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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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Good Places to Eat in Stonington, CT

June 1, 2015 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Stonington Borough, Connecticut - 35

 

Is there a more beautiful place to explore in the summer than Stonington, Connecticut? If you go to Stonington this summer (which you definitely should do, if you consider yourself a proper Connecticut person), you can treat yourself to a full morning, afternoon or even a full day of just walking around a lovely little historic town. Think Mystic or Essex, but with more diversified shopping and eating.

Stonington Borough, Connecticut - 06

Dog Watch Cafe in Stonignton, CT

Nor'Easter Diner in Stonington Borough

Stonington Borough, Connecticut - 12

 

And you should eat at one of these places:

Dog Watch Cafe
194 Water Street
Dodson Boatyard
Stonington, CT 06378

Milagro
142 Water Street
Stonington, CT 06378

Noah’s Restaurant
113 Water Street
Stonington, CT 06378

Water Street Cafe
143 Water Street
Stonington, CT 06378

Zack’s Bar & Grille
201 N Main Street
Stonington, CT 06378

Filed Under: Food + Drinks, Travel Tagged With: CT Shoreline, Eastern Connecticut, good places, Stonington

5 Good Places for Comfort Food in New Haven

March 7, 2013 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

8356050210_6B4242B979_B7

This is a continuation of a day trip I took to New Haven. You can read earlier installments about walking around Yale, and some of the architecture at Yale.

And now, ladies and gentleman, for my most daring act yet, I’m going to talk about eating in New Haven while mentioning ONLY ONE pizza place. I’ve already given you five good places for New Haven pizza and I have no doubt that over the lifetime of this blog, I’ll write about it again, but New Haven has a lot more going for it, culinary-wise, than simply pizza.  In fact, this trip started out solely to check out Louis’ Lunch. [Read more…] about 5 Good Places for Comfort Food in New Haven

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks, Travel, Yale Area Tagged With: breakfast, brunch, coffee, dinner, good for groups, good places, lunch, New Haven, New Haven County, pizza

Good Places to Eat Near Sharpe Hill Vineyard

October 15, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 7 Comments

IMG_7634

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

5 Romantic Things to Do in Connecticut this Fall

September 27, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 3 Comments

5 Romantic Things to Do in Connecticut this Fall

Fall is hands-down my favorite time of the year. When I say this to friends, they respond “Yeah, because of your birthday.” My birthday is October 22, and I do take it seriously because I firmly believe any reason to celebrate should be embraced.  But it’s not my birthday that makes me cherish this season so much.  I could go on about the crisp air, the smell of leaves burning, the comfortable and chic fashion combo of jeans-sweater-boots, the apple cider donuts, Octoberfest ales, and the fact that everyone looks better with the glow of red-and-orange fall foliage in the background.

Instead I will summarize fall’s many charms this way: If it rains on a summer Saturday, it’s a real bummer, if it rains on a Saturday in the fall, it’s romantic. So take advantage.

Here are five ways to celebrate the most romantic time of the year. [Read more…] about 5 Romantic Things to Do in Connecticut this Fall

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: ct wine trail, good places, lists, Preppy Connecticut, romantic, shopping

Places to Go in Montauk, New York

August 8, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 2 Comments

Montauk Hot Dogs

Montauk, NY - 01

Some people take vacations to Montauk, New York. For my family it’s more like a pilgrimage. The beach, the food, and the smell are intoxicating and I eagerly anticipate my next trip as soon as I leave. I haven’t been there since last August, and I am itching to hit the road, the three ferries, and even the infamous Montauk Highway traffic to get back this month. [Read more…] about Places to Go in Montauk, New York

Filed Under: Montauk, New York, Travel Tagged With: beaches, good places

Farmers Markets Near Norfolk, CT

August 4, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Sunflowers From the Market

Sunflowers From the Market

More farmers market goodness today. At this point, all of the  markets should be open – yay! Last time was an update on Danbury, this time we’re moving north to the Litchfield Hills. These are five farmers markets near Norfolk, Connecticut.

Litchfield Hills Farmers Market
Litchfield Community Center
Woodruff Lane
Litchfield, CT 06759
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

New Hartford Farmers Market
Rt. 44 and Church Street
New Hartford, CT 06057
Fridays, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Norfolk Farmers Market
Town Hall Lawn
19 Maple Avenue
Norfolk, CT 06058
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
May 19 – October 13

Torrington Farmers Market
Staples Plaza
100 South Main St.
Torrington, CT
Tuesdays 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
June 2 – October 30

Winsted Farmers Market
1 Park Place
Winsted, CT 06098
Fridays, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
July 6 – September 14

Here, you can search my (slowly, slowly, growing) list of Connecticut Farmers Markets. Am I missing any? Leave a tip in the comments.

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks, Travel Tagged With: farmers markets, good places, Litchfield County, Norfolk, shopping

Good Pizza in the Farmington Valley

June 11, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 3 Comments

Little City Pizza  in Simsbury, CT - 05

When people think “Connecticut Pizza” they’re probably not thinking “Simsbury” or “Canton,” most likely they have in mind a thin crust slice of heaven from one of the famed apizzas in New Haven.  

But good pizza can be found north of the of the 91/95 interchange, even as far north as the Farmington Valley. Olees in Farmington gets high marks from my mother, a confirmed New York pizza snob, and I love Colony Grill’s hot oil, which I first tried while living in New York and working in Stamford where their flagship restaurant is located. In fact, I have two of their pies in the freezer right now: bacon and onion, and the traditional hot oil.  [Read more…] about Good Pizza in the Farmington Valley

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks, Travel Tagged With: Avon, Farmington, Farmington Valley, good places, Hartford County, pizza, Simsbury

Five Good Places to Eat Near the Ivoryton Playhouse

May 24, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

Places to Eat Near the Ivoryton Playhouse

Ivoryton Playhouse - 03

Despite it’s small size, Ivoryton has a good number of eateries and they are quite varied. A night out at the Copper Beach or Griswold Inns may be perfect for a fancy, celebratory occasion, and drink and appetizers at the Ivoryton Tavern Cafe may just hit the spot after a long day of day tripping in the River Valley.   [Read more…] about Five Good Places to Eat Near the Ivoryton Playhouse

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks, Travel Tagged With: Essex, good places, Ivoryton, Middlesex County

Five Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem, CT

May 17, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

5 Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem, Connecticut

5 Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem, ConnecticutAn interactive map of places to eat in Bethlehem, CT

Bethlehem, Connecticut has it’s main tourist season the first three weeks in December when people from all over New England and New York visit this Litchfield County town to have their Christmas and holiday cards stamped: “Bethlehem Post Office.” You can read more about this in my post from December Christmas Day Trip to Bethlehem, CT.

But if you find yourself in or around the quaint town of Bethlehem any time of the year–like if you happen to be visiting Litchfield itself, or doing a drive-bay at Southfarms in Morris–these restaurants all have that local flavor we crave on day trips. [Read more…] about Five Good Places to Eat in Bethlehem, CT

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: Bethlehem, good places, Litchfield County, Naugatuck Valley

5 Good Places to Eat in Woodbury

April 9, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

5 good places to eat in Woodbury, CT

Interactive map of 5 Good Places to Eat in Woodbury, CT

Woodbury is the bottom anchor of Litchfield County, bordering Roxbury, Washington, and Middlebury, and it’s very close proximity to 84 makes is pretty accessible from other parts of the state.  What Woodbury is really known for is it’s antiques (you can read a great review/rundown of the area in Yankee Magazine), and I’m pretty sure the steady stream of out-of-staters coming through town have this trifecta in mind: shopping, New England quaintness, and some good eats when they head to Woodbury.

Any of the listed restaurants would be an excellent accompaniment to a day of antiquing.

[Read more…] about 5 Good Places to Eat in Woodbury

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: good places, Litchfield County, Naugatuck Valley, Woodbury

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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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