Adventuring Through Our Region

For the more daring, the region has two of the United States' longest-operating amusement parks,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lakecompounce.com/" target="_blank">Lake Compounce&nbsp;</a>in Bristol and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.quassy.com/" target="_blank">Quassy Amusement Park&nbsp;</a>in Middlebury. They also happen to be the only two amusement parks and waterparks in the State of Connecticut!

Visitors can go hiking, camping, and more in the multiple state parks and forests within the region. Two major rivers flow through the our towns, plus many large lakes for fishing, boating, and water activities. Land trusts and conservancy groups host nature trails to educate all ages on the flora and fauna living in the wild.

<li>Cheshire is known as the bedding plant capital of Connecticut.</li><li>Bethlehem hosts a giant celebration of garlic in October.</li><li>The first Episcopal Bishop in the “New World” was elected secretly in a Woodbury farmhouse.</li><li>The original Mickey Mouse watch was designed and manufactured in Waterbury.</li><li>Charles Goodyear started his career in manufacturing in Naugatuck.</li>

Find hiking trails or a paved path for rollerblading with NVCOG's <a href="https://nvcog.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=735e1fc04acb4f068fd8c0f32d198e2f" target="_blank">Regional Trails interactive map</a>!

Consisting of nineteen towns in western-central Connecticut, the Naugatuck Valley region has much to offer.

The region's main feature is the transportation network that is well suited for getting people and places connected. Interstates 84 and 691 along with Route 8 traverse the region from urban centers to rural farmlands.

For more information regarding tourism in Connecticut, please see CTVisit.

Take a themed train ride through the upper Naugatuck River Valley with the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rmne.org/" target="_blank">Railroad Museum of New England</a>.

Don't forget to check out holiday events such as some of the best Fourth of July firework displays around, the longest Memorial Day parades in the nation, haunted houses and hay rides, or Christmas festivals and fairs.

Besides being a great location to watch the foliage change in autumn, the Naugatuck Valley region has much to offer.

Continue scrolling to find more places to go and things to do in the region.

Rolling hills and serene beauty make for a close escape for a peaceful outing. There is no shortage of outdoor activities in our part of the state.

This map displays the museums, fairs, and many other activities and places to visit in the region.

Drink and eat your way through the region's rich agricultural history and growing future. Try craft beer at the growing number of breweries or follow the CT Wine Trail at local wineries and vineyards, or as of recent, craft spirits from <a href="https://continuumdistilling.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Continuum Distilling</a>.

You can zoom and pan the map to get a closer look.

The region is home to many <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/DOAG/Marketing/Marketing/Connecticut-Grown-Program" target="_blank">Connecticut Grown</a> farms, some of which host community supported programs or pick-your-own fruits and vegetables. Find these farms and your local farmers' market with our <a href="https://nvcog.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e3f569eedc5c4c83871ffc1332c559d3" target="_blank">Agri-Toursim interactive map</a>.

Click on an icon for information on that location.

Antiques shops, art galleries, historic homes and gardens are dotted throughout the region. Each town and city also hosts fairs and festivals boasting community pride.

Places to see & things to do in the Naugatuck Valley

Our <a href="https://nvcogct.gov/historymap_rev/" target="_blank">Historical Resources interactive map</a> catalogs many of the historic sites and buildings in the region. A day trip to a museum or two can educate all on the rich history of our local towns and residents.