From the town gazebo to Luke's Diner and Mrs. Kim's antique shop, a travel itinerary based on the “Gilmore Girls” has been created to bring the fictional town of Stars Hollow to life.
The return of “Gilmore Girls” is one of the year's most anticipated shows: After about a decade of going off the air, Rory and Lorelai Gilmore return in a special four-part series on Netflix, "A Year in the Life," debuting Friday.
The show, which developed a cult-like following both on and off-air, continues the storyline of the mother-daughter duo in four episodes that cover the four seasons.
Part of the show's allure was its fictional, New England setting with a name as quaint and charming as the town itself, a tight-knit community of eccentric but endearing characters.
Capitalizing on the show's popularity and buzz is the Connecticut Office of Tourism, which has created a two-day travel itinerary which hits some of the real-life places that inspired show creator Amy Sherman-Palladino's vision of Stars Hollow.
For starters, there's the Mayflower Grace which served as the inspiration for the Independence Inn, where Lorelai worked.
The country retreat is nestled in 58 acres of picturesque gardens and woodlands and features 30 guest rooms, restorative spa, pool and tennis court. It also boasts a string of ringing endorsements including AAA Five Diamond status, a five-star rating from Forbes and membership in the exclusive Relais & Chateaux club.
In the town of Washington, visitors can head over to Marty's Café after which Luke's Diner is modeled, a neighborhood café that serves up diner classics like BLT sandwiches, Reubens, waffles and American grilled cheese sammies.
In New Milford, GG fans will recognize immediately the town gazebo from the show's opening intro.
And antique lovers who would have loved to visit Kim's Antiques, owned by the formidable Mrs. Kim, can head to Litchfield's Housatonic Trading Company and the Old Carriage Shop Antique Center.
To cap off the trip in a way that would make the Gilmore girls proud, head to Arethusa Farm in Bantam for an ice cream cone that could rival that of Taylor's Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe.
For fans who can't make it to Connecticut, they can channel the Gilmore Girl spirit with the unofficial “Eat Like a Gilmore” cookbook inspired by the fast food, deep-fried caffeinated tastes of the mother-daughter duo.
Recipes include Sookie's macaroni and cheese in jalapeno-chipotle cream sauce, salmon puffs, pumpkin pancakes, rocky road cookies and Rory's Birthday Girl Cocktail.
