On the first weekend of March my husband and I were seized by the kind of giddy enthusiasm that only the first spring-like day can provide. After a short debate between yard work and a field trip, we decided in favor of a trip to the “Quiet Corner” of Connecticut, and a trio of villages noted for their country charm, points of interest, and excellent selection of restaurants. Just a little more than an hour away, the rolling hills and pine groves found in this part of Connecticut make the short trip feel like a real change of scenery.

Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, CT, built in 1846, is open for tours. (Courtesy photo)

The Quiet Corner is located just off Interstate 395 in the northeast part of Connecticut, and includes the towns of Woodstock, Pomfret, Putnam, Storrs, and Lebanon. Route 169, which connects the towns of Woodstock and Pomfret, is a National Scenic Byway and features some of the best scenery found anywhere in New England: rolling green hills, old stone walls, and beautiful colonial homes with antique barns.

We took a tour of Woodstock first, staying mainly on the north-south Route 169. One of the most popular state agricultural fairs is held here every Labor Day weekend, and the surrounding countryside of orchards and grassy fields upholds the feeling of country tradition. The town is also notable for its many antique and specialty shops, including the Garden Gate florist shop and Whispering Hill Farm, a stop of interest for fiber artists. In addition to the often unusual old barns, architecture buffs will enjoy something different in Roseland Cottage, a pink Gothic Revival house built in 1846 for silk merchant Henry C. Bowen. The cottage is open for tours June through October, when visitors can view the period rooms where four U.S. presidents have stayed.

The Antiques Marketplace in Putnam, CT, has 150 dealers and more than 50,000 items. (Courtesy photo)

Just a few miles south of Woodstock is Pomfret, once called the inland Newport because of its similar collection of summer “cottages” built for the New York elite. The feeling, though, is low-key and spacious rather than opulent, and it was here that we found the charming and casual Vanilla Bean Café. The restaurant, which features some outdoor seating, is set in a restored 19th-century barn and offers a diverse menu of choices for breakfast through dinner. Cheerful paintings of local scenes line the walls, and cheerful patrons filled the seats. It was so pleasant we stayed for an extra cup of coffee before completing our tour of the town, which includes the 700-acre Connecticut Audubon Bafflin Sanctuary. The sanctuary is open dawn to dusk for self-guided tours, while the nature center adjacent to the property gives educational programs for all ages Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. We promised ourselves a return trip to Sharpe Hill Vineyard, which offers wine tastings and seasonal dinners in the Fireside Tavern.

We ended our day with a tour of Putnam, considered the cultural capital of the Quiet Corner, but perhaps less scenic than its two neighbors. The former mill town has been transformed into an antiques mecca, with more than 400 dealers represented. The four-level Antiques Marketplace on the main square is a great place to get a sense of what Putnam has to offer, and a wealth of restaurant choices is available on every corner of the main square. Recommended but not tried is the Vine Bistro, an Italian trattoria close by at 85 Main St. Easy access to I-395 north made Putnam the ideal last stop for a lovely day in the Quiet Corner, a highly recommended day trip for its interesting array of sights and activities, as well as the choice of so many different places to sit and savor a leisurely weekend meal.