Connecticut Day Trips

Traveling the globe from my home base in beatuful Connecticut

Washington, Connecticut: The Town That Inspired Gilmore Girls [Itinerary]

By 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

Day Trip to Essex, Connecticut

by 8 Comments

 The town square in Main Street in Essex, Connecticut (map)

Boasting one of the prettiest Main Streets in the world, a water front, it’s history as one of the only towns in America to be attacked by another country (the Brits, during the war of 1812), and a world-class Inn, Essex, Connecticut has a lot going for it. It’s proximity to some of Connecticut’s most acclaimed theater companies (the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, CT, and the Goodspeed Opera in East Haddam, CT), don’t hurt Essex’s claim as a must-stop destination.

The truly great thing about this Connecticut gem, is that it’s truly a town for all seasons: it’s just as charming and visitor-friendly during the winter as it is in the summer. Sarah and I visited on a very cold-but-sunny afternoon and were struck by the combination of coziness and elegance a walk through Essex provides. I’ve suggested an itinerary below, but this is the kind of place I recommend just showing up and seeing where your stroll around town takes you. No maps necessary.


{The Episcopal Church on Main Street in Essex, CT}


{I can’t resist a red barn; this one, again was taken on Main Street in Essex.}


{A nautical door knocker fits right in with the town’s seaside history.}

{Rooftops of Essex, CT}

DAY TRIP ITINERARY: Essex, CT
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!

For sightseeing:

The Connecticut River Museum (map)
67 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-8269

The Essex Steam Train (map)
1 Railroad Avenue
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-0103

For shopping:

Goods & Curiosities At the Griswold Inn (map)
47 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-0210 ‎

The French Hen (map)
16 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426

For dining:

Black Seal Seafood Grille (map)
15 Main St # C
Essex, CT
(860) 767-0233 ‎

Griswold Inn (map)
36 Main Street
Essex, CT
(860) 767-1776

For take out food, snacks and ice cream:

Olive Oyl’s  (map)
77 Main St.
Essex, CT5