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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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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

Fall Hike Through Penwood State Park — with Dogs!

September 20, 2016 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

When I thought about adopting a dog, I always put “going on hikes together” in the pro column of my pro-con list. I hike most weekend mornings and bringing Dottie with me has elevated the experience. Dogs just love being out in nature and it’s fun to watch her sniff and wag her tail along the trail.

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Penwood State Park in Bloomfield has to be one of the best places to take your dog hiking because practically everyone on the trails the day Dottie and I went (with our friend Moriah and her dog Fritz) had a furry friend with them. Below is an itinerary.

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Itinerary: Fall Hike at Penwood State Park with Dogs

This is a beautiful hour-plus long stroll around Penwood State Park and you could extend it by bringing a picnic (breakfast, brunch, lunch) there’s a  picnic area about halfway through the hike.

Penwood State Park
560 Simsbury Rd
Bloomfield, CT 06002

There’s plenty of parking and the hike is a loop do you can head off in either direction from the parking lot. I always start to the left.

Heublein Tower Trail
Talcot Mountain State Park
Summit Ridge Dr.
Simsbury, CT 06070

If you want to extend your time outdoors (and who doesn’t in beautiful fall weather?) the Heublein Tower Trail is right across the street.

Wade’s Vegetables
498 Simsbury Rd
Bloomfield, CT 06002

A good place to stop for local grassfed beef, veggies, pumpkins, mums and cider.

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: a good walk, Bloomfield, Farmington Valley, going solo, good for groups, Hartford County, hiking, kid-friendly, outdoorsy, pet-friendly

A Day Trip to Chester, Connecticut aka Where to Go When You Come Down with a Case of the Connecticuts

August 3, 2016 by Elizabeth Larkin 2 Comments

A day trip to Chester, CT

Every single damn day when I log onto Facebook, I see a string of comments about how people are fed up with Connecticut’s high taxes.  [Read more…] about A Day Trip to Chester, Connecticut aka Where to Go When You Come Down with a Case of the Connecticuts

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: a good walk, Chester, CT Shoreline, Eastern Connecticut, girls day out, good for groups, Middlesex County, romantic

Sunny Days at Buttonwood Farms in Griswold

July 27, 2016 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

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Walking among the sunflowers at Buttonwood Farm’s annual charity event Sunflowers for Wishes was something that I have wanted to do for a few years now. But as with every summer, things get busy. The last few years I’ve been out of town, or made other plans, or it rained and I didn’t feel like trudging out to Griswold. I’m so glad I made it this year and dragged my friends Suzi and Moriah with me. It was scorching hot and the lines for hayrides and ice cream were long, so we skipped those and just walked around on the footpaths in among the sunflowers and along the rode taking it all in. Buttonwood plants 14 acres of sunflowers to admire (in addition to serving ice cream and selling Christmas Trees).

The best views we found were not on the designated sunflower walking path, but diagonally across the street were we stood on top of an old stone wall and took in the views of acres upon acres of sunflowers.

If You Go to Sunflowers for Wishes at Buttonwood Farm

  • As with any event like this, visit on a weekday is advisable. Saturday was packed and it was hard to navigate through the parking lot.
  • Speaking of parking, I highly recommend you do not park at the ice cream stand and park across the street in a lot of Route 201. It’s actually close to the sunflowers and way less congested.

Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream
473 Shetucket Turnpike
Griswold, CT 06351

Nearby:

Big Dawgs
1111 Voluntown Rd
Griswold, CT 06351

Holmberg Orchards
12 Orchard Ln
Gales Ferry, CT 06335

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: a good walk, Eastern Connecticut, good for groups, Griswold, ice cream, kid-friendly, New London County, pick your own

Lobster Shack in Branford

July 20, 2016 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Lobster Shack in Branford

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If it seems I’ve gone a little lobster roll crazy this summer, don’t worry: I have more stuff in the works coming later this summer. But for now, who doesn’t want to eat, talk about and look at pictures of lobster rolls?

Branford’s Lobster Shack is right across an inlet from Stony Creek Brewery so you can enjoy some beers on the deck and then head over to get a roll after the lunch rush and before the dinner rush when the line dies down.

Branford Lobster Shack
7 Indian Neck Ave
Branford, CT 06405

Stony Creek Brewery
5 Indian Neck Ave
Branford, CT 06405

Want to read more about lobster rolls? Check out my complete guide to the Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail.

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: chilling the eff out, ct lobster trail, CT Shoreline, good for groups, New Haven County, outdoorsy, road food

Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail: A Buttery, Toasty Guide to the Best Lobster Rolls in Connecticut

May 25, 2016 by Elizabeth Larkin 3 Comments

Best Lobster Rolls in Connecticut

Come away with me on a buttery, toasty guide to the most delicious lobster rolls in Connecticut via the Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail…

Best Lobster Rolls in Connecticut

Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail

Butter vs. mayonnaise? Always butter with a hint of lemon. Hot dog bun vs. hamburger bun? I don’t care as long as I’m eating my lobster roll in a shack or hut or on a landing or in the rough. I’m happy to let other people debate the ideal topping or carb-vehicle for their lobster roll.

For me, the best part of the lobster roll is the hunt for the best lobster roll. The lobster roll trail in Connecticut will take for your tony Fairfield County towns to the docks in New London and Groton. It will make you feel like you’re actually experiencing summer in Connecticut rather than just flipping through images on Instagram. And I know summer days are fleeting, so I’ve done the research and put together some suggestions for you to hunt the perfect lobster roll. I divided up the trail into three sections with lots of recommendations on where to eat and what to do nearby. (And if I’m missing your favorite, let me know in the comments!)

You can choose to sample a roll at each outpost in one day (lucky you) or divide this up over a few weekends (or a lifetime).

Before You Hit the Trail:

  • Most of these restaurants are basically shacks on a dock unless noted. Expect no frills.
  • That said, lobster is expensive, so expect to pay upwards of $16-18 for each lobster roll, and that does not include sides. If this seems expensive to you, I recently paid $45 for a lobster roll on Long Island.
  • Please call ahead or check the restaurant’s website before you go in the off-season.
  • Just to be on the safe side, bring cash!

The Lobster Pound in Guilford

The Lobster Pound in Guilford 2

Ford's Lobster in Noank

New London-Groton Area of the CT Lobster Roll Trail

Lobster roll snobs, of which there are several, will say the New London-Groton arc of the Connecticut Lobster Trail is the most authentic and therefore the only real place to get lobster rolls. It’s certainly the most New England-y. Start your journey in Mystic or Groton and work your way up or down.

If you are staying in Mystic, at the casinos, traveling from Rhode Island or Massachusetts, or points “north” on 195, these are the most convenient places to for you to visit.

Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock
80 Hamilton St
New London, CT 06320

On the water, BYOB. Also known for their clam fritters.

Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough
117 Pearl St
Noank, CT 06340

On the water, BYOB.

Ford’s Lobsters
15 Riverview Ave
Noank, CT 06340

On the water, BYOB, expanded menu.

Harbour House Restaurant & Bar
3 Williams Ave
Mystic, CT 06355

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Things to Explore Nearby:

  • Chill out at Harkness Memorial State Park – one of the most picturesque beaches in Connecticut. I visited a few summers ago.
  • Get a drink at the Black Sheep in Niantic where they are known for their craft beers.
  • Bluff Point State Park – more for beach walking than beach lying or sitting, Bluff Point is undeveloped and raw and beautiful. Highly recommended.
  • The Oasis Pub in New London is a good jumping off point for the downtown New London area. Set your GPS to 16 Bank St, New London, CT 06320.
  • Explore Mystic Village, obviously. But don’t go to Mystic Pizza because the pizza kind of sucks and the whole point are the lobster rolls, right? Point your GPS to the Seaport and then just walk around and explore:  75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, CT 06355

Lobster Landing in Clinton 2

Lobster Landing in Clinton, Connecticut

Westbrook-Clinton Area of the CT Lobster Roll Trail

Here’s where things get a little crazy. There are a lot of options in this ‘hood, so I’ve starred the ones that repeatedly rise to the top of the best-lobster-rolls-in-Connecticut debate. The others are worthy options, but if you are just looking for the 2-minute version of “the best” go with the starred options.

The Westbrook-Clinton arc of the Connecticut Lobster Roll Trail straddles New Haven and Middlesex Counties. This is the area traditionally known as the  beginning of the “Shoreline” and is most convenient if you’re visiting a public beach like Hammonasset or traveling from the Hartford area.

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

On the water, BYOB, you can buy a fresh lobster to take home as well.

The Lobster Shack
7 Indian Neck Ave
Branford, CT 06405

On the water, BYOB.

Lenny & Joe’s Fishtail
1301 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Lobster Landing*
152 Commerce St
Clinton, CT

On the water,  BYOB, pet-friendly, closed on Tuesdays, outdoor seating and tented area.

Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar
346 E Main St
Clinton, CT 06413

Indoor restaurant.

Rocky’s Aqua
34 Riverside Dr
Clinton, CT

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Bill’s Seafood Restaurant*
548 Boston Post Rd
Westbrook, CT 06498

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Lenny & Joe’s Fishtail
86 Boston Post Road
Westbrook, CT 06498

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Johnny Ad’s
910 Boston Post Rd
Old Saybrook, CT

Indoor restaurant white outdoor seating.

Things to Explore Nearby:

  • The Guilford Town Green is worth the drive itself. Set your GPS to: 11 Park St, Guilford, CT 06437 and take a stroll.
  • Explore Grass Island in Guilford.
  • Lenny and Joe’s is literally (I mean literally) down the road from Hammonasset State Park, Beach, and Natural Preserve area.
  • Get a drink at the Madison Beach Hotel.
  • Take a walk at the Rockland Preserve.
  • Stroll the Madison Town Green starting at Boston Post Road at Copse Street.
  • Tour Salt Meadow.
  • Stroll Clinton’s quainty-quaint Main Street. Set your GPS to: 103 E. Main Street, Clinton, CT and park in front of “Old Brick”
  • Stop on the CT Wine Trail at Chamard Vineyards.
  • Skip the outlets and shop the Clinton Antiques Center at 73 E Main Street, Clinton, CT.
  • Tour Bushnell Farm in Old Saybrook.
  • If you choose to just do a day trip to Old Saybrook, a stop in Essex is always recommended.

Lobster Shack in Branford

Lobster Shack in Branford 2

Fairfield to New Haven Area of the CT Lobster Roll Trail

This is the “southern arc” or the Lobster Roll Trail, so if you’re coming from New York City or points south (really, west), this will be the most convenient route for you. It’s more driving, but the scenery is beautiful, and if you can avoid traffic on 95 (or really, avoid 95 altogether) it can be pleasant. If you don’t have a car, you can take Metro North.

Boothbay Lobster Company
Harbor Point
14 Harbor Point Rd
Stamford, CT 06902

Food truck.

The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood
89 Rowayton Ave
Norwalk, CT 06853

Indoor restaurant on the water with water views.

Lobster Post
222 Post Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824

Indoor fast food restaurant.

Knapp’s Landing Restaurant
520 Sniffens Ln
Stratford, CT 06615-7559

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Danny’s Drive-in
940 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06614

Outdoor drive-in restaurant.

Off the Hook Bar & Grill
170 Ferry Blvd
Stratford, CT 06615

Indoor restaurant.

The Lobster Hut
826 Bridgeport Ave
Milford, CT 06460

Food truck.

Stowe’s Seafoood
347 Beach St
West Haven, CT 06516

Outdoor seating.

Lenny & Joe’s Fishtail
501 Long Wharf D
New Haven, CT 06511

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Westbrook Lobster Restaurant and Bar
300 Church Street
Wallingford, CT 06492

Indoor restaurant with outdoor seating.

Things to Explore Nearby:

  • Stop by for a brewery tour at Two Roads in Straford. 
  • Shop SoNo aka South Norwalk
  • Fairfield’s beautiful and colorful Penfield Beach or Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park.
  • There is so much to do in the New Haven area, but let’s focus on summer-y thing: Silver Sands State Park in Milford.

Off the Connecticut Shoreline

It’s not the same experience as eating on the water (or in a town that’s on the water) but this is Connecticut, so you can get a good lobster roll pretty much anywhere in the state. Someone on the Facebook page even suggested Stop-N-Shop.

West Shore Seafood
449 Bantam Lake Rd
Morris, CT 06763

BYOB.

Hank’s Dairy Bar
1006 Norwich Rd
Plainfield, CT 06374

A’vert Brasserie
35 LaSalle Road
West Hartford, CT 06107

Deary Bros Mike’s Stand
12 Intervale St
Putnam, CT

If I’m missing your favorite, please let me know in the comments!

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: Branford, byob, chilling the eff out, Clinton, ct lobster roll trail, CT Shoreline, Eastern Connecticut, Fairfield County, good for groups, Middlesex County, Mystic Area, New Haven County, New London County, on the water, road food, Windham County

My First Airbnb Experience in New York City

May 24, 2016 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Airbnb in New York City

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When I thought about paying for a hotel room in New York City I kind of threw up in my mouth a little. [Read more…] about My First Airbnb Experience in New York City

Filed Under: New York, New York City Tagged With: good for groups, romantic

Union Pond Hike in Manchester

April 1, 2016 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Union Pond Hike in Manchester

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I feel like every time I do a new hike and write about it here, I’m writing copy for an ad agency. “If you like xxx, then you’ll absolutely love this hike” Maybe it’s the spring (lack of) Mad Men influence? It’s also kind of why I started this blog: to evangelize the stuff I like to do in Connecticut. Anyway, this wasn’t our favorite hike (“our” being my best hiking friend Ellen and myself). It’s kind of… weird. Like, at one point we walked 5 feet off the hiking path and had a clear shot of VIP Manchester.

So, if you love weird, then this is the hike for you!

First of all, it was hard to find. Even though we had the same address, Ellen ended up in one parking lot, and I ended up in another, and they were a 2-minute drive apart.

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Itinerary: Union Pond Hike in Manchester

Directions + Map

Take I-384 to I-84 to eastbound exit 63, straight off ramp continue south on Oakland St. for 3/4 mile, take right onto North School St., parking is available on left in Robertson Park or across the street in Union Pond Park. This trail is not wheelchair accessible.

Places to Eat + Drink

In Manchester, I like to stay away from the Buckland Hills area because of the huge amounts of traffic. Here are some non-chain restaurants to hit up after your hike

Mulberry Street
981 Main St
Manchester, CT 06040
Phone:(860) 645-8646

Corey’s Catsup & Mustard
623 Main St
Manchester, CT 06040

Corey’s sports Mike’s favorite burgers in all of Connecticut. Seating and service can be a little slow, one time we got our meals on the house because they took so long, but the burgers are worth it. They also have a nice beer selection.

Bui Vietnamese Cuisine
964 Main St
Manchester, CT 06040

Three Amigos Mexican Taqueria
298 Middle Turnpike W
Manchester, CT 06040
Phone:(860) 645-1111

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: going solo, good for groups, Greater Hartford, Hartford County, Manchester, outdoorsy, UConn Area

A Weekend Away in Litchfield, Connecticut

November 12, 2015 by Elizabeth Larkin 1 Comment

Weekend in Litchfield Connecticut

When I thought about what I wanted to do for my birthday this year, I couldn’t stop thinking about a weekend away in Litchfield. [Read more…] about A Weekend Away in Litchfield, Connecticut

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: airbnb, good for groups, Litchfield, Litchfield County, Litchfield Hills, weekend getaway

A Fall Visit to Cape Cod

November 7, 2015 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Fall weekend on Cape Cod

We spent a fall visit to Cape Cod in Chatham, MA for a weekend getaway. Face full of sand, chilling in the warm autumn sun, we took Dottie to the beach at Cockle Cove with our friends Nancy, Dan and their two little moppets Aly and Lena. Dottie wasn’t about to go into the water, but she loved sticking her face in the sand and staring down the seagulls. We’ll be back next summer, seagulls! You’ve been warned. [Read more…] about A Fall Visit to Cape Cod

Filed Under: Chatham, Massachusetts, Travel Tagged With: good for groups, romantic, weekend getaway

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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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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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