Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The latest trip to a Hidden Gem in Hartford and Tolland counties takes us slopeside in the Plantsville section of Southington. There, tucked in a residential neighborhood, we find the snowsports school.

It's centrally located to most towns in the state and Mount Southington features two lengths of bunny hill, serviced by both a magic carpet surface lift and a double chairlift.

The snowsports school has a reputation for both attentiveness and friendly instructors. Even the lifties seem to have permanent happy faces on that left side of the hill.

One example took place three seasons ago on a snowy Sunday. With a good portion of the staff stranded at home and calling out, a high school-aged instructor inherited a class of 22 youngsters featuring various ages and abilities. Not only was she skilled in the group setting, but managed to spend time with each child. The entire class was riding the lift by the end of the day.

For more information, see the Mount Southington website.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

• Awards & More
• Marquis de Lafayette Monument
• The Little Red Store
• River Bend Bookshop
• Gerry's Donuts
• Traveler Restaurant
• First Decorated Christmas Tree
• The Stanley-Whitman House
• Vernon's Santa House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• Old Country Banquet Hall
• Brazilian Gula Grill
• Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop
• Congregational Church of Burlington labyrinth
• Noah Webster House
• The Bushnell's Green Room Wall
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• The Packing House
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant