books written for three-year-olds. You got a problem with that? I was made aware of Ferryboat by a CTMQ reader who often helps me fill out lists that can never be completely filled out. … [Read more...]
Chester’s Town Trails
Chester's Town Trails You don't go to Chester to go hiking. You go to Chester to eat, drink, shop, and be fancy. Maybe you go across the river on the ferry. But you do not go to Chester to go hiking. Actually, perhaps you do... the Cockaponset State Forest is there and the trails there are excellent. But … [Read more...]
Chester Land Trust
Chester Land Trust Oh, Chester. Everyone loves Chester. Not quite Essex, but not Deep River either. Chester is lovely. Randomly, my father grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania which is just south of Philadelphia. His family was part of the white flight in the 1950's and while Pennsylvania's Chester is now home to an MLS … [Read more...]
Little House Brewing Company
ConnectiCute* Little House Brewing Company, Chester May 2019 Those of you familiar with every Connecticut town, city, and borough certainly know which are the “cutest.”* They have to be small, with compact and walkable “downtowns.” They must be a bit higher-end, with moms and dads piling their MacLaren strollers … [Read more...]
Brushmill Waterfall & Covered Bridge
Brushmill Waterfall by The Brushmill by the Waterfall Brushmill Waterfall, Chester I can't be the only person that finds the fact that the restaurant here - The Brushmill by the Waterfall - is weird for naming themselves after what is clearly not a real waterfall. And since it's not a real waterfall, I want it to … [Read more...]
NNL: Chester Cedar Swamp
National Natural Landmark: Chester Cedar Swamp Chester Designation Date: 1973 Prior to this one, I’d only visited two other National Natural Landmarks. One was inside (Dinosaur Trackway in Rocky Hill) and the other has an extensive and well-maintained and documented trail system (McLean Game Refuge). This one, a … [Read more...]
4 Cockaponset Area Trails
PattaconkaCockaponset Chester/Haddam, ~ 4 miles March 15, 2009 A funny thing happened after "publishing" the page describing my experience hiking with Rob Butterworth along the Cockaponset Trail. It turns out that the esteemed Mr. Butterworth has a kajillion friends who have a strong interest in him and/or his … [Read more...]
Cockaponset Trail
C-C-Cockaponset! Haddam/Chester, 7.4 miles March 15, 2009 When Rob Butterworth asks you to join him on a Cockaponset hike, you clear your calendar and go. You arrive on time fully prepared, physically fit, and you listen to him while hiking. And learn... A lot. And once finished, you consider yourself … [Read more...]