Slow Movement Travel – A Quick Reset in Litchfield, Connecticut

With so much talk of “Slow Movement”, some clarification may be needed for those who thought it meant a meditative walk at a holistic spa. Slow Movement is applicable to all facets of living, such as slow food, which is derived from an organic origin, to making genuine human contact by being less plugged in to our devices. It’s about conducting life at a thoughtful speed over frantically checking items off a mental To Do list while gulping down liquid caffeine. Considering that Slow Movement offenders abound, sometimes you need to physically remove yourself from the everyday. When making such a selection, choose a Slow Movement environ like Litchfield, Connecticut. This colonial town is less than three hours from the fast, electric hub of New York City yet its connection to the outdoors, history and pastoral setting make it the ideal destination.

What to Expect in Litchfield

If entering Litchfield through the neighboring town of Bantam, as we did, modernity begins to relinquish its presence for centuries-old churches, farm stands and storefronts that advertise fresh baked bread.

Where to Stay

We arrive at the Litchfield Hotel, our residence for the night, which has the aura of a southern estate with the decor of a traveler’s hotel. Groovy geometric carpet, continental breakfast with the requisite make-your-own pancakes station, a lot of bed pillows. With the choice of traditional or themed rooms, we stayed in the Wine Cellar Room, which is the closest experience I will have to sleeping in a barrel.

Nature

The concierge assisted with my morning jog route, directing me to the White Memorial Conservation Center. The dank, rain-kissed landscape courtesy of the previous night’s downpour gave the fields a mystical effect, where you could imagine revolutionary characters having a dual in an open field. (Aaron Burr was an alumni of Litchfield’s Tapping Reeve House, the nation’s first law school, so he repeatedly popped into my head as a Litchfield reference point).

Shopping

The town’s main avenue on West Street has the period feel of a colonial hot spot from its crowded pubs and stores located in basements that sell fabric. It also panders to New Yorkers on a country weekend. Oliphant, centrally located on the avenue, exudes a majestic presence like a revered matriarch flanked by her young. This high end specialty store offers colorful statement jewelry, home decor and boho resort wear in designed cuts that sets Litchfield’s trend barometer.

Dining

Seawater Grille is the ideal choice if you are craving fish in a local setting. The owners, husband and wife team Brook and Andy Stowers, genuinely enjoy interacting with their guests, which gives the place more of an atmosphere over a one-time meal. Brook broke away from a wine tasting dinner to greet us. Andy freely chatted about his former home of Wisconsin, which connects to the Midwestern hospitable feel of the place. Dining rooms amble into other rooms with a change of wood paneling or introduction of a new color but one element remains unchanged, everyone is smiling, even the young servers who have to come to work to save for their fall college expenses. There was a noticeable silence once our dishes were served, seared Hawaiian ahi over warm pineapple and blackened cod with slithers of sautéed vegetables. The entrees did not have the showy drizzled sauce presentation that leaves a hungry diner hungry. We left fulfilled, a symbol of everything that has lead to this moment.

 

If you find yourself becoming unhinged from having to restart your computer, Slow Movement travel is another direction. Litchfield is an easy East Coast drive with a finely edited selection of activities that connect to the outdoors, food and people in a scenic setting.

Resources:

Hotel: Litchfield Inn

Restaurant: Salt-Water Grille

Nature Reserve: White Memorial Conservation Center

Shopping: Oliphant