The Scenic Rural Route That Meanders Through Some Of The Most Charming Small Towns In Connecticut
By Lisa Sammons|Published December 22, 2022
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
No matter what time of year it is, there’s not many better ways to savor a beautiful day than to enjoy a scenic drive in Connecticut. We have so many gorgeous highways in the Nutmeg State – whether you’re looking for coastal scenery or winding rural paths. One of our favorite roads in Connecticut is Connecticut Route 169, tucked away in the “Quiet Corner.” The northeast corner of the state is pretty uneventful compared to the larger cities towards the coast, but it’s also a stunningly beautiful area with plenty of charming small towns that are worth a visit. Here are a few of our favorite stops along Connecticut Route 169:
Route 169 meanders nearly 50 miles through Connecticut and Massachusetts. About 38 miles of the road runs through the Nutmeg State. It begins in Norwich and travels through the northeastern part of the state, known as the Quiet Corner.
As you can probably surmise from the nickname, this is a relatively untraveled portion of the state, but it's got plenty of natural beauty. It's not far from the Pachaug State Forest, the largest state forest in Connecticut.
It's not far from the Pachaug State Forest, the largest state forest in Connecticut. There are 27,000 acres to explore here, so if you'd like to make a detour, it's a great stop!
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Norwich is nicknamed the Rose of New England. It's got a lovely little harbor area and many great shops downtown.
Route 169 will take you through some of the most charming small towns in the Quiet Corner. Pomfret is one of the best. It's got a great historic district and plenty of adorable local shops.
Pictured is the Pomfret School, a private preparatory school built in 1894.
And of course, you can't have a small New England town without a historic white church! This one's in the town of Lisbon, which is also along Route 169.
Lisbon has a population of around 5,000 and several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you drive the entirety of Route 169, you'll hit several other great little towns, including Woodstock. Woodstock's population is under 8,000, but it's actually the second-largest town in Connecticut by area, with 62 square miles of space.
