The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Woodbury, Connecticut Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2022 • 4 min read
Known as the antiquing capital of Connecticut, Woodbury is the ideal picturesque New England setting with historic homes beautifully decorated all season long lining Main Street. The parks and land preserves afford all outdoor activities, and with a stroll down tree-lined Main Street you’ll discover farm-to-table dining, plentiful antique shops and boutiques—all sure to make your visit a memorable one.
Image courtesy of Visit CT
1. THE SHOPPING
Nestled in the foothills of Litchfield County—Woodbury is known as the “Antiques Capital of Connecticut.” This reputation was established more than 50-years ago when antiques dealers began setting up shops in the historic homes along Main Street.
The shopping area has more than 40 antiques stores featuring some of the best in period furniture, decor, and art. Stroll Main Street and stop into Soulbury Cultural Gifts Store, Main Street Antique Center, Mill House Antiques, Shop Cathy B, and more!
2. THE ART
Located on quaint Main Street in historic Woodbury, Studio Hill is an art gallery, studio, and shop where artists collaborate their talents to offer their artistic creations in a welcoming and imaginative environment.
Studio Hill in Woodbury, Connecticut
Studio Hill features both local and international artists of all different medias, along with a bookstore and gift shop where customers can browse with complementary refreshments.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Nestled in the heart of Woodbury, John’s Café offers a bistro-style dining experience featuring fresh, innovative New American dishes that often resonate a Mediterranean flair. The wine list includes the best of the West Coast as well as special French, Italian and Spanish selections. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the house-made Limoncello.
John’s Café in Woodbury, Connecticut
Whether you are looking for a great steak or homemade pasta, a special salad or baked dessert, John’s Café is the perfect choice for fresh, innovative New American dishes. Created with ingredients sourced locally or ethically—favorite dishes include Potato Gnocchi Alla Vodka with whipped ricotta and basil, Crab Linguini, as well as Sunday Gravy with rigatoni, meatball and Italian sausage ragù.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadent desserts such as Key Lime Pie. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Set in the picturesque Litchfield Hills in historic Woodbury's village center, The Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden is one of the earliest historic house (built circa 1740) museums in the nation. Its architecture, outstanding regional furniture collection and Gertrude Jekyll Garden combine to create one of the most authentic house museums in the region. In 1926, the famed English horticultural designer and writer Gertrude Jekyll was commissioned by board member Annie Burr Jennings (heiress to the Standard Oil fortune) to create an "old fashioned" garden to enhance the newly created museum. Miss Jekyll had a profound influence on modern garden design and is widely considered the greatest gardener of the 20th-century.
The Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden in Woodbury, Connecticut
Although a small garden, when compared with the some 400 more elaborate designs she completed in England and on the continent, the Gertrude Jekyll Garden includes a classic English style mixed border and foundation plantings, and a planted stone terrace. For reasons unknown today, the The Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden Miss Jekyll planned was never fully installed in the 1920s and its very existence was forgotten. After the rediscovery of the plans in the late 1970s the project began in earnest in the late 1980s and is now being completely restored to the original plans. The gardens are open year round, 7 days per week, dawn-dusk, for self-guided tours.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Set back from the south side of Grassy Hill Road, the Leroy Anderson House was the home of American composer Leroy Anderson and his wife Eleanor Firke Anderson. Architect Joseph Stein created a modified rectangular layout and a flat roof that accentuates the house's distinctly horizontal profile to present a subtle and sophisticated architectural statement. The house remains unchanged from when it was built and retains most of its original Scandinavian Modern furniture.
Leroy Anderson House in Woodbury, Connecticut
The Leroy Anderson House was designated as a historic house museum by the Town of Woodbury in 2018 and is a historically significant landmark of Swedish-American culture in the United States. It is one of a small number of mid-20th century modern homes in New England occasionally open to the public. Sixty-nine years after construction, the house remains a significant part of the nation's cultural heritage.
WHERE TO STAY IN WOODBURY, CONNECTICUT
Welcome to quintessential New England in this modern-meets-traditionalist colonial boutique hotel set on ten acres in the foothills of the Berkshires. The Litchfield Inn is rooted in tradition with an eye for the future—unique experiences embrace comfortable living without sacrificing the modern luxuries of today. The Inn is a crowning reproduction of a classic colonial estate that pays tribute to the historical distinction of the town without sacrificing the modern amenities of today. Family owned and operated, they have welcomed guests from all over the world with warmth and hospitality for over 40 years. Mindfully curated for serenity and comfort, the Inn offers several common spaces for you to enjoy. Sip a glass of wine in the front lounge or cozy up in a chair with a good book.
