Travel

Photo above courtesy of the Town of Canaan, CT website. 

From North Canaan to Falls Village, CT, the greater Canaan region is full of vibrant businesses and delightful attractions for everyone to enjoy. Close-knit and community-oriented, Canaan is home to a wide array of delicious cafes and restaurants, exciting shops, and outdoor activities for the adventurous and laidback alike.

Here are some of our recommendations for how you can spend a day in Canaan!

Early Morning

Start your day off with a big ‘ol cup of Joe from Ilse Coffee Cafe and Roastery. Located on Railroad Street, Ilse Coffee offers coffees that they source from smallholder producers all over the world. Grab a cup of coffee and a pastry, browse their selection of coffee for sale, and learn a little more about the world of coffee before you set out on the rest of your day. 

If you’re looking for a beverage that isn’t coffee, head over to Homegrown Cafe, also located on Railroad Street. In addition to offering a variety of coffees, Homegrown Cafe also has a lengthy list of specialty teas, protein shakes, smoothies, and milkshakes to choose from. Sit and enjoy, or take your goodies to go!

For those with a more bold spirit, you can schedule a morning hot air balloon flight with Spirit Ballooning, a locally owned and operated company that specializes in hot air balloon adventures. Available May 1st through November 30th, their Sunrise Flight package offers surreal, seasonal views of rural New England with a champagne or sparkling cider toast and picnic at the end! In addition to these incredible flights, their services also include tethered balloon experiences, lessons, and demonstrations or presentations about hot air balloons.

Backyard Adventure UTV Tours are perfect for those hoping for adventure a little closer to the ground. Located on Allyndale Road in Canaan, Backyard Adventure offers guided UTV tours ranging from one to two hours, allowing you to drive your own vehicle while being led through an unforgettable outdoor excursion on their privately owned trails! This opportunity is great for adrenaline lovers, families, and anyone wanting to explore Northwest Connecticut’s breathtaking landscapes.

If ballooning or UTV riding sounds a bit daunting, then be sure to pop into 27 Railroad Street and check out The Colonial Theatre and its building partners! As the morning winds down, you can take a look at Jaclyn Ryan’s Hither Lane, an ethically and sustainably curated barware, serveware, and kitchenware shop and stop into Hanna Rybolt’s Pastries by Hanna for a craft donut or specialty pastry. This location is also home to professional photographer Aly Morrissey’s media studio and Melissa Pinardi’s Stunning Styles Hair salon!

And if you’ve brought your furry friend to the area, or just want to shop for your four-legged friend, Hunky Hounds Handlers is the place for you. Not only do they offer dog walking and hiking, off-leash pack walks, and dog training, but they also provide nutrition consults and products, a “Spaw” for pampering your pet, and PEMF bed treatments. 

Late Morning/Early Afternoon 

After fueling up for the day with caffeine – and maybe an adrenaline rush from the hot air balloon! – hop in the car and head south towards the town of Canaan. Canaan is often referring interchangeably to Falls Village, as Falls Village is the principal community located within the town of Canaan. It’s a great spot to spend a couple of hours in the late morning and early afternoon. 

While in Falls Village, make a stop by 100 Main (appropriately located at 100 Main Street), a home goods store owned by acclaimed interior designer, Bunny Williams. “When an old grocery store in town came up for sale, Bunny felt it would be the perfect place to open a cooperative to sell the work of artisans from the surrounding areas of Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts,” the 100 Main website states. She partnered with Christina van Hengel to run the store, and together, they source and hand-select a curated group of goods from over 40 artisans to sell at 100 Main. 

Grab a light lunch and an afternoon cup of coffee from Mountainside Cafe, located on Route 7 in Falls Village. Mountainside Cafe boasts a farm-to-table approach, serving meals made with ingredients that are sourced from local farmers, producers, and purveyors. The cafe in Falls Village not only supports the community, but also provides a safe and supportive workplace for individuals in recovery. 

Depending on the weather, taking a moment to walk down to Great Falls is a scenic and peaceful way to spend an afternoon. Located on the Housatonic River, this is the highest volume waterfall in the state of Connecticut and offers plenty of cozy nooks and crannies on the rocks to sit and take in the view. With close proximity to the Appalachian Trail and the Amesville Interpretive Trail, the falls are easy to access if you’re cooling off from a hiking venture, too. 

If there’s a race going on that day – or if you’d just like to see the racetrack – head over to Lime Rock Park. Lime Rock is a 1.5-mile, natural-terrain motorsport road located on White Hollow Road in Salisbury. The road course operates from mid-March to mid-November, while the infield facilities can be used throughout the year to serve car clubs, car makers, track days, ride-and-drives, and other events. 

Late Afternoon/Early Evening

Head over to Caddie Shack, located on Ashley Falls Road in Canaan, for some afternoon miniature golf or a stint in the batting cages. If you’re interested in a quick order of fries or an ice cream cone, they’ve definitely got you covered as well.

Back in North Canaan, head over to Main Street and visit Stephanie Stanton of High Vibe Chick. High Vibe Chick “empowers Lightworkers to claim their true identity, step boldly into their full power, and be fully seen as leaders. Through identity work, support, and sisterhood, we help them expand their impact and serve others from a place of authenticity,” her website states. Book a session ahead of time with this link. 

For dinner, North Canaan has some tasty options. Industry Kitchen & Bar on Railroad Street has a delicious selection of tacos, burgers, sandwiches, wings, and entrees, along with an appetizer menu stacked with mouthwatering starters, soups, and salads.

On Main Street, Blackberry River Bistro is another excellent dinner option, with starters including pork belly buns, dumplings, and salads. For entrees, they have a yummy selection of dishes, including sandwiches, bowls, and shrimp pad thai.

If you’re in the mood for Italian, you’re in luck! Also on Main Street, Roma Pizzeria offers a wide selection of classic starters, as well as mains including pasta dishes, seafood specialties, pizza, calzones, strombolis, and more.

Late Evening

Once you’ve finished your meal, North Canaan has plenty more excitement in store. The Music Lab, located on Main Street, offers an array of community music services including lessons, workshops, recording, event support, professional equipment rental, and private parties. On Thursday nights, they put on live acoustic performances hosted by Mark Yard from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. All are welcome!

And don’t forget to return to The Colonial for a fun movie! They even offer plenty of free film screenings sponsored by local businesses and organizations, so be sure to check out their public events for more information!

This is a brief selection of businesses and activities. For a comprehensive list of things to do in Canaan, CT, check out the Falls Village local business directory and North Canaan’s places map.