Jess, Washington — Travelrags

Condé Nast TravelerOct 5, 2025

Washington, CT may have inspired the fictional TV town, but fame hasn’t changed its identity.

22 things in this story

Stars HollowNeighborhoodfictional location, composite of Litchfield County towns
Litchfield CountyNeighborhoodcomposite of towns that inspired Stars Hollow
New PrestonNeighborhoodpacked with unique home stores
Plain GoodsPlacechic home store in a former church
Washington DepotNeighborhoodfeatures Marty's Cafe and Hickory Stick Bookshop
Marty’s CaféCafépossible 'Luke's' stand-in
Hickory Stick BookshopMarketwell-stocked with books and walking sticks
LitchfieldNeighborhoodtown from which county gets its name
Arethusa Dairy FarmRestaurantcreamy ice cream and award-winning Gouda
Mayflower InnHotelinspired show's 'Independence Inn'
Shakespeare GardenSighttrimmed maze of shrubs at the Mayflower Inn
Garden RoomRestaurantelevated English-styled dining at the Mayflower Inn
Taylor DoosePlace
Luke DanesRestaurant
Paul AnkaPlace
JessSight
KirkSight
troubadourSight
Warner Brothers lotPlace
BurbankNeighborhood
Carole KingSight
Where You LeadPlace

Jess