One hundred miles southwest of Boston, and one hundred and twenty miles northeast of New York City, West Hartford is a place where “city style meets village charm.” Explore the tree lined streets in the city center or enjoy the many parks and green spaces this quaint city has to offer. West Hartford is known for being a fantastic place to raise children and is one of the most desirable locations in Hartford County. One of the main draws of this area are the award-winning public schools. Give your children the experience of fantastic education with passionate teachers, and utilize the great arts programs funded by the city and school district. Residents enjoy fun community centers such as public pools, tennis courts, skating rinks, biking trails, soccer fields and more. You can also spend your evenings enjoying and supporting local artists at the various live theatre playhouses around town. West Hartford values the importance of diverse, inclusive community and will readily welcome you and your family with open arms. Pull up a chair and stay a while! Welcome to the family!
Wolcott Park
This family friendly park is brimming with excellent playgrounds, hiking trails, and even a splash pad for the kiddies to enjoy! Take a stroll around the pond or sign your little one up for little league! This idealistic park is a hub for the West Hartford community.
https://www.westhartfordct.gov/town-departments/leisure-services/parks
West Hartford Reservoir
This large park is a great place to take the dog for a walk. There are various trails to explore and water features to admire. Visitors speak highly of the cleanliness of the West Hartford Reservoir, and tout it as being “the most peaceful place in the county.”
Westmoor Park
Many people say this small park looks like a scene out of a Disney movie! Beautiful meadows, green grass, gorgeous foliage, and well-kept walking trails are enjoyed by locals. You can even take a visit to the demonstration farm and see a variety of animals! Your little ones will love seeing the cows, ducks, lizards, chickens, goats, llamas and more! The best part? Visiting this little farm is free!
https://www.westhartfordct.gov/town-departments/leisure-services/westmoor-park
The Children’s Museum
This nonprofit educational institution is a fantastic place to take children of all ages to explore hands on science and nature activities. Take a look at cool amphibians, check out the wildlife sanctuary, and participate in cool multisensory exhibits! Education classes, and camps are also available for the budding scientists in your family!
http://www.thechildrensmuseumct.org
Blue Black Square
This comfy hub for shopping, eating, and movies is a great place to have fun after a long work week. Crate & Barrel, REI, and Barnes & Noble are just a few of the shops you can wander around. Christmas time is a fantastic time to visit this location. Blue Black Square pulls out all the stops and dives right into the Christmas spirit with live music, Christmas decor and even a beautifully lit up Christmas tree.
http://www.blueblacksquare.com
Playhouse on Park
This intimate black box theatre has an excellent reputation of putting on fantastic local theatre. Past renowned plays include, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Avenue Q,” and “Steel Magnolias.” Playhouse on Park also works hard to bring original works to the stage. Grab a date and enjoy the incredible local talent in West Hartford.
http://www.playhouseonpark.org