While it's true to say that South Windsor is known for gourmet pizza, it's what lies beneath the elaborate topping combinations that really define what type of pie you're eating, not what's covering it. The commonest dough base used by the pizzerias in South Windsor is thick crust closely followed by the thin New York style. Thick crust is an authentic Italian dough base that lends itself well to being topped with several ingredients. It's a sturdy, rustic bake that is never going to sag beneath the weight of extra ingredients even when there are five or six being added. New York-style doesn't fare quite so well with that amount of topping so when you're getting a gourmet pizza it's best to stay traditional and always opt for a thick crust base.

Best delivery pizza in South Windsor, Connecticut

Sal's Pizzeria is the master of gourmet pizzas made with a thick crust base and for that reason, make the best delivery pizza in South Windsor. This Sicilian family-owned pizzeria has been sending out top-quality gourmet pies to their customers for more than twenty years all of whom totally appreciate the love that goes into their pizza cooking. Sal's is located on Ellington Road and occupies a premises that's part of the Town Center shopping mall. Inside, the décor definitely denotes the era the pizzeria was opened and is very 80s in style. Sal's pizzas are timeless classics though so you know any pie you order from here is going to be great. Sal's Extreme is one you really shouldn't miss, unless you're a vegetarian in which case the Fresh Mozzarella will probably have your name on it.

Best takeout pizza in South Windsor, Connecticut

If you've worked up an appetite hiking through the Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve, don't worry, you won't have far to go to be able to pick up the best take-out pizza in South Windsor. You can get your hands on that pie by heading down Sullivan Avenue to a pizzeria called Joe Pizza. Joe Pizza has a large, independent brick-built premises with a parking lot out front where you can leave your vehicle. It also has a great patio area where you can sit and wait while your pizza is being prepared if you're not comfortable in the regimental dining hall décor inside. At Joe's, they use a brick oven for baking so you won't be waiting long before your pizza appears. If you want to try something new give Joe's Pizza Carbonara a go. It's a white pie with bacon and caramelized onions.

Best pizza near South Windsor, Connecticut

Windsor Locks

History buffs won't be able to resist making the ten-mile journey north from South Windsor to Windsor Locks. This Connecticut town is home to several fascinating museums and historic sites. Start off at the Noden-Reed Museum where there are farm buildings and a house of Greek Revival style dating back to the 1840s. If you want to immerse yourself in more history then visit the New England Air Museum. If you prefer to get some exercise before going for a pizza at Pizza Time on Main Street, take a stroll along the four-and-a-half-mile-long Windsor Locks State Park Trail which runs adjacent to the historic canal.

Hartford

Hartford is around ten miles away from South Windsor, and a Connecticut city with plenty of fascinating places to visit no matter what your age or interests are. Unmissable for both history and literary buffs is the Mark Twain House and Museum and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. For fans of the art world, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum is a must-see. If you have kids with you then they'll totally enjoy the Connecticut Science Center where they can get busy with all the interactive exhibits. It might not be the right time of the year for the Jazz festival in Bushnell Park when you go, but you can still pick up a pizza from Pietro's Pizza on Main Street, have a picnic then a ride on the carousel to finish the day.

Simsbury

Simsbury is a twenty-mile drive west of South Windsor. It's a rural town bordered by the Penwood State Park and the Talcott Mountain State Park to the east and the Nepaug State Forest to the west. Any of the three are superb spots for getting back to nature, seeing fantastic scenery, and getting a breath of fresh air. If you want to do more than hike through the countryside, take the trail that leads to the Heublein Tower in the Talcott State Park, climb up to the top to check out the views then visit the museum and nature center there. If you want a great lunch or dinner, drop into Little Mazen Pizza on Hopmeadow Street.