West Hartford, CT

West Hartford began as a winter encampment for the Wampanoag tribe of Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans. Stephen Hosmer first homesteaded in West Hartford in 1679, and then protestants settled the area in the 1700s after Connecticut split from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. West Hartford remained largely agricultural until the late 1800s when several manufacturers moved in and set up shop through World War II. West Hartford is now a thriving suburb of the state capital.

Noah Webster House represents the most recognizable museum in town. The home of the late lexicographer houses the West Hartford Historical Society, and the venue hosts several events throughout the year.

The West Hartford Art League helps bring culture to the neighborhood with classes for painting, photography, papermaking, sculpture and pottery. Celebrate West Hartford occurs the first weekend of every June as a town fair.

The highest concentration of restaurants in West Hartford encompasses a few blocks of downtown known as West Hartford Center or Blue Back Square. Find dozens of choices, from national chains to local favorites as well as ethnic food of many kinds, within this rejuvenated area of downtown along Main Street and Farmington Avenue.

Treva Restaurant & Bar features upscale Italian cuisine with a contemporary American flare. Start with the mozzarella bar and an appetizer of sheep's milk ricotta alongside English peas, walnuts and honey. Move to some main course pasta with maltagliati, a pasta dish with butternut squash, mushrooms, asparagus and truffle oil. Order the braciola di maiale, a hearty dish with pork chops, sweet potato hash, braised kale and apple mustard chutney.

Max Burger focuses on making some of the best hamburgers in West Hartford. Whet your appetite with candied bacon lollipops before the entree. For a real treat that combines Japanese, Mexican, and American tastes, order the American Kobe beef hot dog that comes with jalapeno mustard, relish and onion. Choose from 20 different hamburgers, including daily specials. The Fun Guy burger has something for everyone, including an American Kobe beef patty, truffled mushroom spread, arugula, French onion aioli and crispy onion strings on an artisan roll. On the side, dip your burger in a cup of au poivre dipping sauce. If you want gourmet hamburgers, run to Max Burger.

The Blue Elephant Trail gives patrons a wide variety of gourmet Thai cuisine with a taste of New England added into the mix. Chef Soden Tek teaches how to cook his authentic fusion dishes on a seasonal basis. For the fall months, he incorporates fresh pumpkin into his dishes. As such, the menu changes seasonally based on what local farmers grow. For a genuine Thai treat, som tum salad arrives fresh at your table with shredded green papaya and vegetables in a chili lime dressing. DIY Thai lettuce wraps contain minced chicken, shiitake mushrooms, peanuts and vegetables wrapped in crispy lettuce.

Cuvee invites you to enjoy wine and champagne while sampling food and listening to a local DJ. The place stays open until 1 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and then until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday before closing at midnight Sunday night. Happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. features 50 percent off everything on the menu, including food. Try some of the signature cocktails as you relax with friends.

For other nightlife options, rock out to live music at McLadden's while enjoying craft draught beer and whiskey. Most of the night clubs in the area sit in Hartford proper, such as Passion Night Club and Nixs Hartford.

Most streets in West Hartford contain sidewalks for evening strolls with your family or loved ones. Houses typically have driveways and garages, so feel free to bicycle through residential areas without dodging parked cars. Fern Street, Quaker Lane and Mountain Road have bike-friendly options as major thoroughfares.

Drive through West Hartford along several major routes. Farmington Avenue runs east to west, while Main Street and Trout Brook Drive go north to south. Reach Interstate 84 by going south on Trout Brook Drive to Park Road before going to Hartford. Farmington Avenue to the east also goes into the capital. Businesses and public spaces have plenty of free parking in West Hartford, although two municipal lots in West Hartford Center charge fees to park, and one lot contains meters. Call one of several cab companies, or contact Uber if you need a ride somewhere.

Drivers of CTfastrak buses pick up passengers along Route 153 with stops up and down Main Street every weekday at 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.. This route connects to downtown Hartford.

Elizabeth Park, on the northeastern edge of West Hartford, contains a giant rose garden run by a local conservancy. The grounds have more than 100 acres of gardens, green spaces, walking trails and recreational facilities. You can also go running, biking and hiking around West Hartford Reservoir. Check out the Pond House Cafe for refreshments.

This park stays open every day from dawn to dusk without an admission fee. Play sports in designated fields as opposed to in the formal gardens, take the kids to marvel at the garden's seasonal beauty, and feel free to bring your leashed pooch as long as you clean up after it. Get some exercise as you bike along paved trails throughout Elizabeth Park.

The summer concert series at Elizabeth Park occurs every Wednesday night from July 1 to mid-August. Pull up some lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy live music from 6:30 to 8 p.m. once a week on the rose lawn.

Living costs more in West Hartford as compared to downtown Hartford, mostly because of increased housing costs. The median rent of a one-bedroom apartment goes for approximately $1,080 per month.

A day pass on CTfastrak buses costs $3 to go anywhere in the system. A beer at a local pub during happy hour puts you out about $2.75, while a gallon of gas typically runs very close to the national average or a few percentage points below the nationwide price per gallon.

The center of town serves as the shopping nexus of West Hartford along Farmington Avenue and Main Street. Check out The Center and The Square in the center part of the neighborhood. Blue Back Square represents the official name of the multiuse development that includes restaurants, apartments, shops and offices. National chains such as Barnes & Noble, Charming Charlie, and Crate & Barrel call this shopping district home. Find high-end and high-value stores along main shopping routes, including Bishops Corner on Albany Avenue and North Main Street.

Whole Foods Market helps anchor Blue Back Square, while another location sits to the north. Shop Rite and Young's Oriental round out basic grocery options. The Farmers' Market at Bishops Corner runs every Saturday morning from mid-May to Oct 31 so you can buy locally grown fruits and vegetables.

The Green Teahouse in Blue Back Square has multiple functions. The place serves light food in a sit-down setting, but the place specializes in selling more than 100 varieties of tea. Purchase cups, teapots, infusers and whisks for making that perfect cup of Chinese tea. Get wacky for white tea or rave over rooibos tea while you sample chai, fruit and pu-erh varieties.

S.K. Lavery Appliance remains a fixture in downtown West Hartford. This company started in 1928 and it maintains a commitment to local residents with top-quality appliances and dynamite customer service. Shop for a refrigerator, washer/dryer, dishwasher, vacuum or just about any household appliance you want. The store hosts regular classes from chef Kurt in one of the lavish kitchen displays.