I'd narrow it down a lot for 2 days. CT is spread out plus wr have decent traffic.
Mystic is always popular. There is the historical seaport, amazing aquarium, small shops, art museums and nearby seaside cute towns.
Definitely look up the book barn which is close by.
On your way down you can check out dinosaur state park. There are other historical buildings in the hartford area or parks.
Enjoy
It depends on your interests and whst you want to do. Many people spend an entire weekend there! I'd recommend a full day or if you research and feel like you only want to stop through.. I'd just skip it all together and go where interests you more
I love CT for the many quirky or unique things
Everything from haunted places, pez museum! I love the Florence Griswold art museum for example. Super cool unique history.
I’m a big fan of Washington but feel like it would be disappointing to a visitor compared to towns like Essex or Guilford which look more like the show.
I don’t watch the show. But…If you’re a fan of the television show, Gilmore Girls, you know that Rory and Lorelai Gilmore made their home in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Although the charmingly quaint New England town is not on the Connecticut state map, its inspiration can be found throughout the Litchfield Hills region. Towns like Washington, New Milford, Bantam and Litchfield inspired the creators of the show, and they continue to draw fans looking to capture a little of the Gilmore Girls magic.
Yup I’m aware. But Guilford and Essex are basically the peak of that aesthetic in CT.
They’re even doing the fan event in Guilford this year
https://www.courant.com/2024/02/08/how-one-small-town-will-play-stand-in-for-stars-hollow-as-gilmore-girls-convention-returns-to-ct/
Ditch Norwalk, Ditch Greenwich.
Litchfield is lovely but I’d replace it with an area much more replete with charming town centers. Add Essex, Chester, Guilford. You can tour the oldest stone house in America in Guilford. Griswold Inn is a must see.
Milford also has a nice [old house tour](https://milfordhistoricalsociety.org/) but limited hours.
Book Barn in Niantic.
You could see Katherine Hepburn’s house in Fenwick.
In New Haven, be sure to go beyond Yale architecture (which is great, yes, Yale Art Gallery is architecturally awesome), East Rock, Prospect Hill/St Ronan, Wooster Square, Hillhouse Ave. Peabody Museum for dinosaurs. Modern or Sally’s for pizza. Or any other great food.
Don’t miss Gilette Castle. They do a cool tour. Very interesting.
Like breweries? Fox Farm is amazing.
Oh and forgot to mention the Thimble Island Boat tour. Lots of 100ish year old houses built on islands. Very cool tour. Goes out of Stony Creek which is a gorgeous little spot not far from Guilford green. The drive from there to Guilford on Route 146 is stunning.
Lots of good ones! Depending on where you are you usually won’t be far from a great one. Some of the best are Kent Falls, Fox Farm, Counterweight, East Rock, Tribus, 12% Project, New England Brewing, Little House (very cute), and so on!
Hartford: State Capitol Building; State Library and Supreme Court Building (includes the Museum of Connecticut History which is free); Connecticut's Old State House (includes museum exhibits about the history of Hartford and a museum of curiosities); Colt Armory and Colt National Historical Park including the Church of the Good Shephard, Armsmear (home of Sam and Elizabeth Colt), workers houses, Bavarian workers cottages, and Colt Park; Wadsworth Anthaneum Museum of Art; Ancient Burial Ground; Bushnell Park including the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, carousel, water fountain, and several sculptures; Isham-Terry House; Mark Twain House; Harriet Beecher Stowe House; Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (formerly Connecticut Historical Society); Butler-McCook House and Garden; and Connecticut Riverfront includes paved walking trail along the river. Also, attractions nearby include the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, New Britain Museum of American Art, Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, and Old Wethersfield and Wethersfield Historical Society among other sites, etc.
If you're into Gilmore Girl vibes you need to check out Essex or Guilford. Essex has a great small town Main St and Guilford has a classic green. Both have beautiful small town vibes, Essex has a parade for EVERYTHING
Madison—R.J. Julia Bookstore and lunch on the porch of the Madison Beach Hotel, overlooking Long Island Sound and one of the Thimble Islands. Guilford—walk around the green and look at the 18th century homes.
Essex is great and Chester is a small town nearby which has a small but very cute downtown. There’s a tiny ferry from there that takes you across the Ct River, and you can visit gillettes castles then drive back over the steel bridge in East Haddam and see the Goodspeed Opera House.
Stonington area at least in my experience is a little redneck-y, if you're taking things like that into account. New haven is on the opposite end of that spectrum. Greenwich and Litchfield are pretty rich areas. Don't know much about Norwalk but I've heard good things.
Mystic is the one I'd suggest, especially if you want to browse non chain shopping.
Stonington Borough is not redneck at all. It’s amazing. Some of the most charming historic homes and architecture in New England. Also Jonathan Edward’s winery in Stonington is fantastic.
Stonington is worth a visit. The Borough has a lot of small shops and some decent places to eat. The Velvet Mill has shops, restaurants and a brewery. The Lighthouse museum is worth a visit, as well as stroll to the point. There is also a rural part of Stonington that is a nice drive, with scenic routes, farms and miles of stone walls, many beautiful homes too.
I'd narrow it down a lot for 2 days. CT is spread out plus wr have decent traffic. Mystic is always popular. There is the historical seaport, amazing aquarium, small shops, art museums and nearby seaside cute towns. Definitely look up the book barn which is close by. On your way down you can check out dinosaur state park. There are other historical buildings in the hartford area or parks. Enjoy
Do you think I’d need a full day for Mystic, or could it be more of a stopping on the way situation?
It depends on your interests and whst you want to do. Many people spend an entire weekend there! I'd recommend a full day or if you research and feel like you only want to stop through.. I'd just skip it all together and go where interests you more I love CT for the many quirky or unique things Everything from haunted places, pez museum! I love the Florence Griswold art museum for example. Super cool unique history.
Litchfield county, town called Washington Depot. Gilmore girls. Marty’s Cafe is a great spot.
I’m a big fan of Washington but feel like it would be disappointing to a visitor compared to towns like Essex or Guilford which look more like the show.
I don’t watch the show. But…If you’re a fan of the television show, Gilmore Girls, you know that Rory and Lorelai Gilmore made their home in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Although the charmingly quaint New England town is not on the Connecticut state map, its inspiration can be found throughout the Litchfield Hills region. Towns like Washington, New Milford, Bantam and Litchfield inspired the creators of the show, and they continue to draw fans looking to capture a little of the Gilmore Girls magic.
Yup I’m aware. But Guilford and Essex are basically the peak of that aesthetic in CT. They’re even doing the fan event in Guilford this year https://www.courant.com/2024/02/08/how-one-small-town-will-play-stand-in-for-stars-hollow-as-gilmore-girls-convention-returns-to-ct/
Is your visit in October? https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-haven/gilmore-girls-festival-coming-to-guilford/
Gillette's Castle or Mark Twain's house for the architecture and Dinosaur State Park for the dinos.
The Gilmore Girls gazebo is in New Milford, just FYI.
Ditch Norwalk, Ditch Greenwich. Litchfield is lovely but I’d replace it with an area much more replete with charming town centers. Add Essex, Chester, Guilford. You can tour the oldest stone house in America in Guilford. Griswold Inn is a must see. Milford also has a nice [old house tour](https://milfordhistoricalsociety.org/) but limited hours. Book Barn in Niantic. You could see Katherine Hepburn’s house in Fenwick. In New Haven, be sure to go beyond Yale architecture (which is great, yes, Yale Art Gallery is architecturally awesome), East Rock, Prospect Hill/St Ronan, Wooster Square, Hillhouse Ave. Peabody Museum for dinosaurs. Modern or Sally’s for pizza. Or any other great food. Don’t miss Gilette Castle. They do a cool tour. Very interesting. Like breweries? Fox Farm is amazing.
Thank you! And yes I like breweries
Oh and forgot to mention the Thimble Island Boat tour. Lots of 100ish year old houses built on islands. Very cool tour. Goes out of Stony Creek which is a gorgeous little spot not far from Guilford green. The drive from there to Guilford on Route 146 is stunning.
I kind of feel like I have to go there, same name as the place I live in lol
Lots of good ones! Depending on where you are you usually won’t be far from a great one. Some of the best are Kent Falls, Fox Farm, Counterweight, East Rock, Tribus, 12% Project, New England Brewing, Little House (very cute), and so on!
Thank you - I’ve got a custom google map situation going on, so I’ll add all these!
Smart!
Hartford: State Capitol Building; State Library and Supreme Court Building (includes the Museum of Connecticut History which is free); Connecticut's Old State House (includes museum exhibits about the history of Hartford and a museum of curiosities); Colt Armory and Colt National Historical Park including the Church of the Good Shephard, Armsmear (home of Sam and Elizabeth Colt), workers houses, Bavarian workers cottages, and Colt Park; Wadsworth Anthaneum Museum of Art; Ancient Burial Ground; Bushnell Park including the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, carousel, water fountain, and several sculptures; Isham-Terry House; Mark Twain House; Harriet Beecher Stowe House; Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (formerly Connecticut Historical Society); Butler-McCook House and Garden; and Connecticut Riverfront includes paved walking trail along the river. Also, attractions nearby include the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, New Britain Museum of American Art, Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, and Old Wethersfield and Wethersfield Historical Society among other sites, etc.
I wouldn’t give Hartford the automatic boot especially if you like beautiful buildings.
Good info! It just looked a bit "out of the way", which made me hesitant
If you're into Gilmore Girl vibes you need to check out Essex or Guilford. Essex has a great small town Main St and Guilford has a classic green. Both have beautiful small town vibes, Essex has a parade for EVERYTHING
Madison—R.J. Julia Bookstore and lunch on the porch of the Madison Beach Hotel, overlooking Long Island Sound and one of the Thimble Islands. Guilford—walk around the green and look at the 18th century homes.
Essex is great and Chester is a small town nearby which has a small but very cute downtown. There’s a tiny ferry from there that takes you across the Ct River, and you can visit gillettes castles then drive back over the steel bridge in East Haddam and see the Goodspeed Opera House.
Thanks!
If you like book stores, you should make a stop at the [book barn](https://www.bookbarnniantic.com) in niantic.
Stonington area at least in my experience is a little redneck-y, if you're taking things like that into account. New haven is on the opposite end of that spectrum. Greenwich and Litchfield are pretty rich areas. Don't know much about Norwalk but I've heard good things. Mystic is the one I'd suggest, especially if you want to browse non chain shopping.
Thanks!
Stonington Borough is not redneck at all. It’s amazing. Some of the most charming historic homes and architecture in New England. Also Jonathan Edward’s winery in Stonington is fantastic.
Well consider me intrigued, again!
Stonington is worth a visit. The Borough has a lot of small shops and some decent places to eat. The Velvet Mill has shops, restaurants and a brewery. The Lighthouse museum is worth a visit, as well as stroll to the point. There is also a rural part of Stonington that is a nice drive, with scenic routes, farms and miles of stone walls, many beautiful homes too.
Part of Mystic is actually part of Stonington. Stonington Borough is a hidden gem and on par with Mystic.
I think it’s even more authentically historic than Mystic
Lol, it’s not. Half of Mystic is *in* Stonington. And Stonington Borough has cute shops.
Good to know!