The hilly rural and exurban northeast corner of Connecticut, often called the state's "Quiet Corner,'' has many lovely things to look at.  One is the quirky Gothic Revival Roseland Cottage-Bowen House museum, in Woodstock, built in 1846  as a summer place for a rich family from New York City. We love its slightly crazy stained-glass windows, pointed arches and crockets, along with its spectacular gardens, with boxwood parterres and thousands of flowers.

Also on the property are such features as an aviary,  a garden house, an old-fashioned bowling alley and an icehouse.

The place is open for tours June 1-Oct. 15. Check into it at: historicnewengland.org