Shopping

The area is home to a bevy of excellent antiques shops, and one of the best is Toll House Antiques (38 Old Turnpike Rd., Bantam, 860/567-3130, www.litchfieldct.com/ant/tollhse/tollhse.html [1], noon–5 p.m. Sat.–Sun.; call for hours Mon.–Fri.). The freestanding red barn is packed with excellent examples of American furniture from several periods, stoneware, old clocks, handmade wooden bowls, and intricate quilts.

What to get for the woman who has everything? Search us, but you can probably find it at Flora & Fauna of Litchfield (10 South St., 860/567-2754, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat.; noon–5 p.m. Sun.), an anything-but-cookie cutter gift shop with affordable lovelies including jewelry, soaps, loose-leaf teas, and candles—each with it’s own little twist to make it fun and unique.

Relax after all that shopping in one of the plush treatment rooms at The Spa at Litchfield Hills (407 Bantam Rd., Litchfield, 860/567-8575, www.litchfield-spa.com [2], 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Tue. and Fri.–Sat.; 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Wed.–Thu.; by appt. Sun.). There, the detoxifying Moor mud bath or the one-hour whirlpool pedicure will restore all your energies for the next shopping trip.

The name Hayseed (On the Green, 860/567-8775, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; noon–6 p.m. Sun.) is strictly tongue-in-cheek, as this “country couture” clothing store stocks the latest high-fashion items no self-respecting woman with a second home in the Litchfield Hills would be without. Think Ralph Lauren and then some.