South Windsor

South Windsor is a small town in Connecticut it is 5 miles (8 km) NE of Hartford, Connecticut and 88 mi (142 km) SW of Boston, Massachusetts. The town is inside the Hartford metropolitan area.

Understand

Ebenezer Grant House

The Podunk Indians were the original inhabitants of the area now known as South Windsor. In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the land on which sit the modern towns of South Windsor and East Hartford. Other settlers from Windsor, Connecticut, arrived in this area in the mid 17th century. South Windsor was incorporated as a town in 1845. The area began as a farming community, and developed into a suburban town in the 1950s.

Get in

From 84E: 84E to exit 62; take a left onto Buckland Road. Go approximately 2 miles to a 4-corner intersection (sixth traffic light). Sullivan Avenue, Route 194, goes straight, Town Hall is on the right.

From 84W: take exit 62. Turn Right at the bottom of the ramp. at the first light (Buckland Road) turn left. Follow Buckland for approx. 2 miles until you come to the intersection of Rtes 30 and 194. Go straight on Rte 194 , Town Hall is on the right.

From 91N or S: I-91N to exit 35A (Bissell Bridge, I-291); Take exit 4 (Route 5, East Hartford, South Windsor) at end of ramp go straight on to Ellington Road. Follow Ellington Road to sixth light and take a left onto Sullivan Avenue (Route 194). Town Hall is on the right.

Get around

• Avery Cab, 24 Chatham Ln, [phone]
• Ace Taxi, Vernon Rockville, [phone]

See

• The Michael Donnelly Land Preserve/Park: A view of the open grassy landscape along with seasonal trees, picnic tables and a great walking path. The Michael Donnelly Land Preserve is dedicated to Major Michael Donnelly who was a United States Air Force major and veteran of the first Gulf War. Medically retired in 1996 following a diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's Disease, he became a leading activist for sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome. Donnelly died of his disease in 2005. The Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve is named after him.
• Old Main Street: A Historical street that is located near the Connecticut River. It is the center of South Windsor's historical district that is filled with open farm land and ancient builidings such as The Wood Memorial Library, Ellsworth School, and the nation's oldest continually operating post office(picture on right).
• Nevers Park: Consists of a 2 mile walking/running trail, soccer fields, and a pavilion with picnic tables. Nevers park also has what is called a "Boundless Playground" which is a unique playground structured where children and adults of all abilities can play, including people who may have difficulty with mobility.

Do

• Foster Family Farm's Corn Maze, 90 Foster Street (Foster Family Farm), ☎ [phone]. October. Each year in the fall this maze has a different theme where you can solve over 4 miles of corn maze trails, go on a hayride, or pet the farm animals. You may also enjoy the country fall surroundings of pumpkins, mums, and Indian corn. 
• The South Windsor Arena, 585 John Fitch Blvd, ☎ [phone]. An open indoor rink where you can ice skate, participate in pick-up hockey games, and receive skating lessons. This arena offers a wide variety of food and beverages also. It also sells hockey equipment in stock for those interested. 
• Nomad's Sports Complex, 100 Bidwell Rd, ☎ [phone]. An indoor entertainment center that includes laser tag, black-light mini golf, a climbing wall, billiards, bowling, and an arcade. This complex also has a bar, a full service cafe and restaurant. When it all adds up, it can be a little expensive. 
• Topstone Golf Course. Opened in 1997, Topstone is an 18-hole, par-72 Championship Golf Course. Rated the #1 course in the area as voted on by the Hartford Magazine subscribers. This course was also given 4 stars as Best Places to Play by Golf Digest. 
• Willow Brook Golf Course. 18-hole par 60 layout. In 2006 it was voted as one of the top 5 courses in Connecticut by Hartford Magazine. 

Buy

• The Shoppes at Buckland Hills (formerly Buckland Hills Mall), 194 Buckland Hills Drive. 10AM-9PM. Around 145 stores and kiosks throughout the mall. 5 miles away in Manchester. 
• The Promenade Shops of Evergreen Walk: This shopping plaza offers a collection of over 60 retailers and restaurants. The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk resembles a traditional New England village
• Crandle & Daughter, 544 Buckland Road South, ☎ [phone]. A small, two-floor store in the center of town. It looks like an older house. In each room you walk into there is a set theme. This store is filled with really unique gifts for any type of occasion, it also carries interesting home decorations and furnishings. 
• Uptown Consignment, 1735 Ellington Rd (Town Center), ☎ [phone]. For those who enjoy searching for used high fashion name brand clothing. This store is 9,000 square feet, making Uptown the largest clothing consignment store in the country. 
• Bangle & Clutch, 293 Oakland Road, ☎ [phone]. A small boutique that carries purses, jewelry and accessories at pretty reasonable prices. 

Eat

Lena's Restaurant & Pizza, Alexia's Restaurant & Pizza, Teddy's Pizza Restaurant, The Red Onion,Campions Pizza: There are many pizza places in South Windsor. Campions has really good flat crusted pizza. Alexias has a good sauce.

• Mill on the River Restaurant, 989 Ellington Road, ☎ [phone]. This restaurant was built on a dam. The Podunk Mill dates back more than 200 years in South Windsor's History. Its original dam, built by Colonists and Indians, is the oldest in Connecticut. The Mill has a lit up pavilion overlooking the water at night. 
• La Casa Bella, 1750 Ellington Road. A small, family-owned Italian restaurant that has really good home-made pasta with vodka sauce. 
• Burtons Grill: It has a seasonal outdoor patio for late afternoon drinks or to have a dinner outside. Burtons has contemporary American cuisine, and is kind of pricey.
• Ted's Montana Grill: Classic American Grilled comfort food. They are best known for their entrees including steaks, "Beer Can" Chicken, Cedar Plank Salmon and Bison Meatloaf.
• The Red Cabin: A breakfast & Lunch sit-down diner. It has the appearance of an actual old red cabin. Many people come here for the home-made pancakes and waffles.
• Moes Southwest Grille: A fast-casual establishment that serves a wide variety of fresh, made-to-order southwest Mexican food. The food is made right in front of you, their "homewrecker" burritos are very popular as well as their chips, salsa and queso.

Drink

• The B&G Bar and Billiard: This bar has been around for a very long time. It's a small bar near the center of town, if you go here you will probably see only people who are from South Windsor, everyone knows everyone there. They sometimes have fun bands that play. It's kind of dark inside and smells of cigarettes.
• Club 645 Pub: A small bar with an outdoor patio/smoking area. Many rock bands play here on the weekends.

Sleep

• The Watson House B&B, 1876 Main Street (Directions from Bradley International Airport(Windsor Locks, CT 06096): Head northwest for about 0.6 mi then you are going to take a slight left toward Schoephoester Rd 331 ft. Then turn right at Schoephoester Rd 0.2 mi and continue onto CT-401 South for 3.8 mi. Take the exit onto I-91 N toward Springfield 2.2 mi and take exit 44 for US-5 S toward E.Windsor 0.3 mi. Turn right at US-5 S/Prospect Hill Rd and Continue to follow US-5 S for about 4.3 mi. Turn right at Sullivan Ave 0.1 mi and then turn right at Main St and your destination will be on the right.), ☎ [phone]. On Old Main Street, surrounded by open farm land and animals and historical buildings. 
• Cumon Inn Farm Homestays B&B, 130 Buckland Rd (near the Buckland Hills Mall and the Shoppes of Evergreen Walk), ☎ [phone]. 

Go next

• The Buckland Hills Cinema 99 Redstone Rd. Central Manchester, [phone]. Extremely expensive. Along with movie-showings, there is an arcade, a sitting area to eat food, and a bar.
• Golf Land, 95 Hartford Turnpike Route 83 Vernon, [phone]. Miniature golf, bumper carts, batting cages, go-karts, arcade