Southington/Berlin - Southington, CT

Berlin's natives, the Mattabesset tribe, originally referred to the area as Pagonchawnischage, which translates to "great white oak place," an apt description of the land at the time. In 1659, Richard Beckley purchased 300 acres from the Mattabesset Chief Tarramuggus and settled the first homestead in what would become Berlin. Southington, now Berlin's neighbor, was officially incorporated into a township in 1779, though its founder Samuel Woodruff, affectionately called the "Father of Southington", had settled there 81 years earlier. Southington would become a transportation hub for early settlers and continue to be crucial in the development of local commerce and shipping for manufacturing and industry. Both towns have undergone significant demographic changes over time. Southington's Historical Society highlights this cultural shift with displays at The Barnes Museum on Main Street, where one can step through the doors and back in time to a living recreation of a furnished colonial-era home.

Southington's collective culinary experience includes an eclectic mix of the picturesque Northeast, the Deep South and everything in between. When residents are in the mood for southern fried flavor, they head to the Cadillac Ranch Restaurant, a down-home venue for rebels and Yankees alike. The dance scene is alive and well six nights a week and locals love the essential Southern cuisine, including mammoth burgers and Southern-style ribs. The Ranch has patrons flying through the air in fits of laughter when thrown from their steam-snorting mechanical bull. With pool tables, karaoke, darts and video trivia games, the Cadillac Ranch has an atmosphere of freedom and fun. Don't know how to line dance? Don't worry Their helpful and courteous staff offers instruction six nights a week. The Cadillac Ranch may call Southington home, but its heart lives in Dixie

Southington not only has regional-themed restaurants, but also has a secret for the craft beer lover. Be sure to mark Wood-N-Tap Bar and Grille as a must-hit spot. This is a top-notch pub with a secret weapon known to only to locals. Wood-N-Tap installed a proprietary draft system known as Perfec-Tap with the sole function to draft a beer that embodies as closely as possible the original brewer's intended flavor profile. You may have never known before how your favorite beer is truly supposed to taste, but you will now.

In 1934, construction began on the Merritt Parkway, the nation's second, and Connecticut's first, limited-access highway. Routes 15 and 5, more commonly known as The Merritt Parkway and The Wilbur Cross Parkway respectively, converge in Berlin and cut straight through the town to offer residents and visitors easy access to the seemingly endless number of shopping plazas and eye-catching activities. Routes 5, 15, 9, 84 and 91 all pass through both Berlin and Southington. Numerous and easily identifiable roadways make it almost impossible to get lost, even if you have never been in the area before.

The Amtrak station in Kensington, a predominantly residential hamlet of Berlin, provides an easy way to get out of town for the weekend or commute to work.

Unfortunately, Uber is not currently available in either Berlin or Southington. Need to get around but don’t have access to a vehicle? Private limousine services and public taxis are available locally, and inter-city bus lines will take you through town at a flat rate of about $1.50. All services stand ready to serve the surrounding areas at affordable prices. Looking for a taxi long-distance? Try Liberty Limousine, an executive-level car service in the Hartford area with a fleet of well-equipped and maintained vehicles. Make the most of your money with Liberty; they offer state-of-the-art cars, SUVs and classic limos at reasonable rates with safe, experienced and courteous drivers who are willing to take you all the way to the airport or just down the street in style and comfort.

Southington is the preferred area for walking and biking, with many roads that offer dedicated bike lanes in a safe, predominantly residential area. Berlin also offers beautiful parks with pleasant walking trails and scenic views. Bring the family and stop by Sage Park, conveniently located directly off of Route 15. Sage Park is pet-friendly and has a pristine pond that catches sunsets remarkably well. Parking is free and easily available to residents.

Gas prices hover around 18 percent lower than the national average, and the rent for a one-bedroom apartment in either area will cost an average of $1,000 per month. Looking for some refreshment after work? A bottle of your favorite lager will run you about $3.50, or $3 if you prefer a draft. Most local pubs have a happy hour and daily drink specials vary but take a look around and you are bound to find something to tickle your taste buds at a price that won’t leave your wallet parched.

With all the major retailers doing business in the area, you will have no trouble finding everything you need. Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Whole Foods, Stop and Shop and Shoprite are all here to serve shoppers year round.

Known to generations of Connecticut natives, Roger’s Orchard in Southington, a family-owned and operated farm, has been a state landmark for decades. Season after season, the talented farmhands turn seed into quality crops. Organically-grown fruit and vegetables become baked goods prepared on-site from their own family recipes. Ingredients that have been harvested from the field are walked through the back door and into the kitchen; it doesn’t get any fresher than that From September through October visitors can have their pick of over 10 different varieties of apples as they stroll through the orchard under the decades-old trees and pull fresh fruit from their branches.

Looking for reading material to occupy your mind as you enjoy the quiet Connecticut country? There's a Barnes & Noble with in-store Starbucks, available for all your reading needs. Perhaps you are in the mood to explore the light and dark worlds of the occult? Stop by Athames in Southington and prepare yourself for a descent into the underworld. This eclectic niche bookstore carries much more than your average bestseller. You can find everything from Wiccan spell books and protection talismans to Pagan histories and all the necessities for a metaphysical journey through unseen realities Take a trip to this store and you may never be the same again