From the foothills of the Berkshires and along the Housatonic River, News 12 photojournalist Lori Golias teams up with naturalist Mark Fowler in this week's Road Trip Close to Home to explore Route 7 from Kent to Canaan.

The sights along the route include the Housatonic River, waterfalls, covered bridges and quaint towns.

Fowler, of Grace Farms Foundation, says nature is thriving in the area. The first stop along the route is Kent Falls State Park.

"It is one of the most beautiful places you'll see in this entire state of Connecticut. Look behind me - you've got a 250-foot waterfall coming down this beautiful mountainside," Fowler says.

He says the park offers hiking and stairways that go up and around.

As you continue to explore northwest Connecticut, you can't beat the view of the river at Housatonic Meadows State Park. Fowler says the park is perfect for fly fishing.

He says Connecticut is also home to a portion of the Appalachian Trail - a 50-mile route that's beautiful all the way up.

The final stop is in Canaan. It's a beautiful little town on the border of Massachusetts, which is the gateway to the Berkshire Mountains. There's a brewery at the old train station called Great Falls Brewing as well as the Railroad Museum.

Route 7, also called the Ethan Allen Highway, begins in Norwalk. It's just over 300 miles long and ends in Vermont just south of the Canadian border.