A day in Wilton can be totally relaxing—like spending time in a New England resort town without the bumper-to-bumper drive. Our idea is much easier: Reserve a day, put on a comfy outfit and stylish sunglasses, call your best friends, and explore this walkable town with a chill vibe all its own. We’ve planned your day’s itinerary.
Step 1: Get Going
Rev up your day by grabbing some good old-fashioned joe at Orem’s Diner (you’ll have to drive downtown later, but the place is just so friendly you should consider it). Another way for you and friends to get going is to head to The Barre Studio at 22 Center Street. Stretch and hold your way to a dancer’s body.
Step 2: Gain Speed
Begin your tour at Chou Chou at 21 River Road. It has lots of choices in handbags, accessories, and shoes. It’s easy to get caught up in all the options, so don’t be surprised if you find cute rain boots and sunglasses in the same visit. Another option is River Road Gallery, where even if you’re not interested in framing, you can enjoy some impressive art, from Impressionist works of Weir Farm to photography by Ron Landis.
Before you know it, it’s time to fuel up. Consider lunch at the Village Luncheonette at 88 Old Ridgefield Road. Locals love this cozy diner, which has been open since 1940—and everybody knows your name. Order the fresh salad. The only question is feta or no feta on this grilled chicken Greek salad served atop a pita with tzatziki sauce, a regular choice for ladies who lunch here. A great alternate is Bon Appetit (5 River Road), which is as Parisian a café as you can get without a passport or the Seine nearby.
Kids in tow or not, head over to Scoops at 92 Old Ridgefield Road. This nostalgia-inducing ice cream parlor/candy shop is the real deal, with unique offerings and crowd-pleasing flavors.
Whether the kids are working on their desserts or not, you can check out the offerings at Witchy Poo at 24 Center Street. At this boutique you and your friends can score accessories: scarves, cover-ups, jewelry, and more at great prices. Plus, the owner, Marie Wendorff, is known in town for supporting awareness of domestic abuse.
Looking for something great to wear this weekend? Pick up the perfect outfit at one of two stores: B Chic (78 Old Ridgefield Road), where we found our favorite AG jeans and hoop earrings, or Snappy Gator (21 River Road). Both shops offer lots of fun dresses, well-cut pants, and cute tops, a great mix of favorite brands and smaller labels.
Krik-It Kids is down at 5 River Road. Celebrating five years, this fun store focuses on stylish clothes for babies to ’tweens. You’ll find everything from classic looks to trendy duds, all carefully selected by owners Rosanna Coughlin of Wilton and Melissa Thompson.
Step 3: Wind Down
All this shopping making you hungry? Grown-up sweets at Sweet Pierre’s next door will keep you peppy.
Signature Style at 134 Old Ridgefield Road is ready to help you with all your hostess-gift needs, featuring a wide array of items to be monogrammed. You can find something for everyone here and have it personalized.
The Wilton Library is right across the street. Let the kids recharge with a book or computer time or special kids’ program. You might check out the Brubeck Room (named after local jazz legend Dave Brubeck), a perfect acoustic environment and free live music venue.
Now that you’ve walked the walk, it’s time to reward yourself, so mosey a few steps over to Cactus Rose Cantina, 5 River Road. Refuel at this up-market Mexican; the adults around the table can “Cheers” to a day well spent and clink glasses of margaritas made with freshly squeezed juice. Refreshing!