West Hartford's tagline is "Where City Style Meets Village Charm," and while that may sound like a cliché, it's absolutely true.
If it's shopping or eating that interests you, West Hartford Center – known to those who live in the area as just "The Center" – is a chamber of commerce's dream. The Center is home to a diverse mix of coffee shops, upscale eateries, and chic boutiques, with family businesses far outnumbering chain stores.
, , , , and the offer unique dining experiences, and all offer outdoor seating. Many of the outdoor spaces have heaters, so even a cool summer evening is not a deterrent to al fresco dining.
, adjacent to The Center, opened for business just a few years ago. The mixed use retail/residential destination includes national chains like , , , , and , as well as a .
Visitors will also find locally-owned restaurants like , , and , as well as fun boutiques like and . Blue Back Square also includes a .
Many may not know that West Hartford has a new reputation for the most per-capita burger places. (This is not scientifically proven, but there has been a proliferation of burger joints in the past few years.) They are spread all over town, but check out Max Burger, , , , , – to name a few – all popular spots for grabbing not-just-your-ordinary burger and fries.
For recreation activities, the picturesque MDC Reservoir on Farmington Ave. has miles of trails for running, walking and mountain biking. is known for its rose gardens, but even after the peak blooming season (June), there are beautiful annual and perrenial gardens as well as .
Golfers can keep busy at , West Hartford's award-winning 18-hold public course on South Main St. If you only have time for nine holes, is a good choice.
The is the birthplace of – you guessed it – Noah Webster. The museum offers daily tours and has a unique gift shop and art gallery.
Kids enjoy , which includes a working farm with friendly animals, community gardens, and nature trails. includes a planetarium, as well as permanent and visiting exhibits and exotic animals.
For entertainment, offers a series of top-notch off-Broadway shows and local productions in an intimate atmosphere. Right next door is , a family owned restaurant which has been serving the best ice cream in town for over 70 years.
