Kent, Connecticut, can easily be called a day-tripper's dream.

Starting with the drive from the Hudson Valley, the easy, 60-minute jaunt through some of the most scenic routes of the New York and Connecticut countryside begins a traveler's day right. However, once in Kent, it is the collection of anomalies that make Kent a unique and exciting find for those wanting a new experience. Kent has been described by many as a place where nature meets culture, and the adage is definitely true. It is both highbrow and low profile, where hikers from the nearby Appalachian Trail can enjoy a beer at a local bar in their outdoor gear, or tourists seeking what's new and trendy in the art world can purchase a painting at the world class Paris New York Kent art gallery.Mother-daughter duo Annette Spallino, of Maryland, and her daughter Marie, of New Jersey, chose to visit Kent because it was equidistant between their respective homes. An avid hiker, Marie had become aware of Kent because of its proximity to great trails, but was delighted to find the town also offered a myriad of other distractions. Relaxing on one of the park benches that line the main street of the town (there is only one stoplight and one main street—though many attractive side streets tempt the visitor), Marie and Annette sipped on water bottles after a long day of strenuous exercise—shopping, that is. Annette was surprised by all the shops in a village of only three thousand full-time residents.

A Kent fixture is the enormously popular Toys Galore & More which was described by proprietor Patti Leo as a "tried-and-true mom-and-pop shop, with just mom." Leo, who has run the business for 16 years, says the community of Kent has always been receptive and supportive of her. The mother of two grown children, Leo says she had the benefit of two bona fide toy testers in her own home. "They loved having a mom who was a toy story owner," said Leo, reminiscing. "That is, until they were teenagers. Then they wished I owned a Gap," she added with a laugh.

The vibe of the stores in this village is handcrafted, however, rather than mass- produced. Ellen Corsell, of Heron American Crafts, said her degree in education from SUNY New Paltz later informed the aura of the store she now runs. Corsell, who moved to Kent in the '70s, which she called "the heyday of the craft movement with the rejection of corporate America," says if you like shopping in her store, it's probably because she likes working there. The popular boutique boasts colorful and funky pottery and jewelry, as well as an assortment of greeting cards and gifts.

Another Kent storefront that has been a fixture in the town for 35 years is Foreign Cargo, owned by mother-and-son team Olga and Jeff Kennedy. The shop started as a hobby of Olga's, whose husband was a public health worker in East Africa and the Pacific islands. In the seventies the Kennedys moved to Kent, and Olga used her knowledge and ties to foreign lands to build a shop of art and antiques from Asia and Africa. The store, which son Jeff describes a collection of "eclectic wares of cultural fusion," draws customers with its unique clothing, jewelry, and wearable art.

Those looking for the literal taste of another culture will think they've died and gone to heaven at Belgique, a chocolatier housed in an old, yellow Victorian house at the beginning of town. Though it opened just three years ago, the sweet shop has already garnered an extremely strong reputation in the tristate area, with some patrons traveling 90 minutes out of their way to stock up on chocolates for the week. Owned by husband-and-wife team Pierre and Susan Gilisen, the shop offers an array of must-try treats for the serious choco-holic, such as handmade ice cream, sorbets, baguettes and breads, and duck foie gras from Perigord, France.

For those who believe the mountain is always clearer to the climber from the plain, Kent's Macedonia State Park offers Hudson Valley residents an opportunity for reflection, as the Blue Trails across Cobble Mountain offer outstanding views of the Catskill and Taconic mountains. The park boasts 2,300 acres, and exciting terrain that has resulted from the slow wearing down of its hard rock base. Hikers can easily find a spot to camp for the night at one of the park's 51 camp sites. A smaller, but equally stunning venue is the Kent Falls park. Kent Falls has its beginning in the town of Warren, draining an area of almost square miles. It then flows west to the big fall where it plunges approximately 70 feet in a dramatic waterslide. Visitors can wander across the covered bridge, hike the falls, and feel the mist on their face, as water cascades 250 feet down on its way to joining the Housatonic River.

Whatever you do in Kent, there is always a bucket of bubbles waiting outside Toys Galore & More for visitors who need a break. "Bubbles have a universal appeal," explained owner Leo to me as I left the store. And so, it seems, does Kent.