Since moving to Connecticut eight years ago, Newtown has always been the place where I felt the gate to small town New England swing open.  It always felt different — like it was ok to start breathing a little deeper.   Yes, lower Fairfield County has its public greens, but nothing really competes with Newtown’s Ram Pasture for pure-and-simple pastoral.  The only exception might be Greenfield Hill in Fairfield, or Redding’s town center which we explored in our Fall Day Trip to Redding.  Beyond Ram Pasture, in the center of Newtown, you’re visually rewarded with a massive Old Glory perched atop a flagpole, right in the middle of the road.  It has taken intention for it to remain there over the years, and I seriously get peeved if my husband takes the (more convenient) route avoiding it.  It is special, like the rest of this town.

Newtown is expansive — the state’s fifth largest town, geographically, but we quite easily carved out a day trip confined its the southwest side.  If you’re out in the morning, make your first stop at King’s, right on Route 25, on the way up from lower Fairfield County.  It is a breakfast-brunch heaven (blueberry cannoli pancakes!!!), with homemade breads and jams ... and problematic parking and hit-or-miss service, BUT THE BREAKFAST!!!  This isn’t where you want to bring too many small children (like, maybe, more than one), because of tight seating, but if you aren’t in that part of the parenting world anymore (insert longing sigh), we’d be remiss not to mention this gem!

Carry on north, past the shopping centers on Route 25, and then ahhhhhhhhhhh, Ram Pasture greets you on the left.  Turn left at Sugar St., then sneak behind Ram Pasture and wind your way alongside the Newtown Country Club to Dickinson Memorial Park.  The setting is simply stunning for foliage, and the playground is awesome.  If you have older children who skateboard or BMX freestyle, there’s a skate park as well.  The caveat here is this is a town park, so don’t anticipate lingering for long.  Just kill whatever time you have left before Castle Hill Farm opens — 11am on weekends (2pm weekdays). 

Castle Hill Farm is a fourth-generation former dairy farm, now famous for its 7-acre corn maze.  If you don’t take the map they offer, don’t anticipate emerging anytime soon!  This thing is BIG.  For those with little ones, look for the straightforward story book route leading to the observation deck.  For elementary-aged children, have fun finding the 30 themed factoids throughout the main maze (this year, it’s fireflies).  These also act as a guide for those hopelessly lost.

When the fun is done, you may need a bite from the snack stand.  If your crew needs lunch sooner than later, they also have hot dogs available.  With a little fuel, my crew had fun greeting the farm animals and watching the old-time feed grinder do its thing.  There’s also a small pumpkin patch and hayrides (where you get to stop and feed the cows).  It’s really one-stop fall shopping, but like similar farms across the county, each component will cost you, so come prepared with cash or checks — no credit cards are accepted here.

If you came in the morning, and held out for a proper lunch, the farmers at Castle Hill suggest Newtown Pizza Palace, a great family-run, family-friendly restaurant in the center of town.  We live south and had a hankering for comfort food on our chilly day, so we crossed the line into Monroe for some warm goodness from macdaddy’s — a made-to-order mac-and-cheese joint.  Let’s just say it didn’t disappoint.  My three little boys were sapped after that morning, and took it easy on me the remainder of the afternoon.

If you’ve chosen an afternoon adventure in Newtown, or have gone to Pizza Palace for lunch, there is one other ABSOLUTE must-do in this neck of the woods — even if it is only 55 degrees.  Get in your vehicle and head back out Sugar St., past Castle Hill Farm to Ferris Acres Creamery (if the October 30th seasonal closing date hasn't come and gone).  Our family has been hooked on their homemade dairy deliciousness for years.  It might even be the best cone in the state.  (Need a flavor recommendation? 'MJ Rell' and 'Paradise Found' are big hits with the Gilmores).  Take your treats and find a seat across from the display of cragged, cow-pocked farm fields — the last working one in the county.  Maybe THIS is where they got the name Fairfield from, huh??? 

King’s
271 S Main St., Newtown
203-426-6881

Dickinson Memorial Park
50 Elm Dr, Newtown

Castle Hill Farm
5 Sugar Lane, Newtown
203-426-5487

Newtown Pizza Palace
65 Church Hill Rd, Newtown
203-426-6114

macdaddy’s
650 Main Street, Monroe
203-880-5400

Ferris Acres Creamery
144 Sugar Street, Newtown
203-426-8803

One final note: Yes, the unthinkable happened here.  You can’t not think about it — especially being parents.  But if that is what has kept you at arm’s length, or from visiting for the first time, please don’t let it any longer.  If you aren’t smitten after an autumn day in Newtown, I promise you’ll at least be challenged to take a long, deep breath and marvel at your kids more than usual.