Day Trip from Suffield: 10 Great Places to Go in The Granbys

If you don't have much to travel, but want a change of scenery that is close by, why not give Granby and East Granby a chance?

Granby is known as the jewel of the Farmington Valley. Many people know East Granby mainly as that place you drive through to get to the airport. But that limited perception is only based on the fact that they haven’t taken even a little time to explore what the small town has to offer.

Here are 10 things (in no particular order) to do in Granby and East Granby if you are passing through either town or looking for something to do while on a staycation:

1. - The signature park in Granby has myriad playing fields, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts and a pond. It’s the perfect place to exercise or just sit back and relax on a warm summer day.

2. - Looking for more of a hiking experience? McLean’s Game Refuge, with its gorgeous trails, located in Granby is the place to go.

3. - A treasured locale in Granby that’s home to a CSA, walking trails and, on certain days, concerts in the farm’s loft that feature some of the finest acts around.

4. Metacomet Trail - The seminal hiking trail runs through East Granby and is perfect for an afternoon adventure.

5. - All right, so you are really gunning for what Mark Twain called “a good walk spoiled.” Well, East Granby has what you’re looking for with this 18-hole public course.

6. - OK, by now you’ve worked up an appetite. There’s no better place to cool off than Granby’s fine ice cream parlor, which offers a wide variety of treats, including flavors like graham cracker, as well as ice cream pizza and grilled fare like hot dogs.

7. - Perhaps you are looking for something a bit more nutritious, but equally yummy? Try one of what Hartford Magazine rated as the best smoothies in the area. So delicious, they’re worth every penny.

8. - All right, you’ve no doubt heard of the Granbys well-earned agrarian reputation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get some good old fashioned shopping done in town. The Old Mill Pond Village Shops have been called “Granby’s mall” for good reason. Check it out and find out why.

9. - Some have described the falls, located in Enders State Forest, in Granby as the best in the state.

10. Tariffville Gorge - Located on the border of East Granby and Simsbury, there’s some places to fish and canoe that are breathtaking and exciting.