West of Hartford
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As the middle class fled Hartford in the 1950s, much of it ended up in the city’s western suburbs, where professional workers built trophy houses on the on cul-de-sacs and settled down to life in the much-vaunted Connecticut suburbs.
Unlike many cities, however, these transplanted urbanites took the city’s commercial base with them; today, the highways in towns like Avon, Farmington, and Simsbury are lined with Madison Avenue retailers and big-box department stores.
Outside the immediate suburbs, the Farmington River Valley quickly becomes wooded, with a dozen historic villages scattered through the trees.
Events
Pies, parades, and face-painting usher in the harvest at the Pumpkin Festival (860/232-1134, mid-Oct.), a tradition in West Hartford for more than 30 years.
© Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall from Moon New England, 2nd Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.