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Connecticut Day Trips

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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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North Stonington

Day Trip to Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington

November 25, 2011 by Elizabeth Larkin 8 Comments

Untitled

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

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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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