Coolest Suburbs Worth a Visit

West Hartford, CT

This well-kept nabe is five miles from Hartford, but its vibe is a world away. And new transplants have spurred a flurry of activity and buzz along Farmington Avenue, where a young, trendy set can be found late at night ordering bottle service and grooving to house music at Shish Lounge.

See: West Hartford Reservoir (entrance on Farmington Avenue) is West Hartford’s version of Central Park. The 3,000-acre reserve has nearly 30 miles of paved and gravel trails and is frequented by people from neighboring towns who come to bike, hike, and cross-country ski.

Taste: Chef Billy Grant says the Italian comfort fare he serves at Restaurant Bricco is inspired by childhood memories of his mother’s cooking. Order some orecchiette with sautéed shrimp, then wrap up with a dish of homemade olive oil gelato.