Two Greater-Danbury Towns Made the ‘Vibrant Downtown’ List in CT

Connecticut may not have a national reputation for vibrancy but those of us who live here know the truth, there are some energetic spots around the state. Recently, World Atlas set out to name the 9 Towns with the Most Vibrant Downtown Areas and believe it or not, Greater-Danbury actually got some love for once.

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First, check out the seven towns listed that are not in Greater-Danbury:

• Mystic - They make every list
• New Canaan
• Westport
• Guilford
• Kent
• Old Saybrook - They also make every list
• Essex - They appear on 90% of the good lists

And finally, we get recognized as actually being a part of Connecticut. World Atlas named these two Greater-Danbury towns as having some of the most vibrant downtown areas:

Bethel 

World Atlas said: "Bethel is a tiny town near the larger city of Redding in the scenic rolling hills of Western Connecticut. It’s a small but mighty downtown strip that offers several restaurants, as well as Broken Symmetry Brewing’s Gastropub, which offers homegrown beer. Nature lovers will enjoy Overlook Park in the middle of downtown, which lives up to its name: it sports scenic views of the rolling hills as well as the historic Poker Rock, a rock known for early 20th-century gambling meetups. Stroll the streets downtown with a coffee from Molten Java and read a book at the Bethel Public Library."

Ridgefield

World Atlas said: "Ridgefield is in the foothills of the Berkshire mountains and boasts a tranquil downtown blending historic-colonial charm and more modern sensibilities. Start with the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, one of the nation’s oldest contemporary art museums, and enjoy the avant-garde in visual art through one of its many exhibitions. Drama enthusiasts should check out the Ridgefield Playhouse, a venue that offers not just theatrical productions but also films and concerts as well. For those interested in New Canaan’s colonial history, we recommend the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, which sits on a tavern site dating back to 1713. This living history museum will show what New Canaanites of the 18th and 19th centuries did daily and provide a lovely historical bookend to the forward-looking Aldrich."

I'm so happy to see Ridgefield and Bethel recognized, both towns deserve it but if you want vibrancy come to Danbury. Nothing gets your pulse racing like pedestrians running into traffic, outside the crosswalk, at the last possible second. Or, you can see people pee on our library or post office. The energy and enthusiasm are off the charts my friends.

But seriously go to our San Gennaro Festival or the International Festival and tell me we aren't jumping off the page in the Hat City. Let's get real, Danbury is where it's at.

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