I know there are lots of resources out there for this trail, but for a New Yorker with little knowledge of this part of Connecticut, maps and directions to parking lots just don't tell me what I need to know.

Basically, I really miss riding with my wife, who is a "casual" rider, at best. She's good for about twenty miles of flat riding in a day, but if a ride involves even moderate hill climbing, she'd rather stay home and hear about it when I get back.

I found a brief description of a ride a family with two small children took on the Farmington River Valley Trail and it piqued my interest. However, as I said, I can't really get a good "picture" of the trail from the official website or any of the others I've found. So can anybody tell me a little about the pitch of this trail, the surface, the surrounding area, and things to do if we were to turn a short ride into an overnight? Also, which 20-25 mile section would you suggest, given my wife's riding ability? We would drive to the start-point and stay overnight near the end-point, so I'd need a clean hotel and a safe place to park overnight.

Thanks!