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Connecticut Day Trips

Traveling the globe from my home base in beatuful Connecticut

Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

Washington, Connecticut: The Town That Inspired Gilmore Girls [Itinerary]

December 31, 2019 By Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Some days, you just gotta get in your car and drive to a new town and see the sights. Washington, Connecticut is a really good town to drive to. It’s got a rustic-chic vibe with its mix of locals and weekenders from New York City. There are rolling hills, sprawling farms, and very nice restaurants to eat and drink in.

Washington Connecticut Day Trip

Bryan Memorial Town Hall in Washington CT

You can park your car at the Hickory Stick bookshop and spend an hour or two wandering it’s little “downtown” area. There’s the bookshop, Marty’s Cafe for coffee, some clothing stores and on Saturdays in the spring, summer and fall, a small farmers market.

Washington is famously the setting for the TV show show “Gilmore Girls” and while it doesn’t exactly resemble Stars Hollow, it does have all the trappings of small town life: lots of community activities, a folksy vibe, and tons to do (see my list below). As I say in my Gilmore Girls Guide to Connecticut (coming soon!), Washington is way more rural and outdoorsy than Stars Hollow.

Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

The point of traveling to a town like Washington is to just be there, to soak up the small-town atmosphere.

Park at the Byran Memorial Town Hall. There’s a farmers market on Saturday mornings in the spring, summer and fall where you can stock up on local produce. Then hit Marty’s Cafe for a coffee before browsing the Hickory Stick Bookshop. There are other small retailers to dip into as well.

The day I visited I spent about an hour checking out the scene in town before wandering down route 47 towards the intersections of Kirby Road, Whykeham Road, and Parsanoge Lane.

There’ll you’ll find another little town center but this one looks like time forgot it. The buildings are still well kept and blindingly white, but there’s one lonely store and what looks to be an old town square.

I parked my car on a side street ear the intersection, grabbed my camera and roamed the area. There you’ll find the The First Congregational Church, the Gunn Memorial Library and the Gunn Historical Museum.  I didn’t see many people, but there was a fairly regular flow of vintage cars out for a weekend drive.

From there I continued North on Route 47 (enter Hopkins Vineyard into your GPS or Google Maps app) and enjoyed some of the most beautiful scenery Connecticut has to offer: rolling hills, gentleman’s farms and finally, a view of Lake Waramaug on the approach to Warren and the winery.

This would be a beautiful day trip year-round.

PLACES TO VISIT IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT:

Averill Hill Farm
250 Calhoun St.
Washington, CT 06794

For apple picking, pumpkin picking, pizza, apple cider and apple cider doughnuts.

Hollister House Garden
300 Nettleton Hollow Rd
Washington, CT 06793

The Institute For American Indian Studies
Curtis Rd
Washington, CT 06793

Mayflower Spa
118 Woodbury Rd (Route 47)
Washington, CT 06793

I am DYING to try this place. I plan to organize a day trip there with my girlfriends this winter

Gunn Historical Museum
5 Wykeham Rd
Washington, CT 06793

Hidden Valley Preserve
198 Bee Brook Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

PLACES TO EAT IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT

The White Horse Country Pub
258 New Milford Turnpike
New Preston, CT 06777

British Pub Food in the Litchfield Hills.

GW Tavern
20 Bee Brook Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

The Pantry
5 Titus Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Norimaki
4 Green Hill Rd
Washington, CT 06793

A local Favorite.

Marty’s Cafe
4 Green Hill Rd #1
Washington Depot, CT 06793

The Washington Pizza House
13 River Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

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Elizabeth Larkin

Washington, Connecticut: The Town That Inspired Gilmore Girls [Itinerary]

December 31, 2019 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

Some days, you just gotta get in your car and drive to a new town and see the sights. Washington, Connecticut is a really good town to drive to. It’s got a rustic-chic vibe with its mix of locals and weekenders from New York City. There are rolling hills, sprawling farms, and very nice restaurants to eat and drink in.

Washington Connecticut Day Trip

Bryan Memorial Town Hall in Washington CT

You can park your car at the Hickory Stick bookshop and spend an hour or two wandering it’s little “downtown” area. There’s the bookshop, Marty’s Cafe for coffee, some clothing stores and on Saturdays in the spring, summer and fall, a small farmers market.

Washington is famously the setting for the TV show show “Gilmore Girls” and while it doesn’t exactly resemble Stars Hollow, it does have all the trappings of small town life: lots of community activities, a folksy vibe, and tons to do (see my list below). As I say in my Gilmore Girls Guide to Connecticut (coming soon!), Washington is way more rural and outdoorsy than Stars Hollow.

Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

The point of traveling to a town like Washington is to just be there, to soak up the small-town atmosphere.

Park at the Byran Memorial Town Hall. There’s a farmers market on Saturday mornings in the spring, summer and fall where you can stock up on local produce. Then hit Marty’s Cafe for a coffee before browsing the Hickory Stick Bookshop. There are other small retailers to dip into as well.

The day I visited I spent about an hour checking out the scene in town before wandering down route 47 towards the intersections of Kirby Road, Whykeham Road, and Parsanoge Lane.

There’ll you’ll find another little town center but this one looks like time forgot it. The buildings are still well kept and blindingly white, but there’s one lonely store and what looks to be an old town square.

I parked my car on a side street ear the intersection, grabbed my camera and roamed the area. There you’ll find the The First Congregational Church, the Gunn Memorial Library and the Gunn Historical Museum.  I didn’t see many people, but there was a fairly regular flow of vintage cars out for a weekend drive.

From there I continued North on Route 47 (enter Hopkins Vineyard into your GPS or Google Maps app) and enjoyed some of the most beautiful scenery Connecticut has to offer: rolling hills, gentleman’s farms and finally, a view of Lake Waramaug on the approach to Warren and the winery.

This would be a beautiful day trip year-round.

PLACES TO VISIT IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT:

Averill Hill Farm
250 Calhoun St.
Washington, CT 06794

For apple picking, pumpkin picking, pizza, apple cider and apple cider doughnuts.

Hollister House Garden
300 Nettleton Hollow Rd
Washington, CT 06793

The Institute For American Indian Studies
Curtis Rd
Washington, CT 06793

Mayflower Spa
118 Woodbury Rd (Route 47)
Washington, CT 06793

I am DYING to try this place. I plan to organize a day trip there with my girlfriends this winter

Gunn Historical Museum
5 Wykeham Rd
Washington, CT 06793

Hidden Valley Preserve
198 Bee Brook Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

PLACES TO EAT IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT

The White Horse Country Pub
258 New Milford Turnpike
New Preston, CT 06777

British Pub Food in the Litchfield Hills.

GW Tavern
20 Bee Brook Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

The Pantry
5 Titus Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Norimaki
4 Green Hill Rd
Washington, CT 06793

A local Favorite.

Marty’s Cafe
4 Green Hill Rd #1
Washington Depot, CT 06793

The Washington Pizza House
13 River Rd
Washington Depot, CT 06794

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: gilmore girls, going solo, Litchfield County, Litchfield Hills, romantic

What My Condo Looked Like Then vs. Now

July 23, 2018 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

I’m moving. I have decided to sell my condo at Woodland House and buy a house so that I can have a backyard. I also want a fireplace. Since we have 5 months of Winter in Connecticut, a fireplace just seems right.

[Read more…] about What My Condo Looked Like Then vs. Now

Filed Under: Life

Heritage Hotel in Southbury, Connecticut: An Oasis in the Woods

July 12, 2018 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Southbury CT Hotel Review

When the Heritage Hotel in Southbury, Connecticut offered me the opportunity to come stay with them a few weeks ago, of course I said yes. I planned my trip for a Friday night and I invited a few of my friends along to meet me for dinner at the hotel. When my friends heard about all of the hotel’s amenities which include an outdoor pool, indoor pool, spa, golf course, tennis courts, and a newly-planted vineyard (yes, for real), they decided to book rooms as well so we could spend more time together and really experience the hotel. It ended up being the perfect mini-vacation: a friday night spent catching up with friends over dinner and drinks in the hotel’s Tavern and a hot Saturday spent chatting and relaxing by the pool. [Read more…] about Heritage Hotel in Southbury, Connecticut: An Oasis in the Woods

Filed Under: Connecticut

Secrets Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica

February 8, 2018 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Imagine a morning where you wake up refreshed after sleeping 8 solid hours. Instead of having to get ready for work, you put on a bathing suit, grab a coffee, and immediately head down to the beach to jump into the Pacific Ocean. Then you recline into a lounge chair where you drink your delicious Costa Rican coffee. [Read more…] about Secrets Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica

Filed Under: Caribbean, Travel Tagged With: costa rica

An Afternoon at Joseph Preli Farm and Vineyard

November 2, 2017 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

When I think of a Connecticut winery experience, I think about sitting in an Adirondack chair at Saltwater Farm and looking out on the vineyard and the water beyond, or sitting on the deck at Sharpe Hill and smelling the wood burning stove of their award-winning restaurant. [Read more…] about An Afternoon at Joseph Preli Farm and Vineyard

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: ct wine trail, Glastonbury, Greater Hartford, Hartford County, pet-friendly, romantic

Day Trip: A Haunted Park and a Backyard Farm and Winery

October 23, 2017 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Can you think of a better afternoon outing in October or November than a hike at a haunted state park followed by a trip to a backyard winery?

First up: Gay City State Park. To get there, you must to drive through quaint country roads in Hebron, Bolton and Glastonbury. Neither Mike nor I have spent much time in this part of the state and we were surprised by how “country” this area is with winding roads, open fields, and lots of farms. [Read more…] about Day Trip: A Haunted Park and a Backyard Farm and Winery

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: ct wine trail, fall, hiking, kid-friendly, pet-friendly

My Total Slug Life Weekend at Kripalu in the Berkshires

October 18, 2017 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Kripalu

At the beginning of each year, I skip setting resolutions and make a list of things I’d like to experience. One of the biggies for 2017 was to spend a relaxing weekend of yoga at the Kirpalu Center in Stockbirdge, Ma. [Read more…] about My Total Slug Life Weekend at Kripalu in the Berkshires

Filed Under: Massachusetts

Connecticut’s Dog Friendly Beaches

October 12, 2017 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Connecticut dog friendly beaches

Best dog beaches in connecticut

I wish I could bring my dog everywhere, so I’m on the hunt for Connecticut dog friendly beaches. All summer long I obsessed with bringing my dog Dottie to a dog friendly beach in Connecticut. I kept seeing people in other parts of the country frolicking with the dogs in the waves on Instagram and I was super jealous.

[Read more…] about Connecticut’s Dog Friendly Beaches

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: Dottie the Dog, pet-friendly

Paris Itinerary: A 5 Day Paris Itinerary for People Who Really Hate to Wait in Line

May 26, 2017 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Paris itinerary

Paris is always a good idea. I took a 5-day trip to Paris in March and, despite the cooler, rainier weather,  it was just a delightful as my previous trip. Below I’ve put together some tips for people who want to travel to Paris from Connecticut, tips for traveling and enjoying Paris in general, and finally 5 days worth of ideas to fill up your time in Paris. [Read more…] about Paris Itinerary: A 5 Day Paris Itinerary for People Who Really Hate to Wait in Line

Filed Under: Europe, France Tagged With: paris, romantic

The Lobster Pound in Guilford

May 10, 2017 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Conneticut Lobster Roll Trail

The Lobster Pound in Guilford in situated in a unique spot. It’s on a small dock over the water that overlooks marshes and jusssst a little further out is the Long Island Sound. The day we visited, they were setting up for a shower. How New England-y to have your shower on the water at a lobster shack? The rolls were lemony and buttery. Win and win.

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The Lobster Pound in Guilford
505 Old Whitfield St
Guilford, CT 06437

PS: See my toasty, buttery guide to the entire Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail.

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: CT Shoreline, Eastern Connecticut, good for groups, Guilford, Middlesex County, road food, summer

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Connecticut Day Trips is a blog about travel and life in Connecticut, written and photographed by a native who moved away, moved back, and learned to love it: About/Contact

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Saturday Farmers Market in Washington Depot CT

Washington, Connecticut: The Town That Inspired Gilmore Girls [Itinerary]

Some days, you just gotta get in your car and drive to a new town and see the sights. Washington, Connecticut is a really good town to drive to. It’s got a rustic-chic vibe with its mix of locals and weekenders from New York City. There are rolling hills, sprawling farms, and very nice restaurants […]

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