Hill-Stead Museum

If you only have 90 minutes to see a Monet, head to Farmington, CT, to visit Hill-Stead Museum. Hill-Stead was originally built by Alfred and Ada Pope and their daughter Theodate. Theodate first fell in love with Farmington when she attended Miss Porter's school. After her graduation, she convinced her parents to purchase the property, and she helped to design the house, the outbuildings, and the garden. A survivor of the Lusitania,

Theodate became one of the earliest female architects in the United States, she later designed the buildings of Avon Old Farms School, which she founded and oversaw from 1922 to 1946.

Alfred Pope was an avid art collector. On a trip to Europe, he picked early works by then-unknown artists, such as Monet, Manet, Degas, and Whistler. Those paintings remain part of the estate and displayed throughout the historic, Colonial Revival home. The estate was later taken over by their daughter Theodate and her husband John Wallace Riddle.

Jamie and I visited Hill-Stead primarily to see the art work, which is indeed stunning. The house tour, however, was one of the best and most interest we have seen. Hill-Stead was designed as a working farm, and miles of walking trails remain part of the estate. Unfortunately, the ground was a bit wet the day we visited, and we didn't get to hike much, but we enjoyed a leisurely walk around the pond, a man made structure designed as a water hazard for Alfred Pope's 6 hole golf course. We also enjoyed the sunken garden, complete with pergola, summer house, and sundial.

Finish your trip to Farmington with lunch at The Grist Mill Restaurant, overlooking the Farmington River. Dare to have dessert; you did walk the grounds after all.