Washington's attractions center on the Mayflower Inn & Spa's 58-acre estate, with gardens, walking trails, and a 20,000-square-foot destination spa. Just outside the property lie two of Connecticut's premier hiking destinations: Steep Rock Preserve and Hidden Valley Preserve, celebrated for their Shepaug River trails and the famous railroad-tunnel walk. The Washington Green and Washington Depot offer postcard village centers filled with shops, galleries, and the beloved Hickory Stick Bookshop. History buffs can visit the Institute for American Indian Studies, which features a museum and a recreated Algonkian village, or explore the Gunn Historical Museum and the Gunnery school campus. The Shepaug River winds through the Litchfield Hills, offering scenic drives along country roads. A short drive away, Lake Waramaug State Park and the nearby Hopkins Vineyard provide additional seasonal activities, including fall harvest events. Easy day trips extend to Kent's galleries, New Preston's Lake Waramaug, and the Litchfield green.
There is more within easy reach: The Washington Green and Washington Depot — postcard village centers with shops, galleries, and the Hickory Stick Bookshop; The Institute for American Indian Studies — a museum and a recreated Algonkian village; The Gunn Historical Museum and the Gunnery school campus; The Shepaug River and the Litchfield Hills country roads; Easy trips to Kent's galleries. Seasonal highlights include Mayflower Inn & Spa seasonal spa and dining experiences and garden events, Steep Rock and Hidden Valley preserve trail seasons (spring through fall), The Institute for American Indian Studies programs and the Gunn Museum events.