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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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foliage

A Visit to Averill Farm in Washington Depot

October 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Averill Farm Washington Connecticut

If you thought picking apples and pumpkins in an orchard and then eating apple cider doughnuts and drinking apple cider were great, how about throwing some pizza in there too. [Read more…] about A Visit to Averill Farm in Washington Depot

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: apple cider doughnuts, apple orchards, day trip, foliage, girls day out, good for groups, kid-friendly, Litchfield, Litchfield County, Litchfield Hills, lunch, outdoorsy, pizza, pumpkins

An Autumn Walk in Lapsley Orchards in Pomfret

October 25, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 1 Comment

Lapsley Orchards in Pomfret

There’s something about driving around the back roads of Pomfret (really, they are all back roads) that makes you think, “This. This is Connecticut.” Of course I also feel that way strolling around Stonington, Essex, or Litchfield, or eating a lobster roll at Abbott’s, or visiting the Mark Twain House in Hartford.  [Read more…] about An Autumn Walk in Lapsley Orchards in Pomfret

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: a good walk, apple orchards, foliage, kid-friendly, Pomfret, pumpkins, Windham County

Hearting the Foliage

October 24, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Connecticut Fall Foliage Collage 1

Connecticut Fall Foliage Collage 1

Connecticut Fall Foliage College 2

These were taken under some trees in Pomfret. I thought about titling this post “This is why we suffer the long, cold winter.”

More places for good fall foliage in Connecticut.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: foliage

A Late Morning at Dondero Orchards in Glastonbury

October 23, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 3 Comments

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Fall goes by too fast. Summer can linger, and winter regularly overstays it’s welcome, but autumn goes by too quickly and I’m afraid we hasten it by thinking ahead to the end-of-the-year holidays. There are serious negotiations underway around whether or not my mom’s going to allow Mike to deep-fry our Thanksgiving turkey, and I’ve started thinking about what I’ll get my nephew for Christmas. Plans have been made for New Years Eve already. So it made me incredibly happy to spend an entire weekend dedicated to nothing but fall and fall-appropriate activities. Apple orchards were visited. Pumpkins were picked. Foliage was admired, judged, and photographed. [Read more…] about A Late Morning at Dondero Orchards in Glastonbury

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: apple cider doughnuts, apple orchards, foliage, Glastonbury, good for groups, Hartford County, kid-friendly

Good Places to Eat Near Sharpe Hill Vineyard

October 15, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 7 Comments

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I don’t normally post pictures of myself on this blog, but there are so many things I love about this one. First off, Mike is double plaiding it, meaning, the man is wearing plaid on plaid. When I questioned him about his use of mixed patterns, he said, “that’s what I felt like doing.” I on the other hand, am so invested in autumn, and spend so much time thinking about my outfits, that I have matched my nail polish color to the foliage.  My second favorite thing about this picture is that there’s a port-a-potty about 5 feet to our left and 1.2 inches outside the frame of the shot. [Read more…] about Good Places to Eat Near Sharpe Hill Vineyard

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: ct wine trail, foliage, good places, Pomfret, Quiet Corner, romantic, Windham County

An Autumn Walk in Pomfret (from the Ground)

October 14, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

IMG_7598

Yeah, I went there. I took pictures of peoples’ feet to illustrate the foliage. I’m afraid I’m turning into the female version of this guy. [Read more…] about An Autumn Walk in Pomfret (from the Ground)

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: foliage, Pomfret

Afternoon Hike to the Heublein Tower in Bloomfield

September 25, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 3 Comments

Afternoon Hike to the Hueblein Tower in Simsbury, Connecticut

Mike and I decided to head to the tower in mid-September. We were both in the mood for a day trip but had to many errands to run, cleaning to do, and Saabs to fix to go much further than 20 minutes away.  A hike to the Hueblien Tower seemed like the perfect compromise. [Read more…] about Afternoon Hike to the Heublein Tower in Bloomfield

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: a good walk, Bloomfield, Farmington Valley, foliage, good for groups, Hartford County, pet-friendly

Signs of Fall

September 23, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

IMG_7393

Last Saturday was spent entirely indoors, and despite the gorgeous weather, I didn’t mind at all. I hadn’t had a day to myself, at home, in so long I really relished in the simple acts of cleaning, cooking, and a little autumn-inspired decorating.  I attempted my first roast chicken, and I think it turned out pretty well–despite the fact that the giblet bag burst open in my hand as I was removing it from the bird. I screamed, out loud, just to myself. I used this recipe from the New York Times, and made mashed cauliflower, and brussels sprouts as sides.  A perfect fall menu that was delicious as leftovers, too. [Read more…] about Signs of Fall

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: foliage, signs of fall

Day Trip to Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington

November 25, 2011 by Elizabeth Larkin 8 Comments

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A visit to the Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington, CT  (map)

As I described a few weeks back, my day tip to Jonathan Edwards Winery was not done under the ideal fall day tripping conditions. I had envisioned a romantic walk around the quaint borough of Stonington, lunch at a local seafood joint, and then settling in at Jonathan Edwards with a bottle of wine for the afternoon. Things did not quite go as planned, as we opted to buy a bottle and dash back to Hartford before the storm made Route 2 impassable. But, I did spy some other, braver souls out wine tasting and having an absolutely fabulous time. Jonathan Edwards was treating these wine tasters to the biggest pours I have ever seen at a tasting, and I can’t wait to go back (in the spring, perhaps?) to savor some tastings of my own. One note: If you go in the colder months, there doesn’t appear to be too much seating.  If you want to stay and linger, go May-October.

Day trip Itinerary:  Wine Tasting at Jonathan Edwards Vineyard in Stonington


Each day trip itinerary includes the main event, plus suggestions — with names, addresses and maps — of places to eat, shop, or “notable neighbors” to check out while you’re in the area. There is baked-in flexibility to mix and match, or follow the itinerary to the letter. If you have suggestions, lemme know!

Jonathan Edwards Winery
74 Chester Main Road
North Stonington, CT
(860) 535-0202

DINING OPTIONS

Yellow House Coffee and Tea Room (map)
149 Water Street
Stonington, CT 06378-1300
(860) 535-4986

Recommended: I had no qualms about eating a grilled cheese sandwich at 10:30a.m. and declaring it “brunch.” It was was served panini-style, and it was good.

Dogwatch Cafe (Map)
194 Water Street
Stonington, CT 06378
(860) 415-4510 ‎

NOTABLE NEIGHBORS

The Saltwater Farm Vineyard  (map) and the Old Lighthouse Museum (map), both in Stonington.

Interested visiting a Connecticut winery? Read more about Connecticut Wine.

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks, Travel Tagged With: ct wine trail, day trip, foliage, girls day out, good for groups, Mystic Area, New London County, North Stonington, romantic

Day Trip to Mansfield Hollow State Park

November 23, 2011 by Elizabeth Larkin 3 Comments

After an unseasonably angry storm, it’s been unseasonably pleasant this fall. I decided to get one more Saturday hike in before the cold and wet finally settle for winter. I chose Mansfield Hollow because it has a history: it was created by the Army Corps of Engineers who damned the Natchung River, creating the Mansfield Hollow Lake and the park. You could head this way and spend a full day in the area with great breakfast options, coffee shops (detailed below in the itinerary), and as I described last week, a stroll around Mansfield Hollow’s Historic District which directly neighbors the park. Or, you could just hike and get a latte, which is what we opted to do with our time in the Hollow.

 

DAY TRIP ITINERARY: Hiking in Mansfield Hollow State Park
Each day trip itinerary includes the main event, plus suggestions — with names, addresses and maps — of places to eat, shop, or “notable neighbors” to check out while you’re in the area. There is baked-in flexibility to mix and match, or follow the itinerary to the letter. If you have suggestions, lemme know!

Mansfield Hollow State Park (map)
Mansfield Center, CT

DINING

Breakfast or coffee…

Bagel One Wholesale (map)
5 North Windham Road
North Windham, CT 06256
(860) 456-0689

Recommended: If you’re hiking and want something hearty, treat yourself to the bacon, egg and cheese (on a bagel, of course), if you plan on strolling, try one of their egg dishes.

Cafemantic (map)
948 Main Street
Willimantic, CT
(860) 423-4243

Recommended: The mocha latte was a delicious post-hike treat.

Lunch or dinner if you’re heading West…

Pancho Loco (map)
218 Talcottville Road
Vernon Rockville, CT
(860) 871-1819

Recommended: The beef tacos are some of the best I’ve ever had.

Lunch or dinner if you’re heading East, or staying in the area…

Chuck’s Steak House/Margaritas (map)
1498 Stafford Road
Storrs, CT 06268
(860) 429-1900

Recommended: Arrive pre-6:00pm or post-8:00pm if you don’t like to wait.

NOTABLE NEIGHBORS

Take a stroll around Mansfield Hollow’s Historic District, or drop in on UConn.

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: day trip, foliage, good for groups, kid-friendly, Mansfield, pet-friendly, Tolland County, UConn Area, Windham County

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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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