The perfect location in the best 2 country escapes within 2 hours of NYC - Roxbury and Washington CT, exceptional for their excellent restaurants, spas, antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, farms, historic homes, gardens, vineyards, distilleries, and orchards. The Gilmore Girls creator modeled Stars Hollow, the perfect Connecticut town, after Washington and the Independence Inn after the Mayflower Inn. It is the current or former home to many artists, writers, actors and Wall Street executives – referred to as "more Vermont, than Vermont" and "the un-Hamptons". Nature preserves, Lake Waramaug, and the Shepaug River offer extensive hiking, biking, and water activities. Mohawk and Sundown Ski Areas , Lime Rock Raceway, and Quassy Amusement Park are all a short drive. ExploreWashingtonCT and PoshPadsCT have the best listings of area amenities and event calendars. (Note that VRBO-HomeAway's map needs to be zoomed to really show Washington and Roxbury listings only and not homes 30 minutes away in less desirable locations.)