Why West Hartford

Offering a cosmopolitan suburban feel, West Hartford offers so much to see, do, and experience. With a diverse and vibrant downtown, proximity to the state’s capital and major highways, this inclusive and engaging community is not only a destination spot, but an extremely popular place to settle down.

 

For the 5^th year straight, West Hartford has been named "Best Place to Live” in Connecticut. Dedicated to providing an excellent education in public and private schools, offering highly trained professional public safety services, and top-notch municipal services, West Hartford provides its residents with a great place to live, work, raise a family, and enjoy!

 

 

Located 5 miles from Hartford, West Hartford features cutting edge dining experiences, unique shopping, excellent golfing, dynamic art galleries, museums, and boutiques, and superior schools offering both an amazing public school system and impressive private school selection. This medium-sized town of almost 64,000 ethnically diverse residents, is decidedly white-collar with a strong professional presence and many established and new, trailblazing businesses. Interestingly, this community is home to a large population of millennials and Gen Zs, educated, and upwardly mobile career starters, making West Hartford a great place to find friendship, socialize, have fun, and build both your career and lifestyle.

 

Why is West Hartford so desirable? Click on the links provided as I share with you a sampling of all the fun, interesting, and intriguing places that I have found in West Hartford.

 

 

If you enjoy a dining experience, West Hartford is sure to deliver! Simply check out Trip Advisors Top 10 recommendations for this area, choose from the many listed, and you can’t go wrong! Number one on the list is a personal favorite of mine, Treva Restaurant and Bar, boasting delicious cuisine of the Central and Northern regions of Italy.

 

 

I highly recommend making your reservations at Restaurant Bricco, Max’s Oyster Bar, Barcelona Wine Bar, or CoraCora. All amazing, all delicious, all easy to get to. For that matter, you can’t go wrong with Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen, Max Burger, the newly acclaimed Sparrow Pizza Bar or the renowned Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.

 

 

Offering a stunning formal rose garden laid out with arches and paths leading to a central gazebo, Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is a little slice of heaven carved out in this dense suburban area. Bring a picnic, enjoy special events, outdoor concerts, tours, lectures, and garden workshops at this amazingly beautiful Garden and Conservatory.

 

 

A Nature lover’s paradise, the West Hartford Reservoir recreation area is the perfect spot to walk, hike, bike, and enjoy the day. MDC Reservoir #6 is another area perfect for enjoying the flora and fauna of every season. Family friendly Fernridge Park and Pool is a terrific green space with a pond, playground, picnic tables & summertime outdoor pool and splash pad and one of several public pools to enjoy in West Hartford.

 

 

Whether you are a seasoned golfer or simply want to start playing, West Hartford offers both private golf and country clubs as well as public courses to swing your clubs at. The Hartford Golf Club features 27 holes of superbly conditioned parkland golf, created for the golfer who plays the game with enjoyment and adventure in mind.

 

 

Recognized as one of the finest 18-hole public golf courses in the United States, Rockledge Golf Club is known for its beautiful landscaping and meticulous maintenance. Additionally, West Hartford offers golfing opportunities at Buena Vista Golf Course, Wampanoag Golf Club, and Keney Park Golf Course. When you need to hit the links, check out any of these beautifully designed courses.

 

 

“Never put off until tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” – Mark Twain. Learn more about this famous author’s life at The Mark Twain House & Museum, now a delightful destination for learning more about his life and the important works he produced here.

 

 

A quick 1-minute walk from the Mark Twain House, you find the Harriet Beecher Stow Center, offering extensive and exciting public programs showing how her words changed the world. Another noteworthy historic museum in West Hartford is the Noah Webster House, also home to the West Hartford Historical Society.

 

Art lovers are sure to enjoy a leisurely stroll through Joseloff Gallery located at University of Hartford, to view exciting works by both international and national artists alike. Through exhibitions and educational programs, the Monastery Gallery of Art values and promotes all forms of art. And be sure to visit Sandy Welch Art to view her fresh, feminine, and passionate perspective paintings.

 

 

For an intimate performance theater, be sure to check out the contemporary plays, musicals, comedy, and children’s shows at Playhouse on Park. Empowering opportunity and access to programs and the performing arts, Community Theater of West Hartford offers a high-quality, live, musical experience. 

 

 

The National Theater for the Deaf explores what it means to be deaf in America, through arts-focused initiatives and stories told by the deaf, about the deaf, and through the deaf population.

 

 

Blue Back Square is your source for shopping, dining, entertainment, and more! This mixed-use downtown destination offers premier shopping, a multitude of dining establishments, and entertainment both indoors and out.

 

 

Westfarms shopping mall is the third largest in Connecticut and features over 160 of the finest stores and restaurants around. Bishops Corner West, one of West Hartford’s largest shopping destinations includes several big-name retailers as well as many diverse restaurants and boutiques.

 

 

Enjoy a day, or night, of fun and games in West Hartford starting at Muse Paintbar, the premier paint and sip experience in town. Reserve your seat at this colorful destination spot and enjoy creating your personal work of art with a little finger food, beer, or wine on the side.

 

 

Adults and kids alike are encouraged to take time to create and make memories together at the Claypen. If its thrill and intrigue you are after, Mission Escape Games allows you to find clues, work as a team and escape from your everyday reality. For a completely unique entertainment adventure, check out CT’s first smash room, Smash Avenue.

 

 

Nothing says bliss like a day or even a single treatment at a spa. Lucky for you West Hartford is home to an impressive array of luxury spas. Specializing in luxurious organic facial treatments, unique massages and so much more be sure to visit A Touch of Bliss Organic Spa.

 

 

Body + Sole Spa Therapies is a skincare and body works collective composed to make you feel comfortable, relaxed. and beautiful. Pamper yourself at Seoul Spa and Sauna, improving your mind, body, and spirit. Be transported at Victorian Day Spa, from your busy life to a serene space for self-rejuvenation and recharging. A temple of well-being, the DELAMAR Spa, located on the second floor of the DELAMAR West Hartford, is the perfect sanctuary to care for yourself and leave your stress behind.

 

 

Dedicated to excellence in education for both public and private school students, West Hartford offers 16 public and 13 private schools. US News ranked Hall High School #12 and Conrad High #14 in Best Public High Schools in Connecticut. With 14 additional top public schools in Connecticut, West Hartford offers a vibrant academic program, strong in languages and the arts, with plenty of Advanced Placement courses, and numerous opportunities for students to feel challenged, learn, grow, and develop.

 

 

Education opportunities are also provided to the West Hartford community through the 13 Private schools located there. According to Private School Review, the top 3 Best West Hartford Private Schools for 2023 include Kingswood Oxford School, with their people-first culture, Renbrook School, bringing learning to life, and Intensive Education Academy, providing sound and appropriate education for students with learning disabilities.

 

West Hartford is also home to both the American School for the Deaf, founded in 1817 as the first permanent school for the deaf, providing comprehensive educational programs for their deaf and hard-of-hearing students and Hartt School of Music, a comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford, offering degrees in music, dance, and theater.

 

Committed to preparing ambitions and knowledgeable leaders through renowned academic programs and experiences, University of Hartford, locally known as UHA, is one of several higher education institutions in West Hartford. University of Saint Joseph boasts programs that provide a transformative academic experience to their students. With 18 colleges and universities servicing the West Hartford community, you are bound to find the perfect fit for your student.

 

According to We-Ha.com, in 2022, West Hartford received an A-plus in the categories of schools, health and fitness, and “good for families.” Nightlife and outdoor activities received an A, diversity and commute received an A-minus, housing and jobs were rated B-plus, and cost of living as well as crime & safety were rated B-minus. Overall, West Hartford is absolutely a terrific place to live!

 

 

 

Laurie Kane