Brookfield Guide » More About Brookfield: Overview
Overview
Located along the Still River in the Northwest region of the Nutmeg State, Brookfield is part of Fairfield County. It's a charming New England town with a population of approximately 16,000. It's within easy driving distance of New York City, just 1 ½ hours, and close to the state's largest city of Bridgeport and the popular coastal town of Norwalk. Prestigious and nationally acclaimed, Brookfield's Craft Center is a fine arts school set on 2.5 acres of land housing 4 historic structures, including a grist mill that once contributed to the area's economy. Nearby Ridgefield holds one of the area's most impressive Main Streets, a thoroughfare that's lined with Victorian and Classic Revival style mansions dating back to the 1800s. Ridgefield also houses the notable Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art. Just south of Brookfield, Danbury's Railway Museum and its Historical Society preserve the past and give insight into the region's diverse history through the upkeep of vintage structures like the town's old rail yard and the John Dodd Hat Shop. Located 30 miles south of Brookfield, plenty of shops, nightspots and excellent restaurants abound in the up and coming, trendy South Norwalk area, otherwise known as SoNo. SoNo's Match restaurant serves New American cuisine in a modern environment, while The Loft and Amberjacks offer nighttime entertainment. A bit closer to home, the quiet town of Bethel offers Greenwoods Restaurant, and Brookfield's own Harvest Restaurant showcases a French influenced American menu. Antique lovers prowl the small town of Woodbury, while Westport to the south offers additional shopping diversions on its Main Street that includes a mix of chain stores and one-of-a-kind boutiques and antique stores. Throughout the entire region, you'll find a host of elegant inns and romantic bed and breakfasts in addtion to modern hotel chains. Most notable include the Inn at National Hall in Westport and the Elms Inn in Ridgefield. Brookfield and the cities and towns that surround it capture the notion of romance and spirited adventure that have historically defined New England. The many historic structures of the area allow the imagination freedom to roam the halls of the past, and the forested hills, rolling pastureland, tree-covered main streets and scenic sites of yesteryear enable guests to appreciate the land's natural beauty.
