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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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signs of spring

Home in Hartford | Spring Saturday in the West End

May 5, 2013 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

2013 05 04_Spring Walk in the West End_0098.CR2
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Filed Under: Life Tagged With: a good walk, Greater Hartford, Hartford, Hartford County, Hartford West End, signs of spring

Spring in the Hill-Stead’s Sunken Garden

April 22, 2013 by Elizabeth Larkin 5 Comments

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Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: Farmington, Farmington Valley, Greater Hartford, Hartford County, kid-friendly, signs of spring

Checking in with Spring

April 15, 2013 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

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Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: Pomfret, Quiet Corner, signs of spring

The Crocuses Are Coming

March 30, 2013 by Elizabeth Larkin Leave a Comment

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Filed Under: Life Tagged With: signs of spring

Spring Day Trip to Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret

April 26, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 5 Comments

2012-04 Sharpe Hill Vineyard - 01

2012-04 Sharpe Hill Vineyard - 06

What a difference six months make. The last time I visited Sharpe Hill it was October, and the vineyard had a slightly overcast, romantic vibe that just felt “right” in the Fall. This past weekend it was all about spring flowers, blue skies and the vivid color combo those two elements create. If you’re waiting until Summer to get your CT Wine Trail passport stamped, I urge you to start now!  A stop at Sharpe Hill is the perfect compliment to a Mother’s Day brunch, or a hike at Natchaug State Forest. More pictures and a day trip itinerary below.  [Read more…] about Spring Day Trip to Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret

Filed Under: Connecticut, Travel Tagged With: ct wine trail, day trip, good for groups, Pomfret, Quiet Corner, romantic, signs of spring, Windham County

Signs of Spring in Connecticut

March 26, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 1 Comment

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A few un-mistakable signs of the coming season which I captured in Pomfret. [Read more…] about Signs of Spring in Connecticut

Filed Under: Connecticut Tagged With: signs of spring

Postcard from Olive Oyl’s In Essex, Connecticut

March 20, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 4 Comments


Olive Oyl’s Carry Out Cuisine, 77 Main St.Essex, Connecticut (map)

I can think of no better excuse to discuss ice cream than the first day of spring. Check out the lick-your-lips, super-photogenic version from Olive Oyl’s in Essex.

PS: See more signs of spring.

Filed Under: Connecticut, Food + Drinks Tagged With: Essex, good for groups, kid-friendly, Middlesex County, Preppy Connecticut, signs of spring

Signs of Spring

March 19, 2012 by Elizabeth Larkin 1 Comment

Spring flowers

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: signs of spring

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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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