Great Things To Do in Connecticut includes off-the-beaten-track fun

Connecticut > State > Things to Do and See > 50 Great Things To Do in Connecticut

Connecticut is packed with great things to on a getaway for families, kids, or just adults, like scenic shoreline and country drives, antique shopping, world-class museums, historic sites, pretty walks, and plenty of activities and attractions for your vacation adventure. Phone ahead or check the attraction's website before visiting, especially for outdoor activities.

Follow these links for : Outdoor Adventures - Beach Areas - State & Local Parks

Historic Wethersfield

Travel into history or celebrate the great outdoors with activities in this historic town

At Historic Wethersfield, it’s the best of both worlds: historic collections to see in museums and homes, and plenty of events, walks and activities for lovers of the great outdoors. Inside, visit historic houses with 18th-century furnishings and artwork, learn about the town’s 17th-century West Indies trade participation in the maritime museum and step inside homes where George Washington really did visit. Outside, picnic by the town’s pretty cove, stroll along the 3-mile Heritage Walk, or pedal the Heritage Way Bike Trail. Hike through woodlands and meadows in one of the area’s many parks, which also feature everything from beaches and pools to bocce, tennis and basketball courts, accessible playgrounds, sledding hills and ponds perfect for fishing and ice skating.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

One Railroad Avenue Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-0103 Toll-Free: 800-377-3987

Fun experiences on land and water at this steam train and riverboat attraction

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat offers is a fun experience – on land and water! From the 1892 Essex Station, you can board vintage railroad cars pulled by steam engines and take a round-trip tour through towns, past wetlands and coves. There’s also a dinner train, serving an elegant four-course meal. Or take the train to Deep River Landing and board the 70-foot Mississippi-style riverboat, the Becky Thatcher, and cruise the picturesque Connecticut River. Or, get up close and personal with the rails via a two- or four-seat rail bike, taking you on an 8- or 9-mile scenic journey. Back at the station, buy a traditional engineer cap or train whistle at the gift shop. Please check our website for current train & riverboat schedules.

Railroad Museum of New England

242 East Main Street Thomaston, CT, 06787 Phone: 860-283-7245

Travel the rails in style on a scenic excursion from this historic railroad museum

Take a train trip to a chocolate factory, check out a bright-red caboose built in 1921, listen to the whistle from a steam locomotive as you glide by scenic woods and through a river valley: Those are just some of the fun experiences waiting for visitors to the Railroad Museum of New England, where you’ll step back in time to the heyday of the region’s rich railroading tradition. Travel on the Naugatuck Railroad in a vintage car, styled in its appropriate era. Special excursions celebrate the Easter Bunny and the winter holidays (with Santa and Mrs. Claus), and take you to a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. There are also fall foliage, chocolate and spirit-sipping trips. At the Thomaston Station, there are educational exhibits and trains and other equipment to explore.

Ladies Cruising - Stonington Borough - Stonington, CT

Stonington Borough Connecticut

Nature, history, food and the sea all celebrated in historic Stonington Borough

In Stonington Borough, you can get acquainted with nature, history, the ocean and good food, all in the same trip. Take a harbor cruise, walk the seawall at Stonington Commons, let the kids splash in the water at duBois Beach, enjoy a glass of wine at Saltwater Farm’s WWII-era hangar, now transformed into a winery. Go boating, fishing, kayaking or paddle boarding. Walk the trails of the Dodge Paddock & Beal Preserve, with panoramic views of Little Narragansett Bay. Visit the nation’s first Lighthouse Museum or a sea captain’s house. Take a self-guided walking tour of historic Stonington, shop its eclectic boutiques and galleries or sit down for a fine meal with a water view at one of many welcoming restaurants and cafes.

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat -Train & Boat Excursions through the Connecticut River Valley - with all the bells & whistles!

Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Aug 2020 Image - IT Rope Adventures at Jordan's Furniture - New Haven, CT

IT Adventure Ropes Course

40 Sargent Drive New Haven, CT, 06511 Phone: 203-812-9981

Experience the world’s largest indoor ropes in New Haven

Located inside Jordan’s Furniture in New Haven, CT, It Adventure Ropes Course offers adventurous activities for guests of all ages to explore. Explore our heart-pumping four-level ropes course + zip rails sitting at heights up to 56 feet. Your full body harness and sling line will keep you connected at all times while you explore 100+ challenges, including crisscross angle rope ladders, zig-zag swinging beams, cargo nets, bridges, and more. Soar through the air on the zip rails over the liquid fireworks water show from one end of the course to the other. Don’t forget, little kids are included, too! With a chaperone’s assistance, small children under 48” are able to build coordination and confidence on the Little It course, which is positioned close to the ground and designed specifically for them.

Stanton House Inn

76 Maple Avenue Greenwich, CT, 06830 Phone: 203-869-2110

Enjoy the many pleasures of this gorgeous inn and its beautiful, inviting home town

Privacy, beauty – and being close to great things to do: Those features make the Stanton House Inn a must for visitors to Greenwich. It’s a short train ride to New York, or car ride to the maritime pleasures of Mystic, but you’ll find plenty to do right in Greenwich, from walking the beach and trails at Greenwich Point Park or playing tennis in Binney Park to visiting Putnam Cottage of Revolutionary War fame, shopping on Greenwich Avenue, attending a concert or play or watching a polo match. Ask at the inn about the best route to view the town’s mansions. At the inn itself, with its luxurious 20 rooms and suites, there’s an outdoor pool, manicured lawn for bocce and badminton and gorgeous gardens to stroll through.

Argia Mystic Cruises

75 Steamboat Wharf Mystic, CT, 06355 Phone: 860-536-0416

Embark on a 2-hour day-sail or sunset sail

May through mid-October, choose a day or sunset sail aboard the sailing ship ARGIA! Discover islands, lighthouses, and traditional windjammer sailing, right from down-town Mystic, Connecticut. ARGIA accommodates up to 49 guests for public or private day or evening sails down the historic Mystic River to Fishers' Island Sound. Sail in smooth and protected waters aboard this Coast Guard licensed vessel.

Relax as you sail by scenic coastlines, take a turn at the helm, or help the crew hoist and trim the sails. Pack a picnic and a bottle of wine (or order snacks from us when you book) to make this excursion truly memorable.
Departures Daily (May thru mid-October) at:

9:30am
Noon
3:00pm (½ hr. earlier in October)
6:00pm (½ hr. earlier after Labor Day, 1 hr. earlier in October)

Bluefish Girls 500x250 - Black Hawk Party Boat - Niantic, CT

Black Hawk Sportfishing

Sailing from the Niantic Bay Marina Niantic, CT, 06357 Phone: 860-448-3662 Toll-Free: 800-382-2824

Party boat provides instant entertainment, from fishing to nature cruises

Looking for something fun to do out on the water as a couple, with the kids or a group? Charter a fishing trip or specialty cruise with Blackhawk Sportfishing! Experienced captains, known for their colorful, outgoing style, will guide you to where the fish are. Rent a rod and reel and let the crew help you catch everything from stripers and bluefish to fluke, porgy, cod and sea bass. You can catch and release, donate your fish to a local soup kitchen or food bank or have a crew member fillet and clean it for your dinner. Specialty cruises include seal watches, sunset cruises, fireworks cruises, eagle-watch excursions and nature cruises. There’s a galley, and kids of all ages are welcome aboard!

Explore Ice Castles in North Woodstock, NH! Click here to explore.

Explore New England TV - New Episodes Coming in 2022 on NESN! See our YouTube Channel for On-Demand Content!

Take a Ride through Time at the Railroad Museum of New England - Thomaston, CT

The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village

1650 Hartford-New London Tpke. (Rt. 85) Oakdale, CT, 06370 Phone: 860-443-4367

The list of what you can do at this theme park is as big as the dinosaurs that inhabit it

What can you do at The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village? Well, you can walk a trail in search of more than 50 life-sized dinosaurs, swing on a zip line at the two-story enclosed T-rex Tower, or slide through the giant mouth of a T-rex as you successfully find your way out of the dino-themed maze. At the Splash Pad (New England’s largest!), you can go under a dino rib cage waterfall, try to avoid dumping buckets and watch a Pteranodon rise from its perch when you step on certain sensors. At Monty’s Playground, you can climb, jump and slide. You can play 18 holes at Copper Creek Mini Golf, then grab ice cream, pizza or a burger.

Mark Twain House & Museum

351 Farmington Avenue Hartford, CT, 06105 Phone: 860-247-0998

Come see the 19th-century home where Mark Twain created Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer

Explore the Mark Twain House & Museum and reconnect with one of the nation’s most beloved authors, who wrote about Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in this very house. Daily tours take visitors through the richly decorated rooms in the Victorian home, many featuring the exotic interiors of Louis C. Tiffany & Co. Museum artifacts include period furniture, photos, paintings and books by Darwin, Hawthorne and others with margin notes written by Samuel Clemens. Visitors can see a film by Ken Burns, check out rotating exhibits, shop in the well-stocked museum store and sample local food in The Nook Farm Cafe. Go to the website for children’s activities including coloring pages that correspond to the home’s rooms, mad libs, word searches and other games.

Connecticut Wine Trail

Sip your way along this wine trail while enjoying music, classes – and stunning scenery

There are trails that involve walking – and then there are trails that involve sipping. Experience award-winning wines, exquisite scenery and New England charm when you travel the Connecticut Wine Trail. The trail includes 25 wineries from all corners of the state. Enjoy vineyard vistas while sipping reds, whites and specialty wines from rustic tasting rooms, spacious patios and pretty picnic groves. Some vineyards offer entertainment, from comedy nights to live music. Some have their own kitchens or restaurants and even have cooking classes; others have a wide array of food trucks. There are vineyards near casinos, state parks, rivers for canoeing and fishing and seaside villages. A few have pick-your-own fruit trees or animals to visit (including llamas).

Connecticut River Museum

67 Main Street, Steamboat Dock Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-8269

From cruises to hands-on exhibits, there’s a lot to do at this vibrant river museum

At the Connecticut River Museum, a cultural center for river-related activities and exhibits about the river and the river valley, you can do everything from taking a cruise down the river to checking out artwork and artifacts that document its role in the area’s economy and history. Watch a sunset from the deck of the Onrust, a replica of a 1614 Dutch sailing vessel, or see an osprey or eagle from the deck of the RiverQuest, a 64-foot eco-tour boat. Check out an operational model of the Turtle, the first submarine ever to be used in combat in 1776. Enjoy live entertainment from the Thursdays on the Dock series. Drop the kids off for hands-on Summer Fun Days.

Salisbury General Store & Pharmacy - Salisbury, CT

General Store in Salisbury Is a Browser’s Delight

Located in Northwest Connecticut, Salisbury General Store and Pharmacy at 20 Main Street in Salisbury is one of those purely delightful stores with merchandise far beyond what the name might imply. Located in the gateway to the Berkshire Mountains, the store welcomes visitors, tourists, hikers, and shoppers looking for gifts. The store stocks specialty soaps and spa products, unique gifts, toys, crafts, cards and party goods, wooden kitchenware like cutting boards, and textile arts. The store features the work of local artisans. Hiking supplies too! 860-435-9388.

Lounge in an Onyx Mountain

In the heart of the lavish Mohegan Sun is Wombi Rock, a jagged sculpture of onyx and alabaster formed into a three-story mountain with intimate seating areas tucked among it nooks and crannies, all beneath a star-studded dome of sky. Projected on the dome above is changing fiber-optic displays of the sun, moon and stars. At the top, overlooking the gaming floors, is the Vista Lounge, an oh-so-divine bar and perch to see and be seen. Great fun to sit in this crystal nest, enjoy a drink, and watch the casino turn below.

Taste of New Haven Tours - Great Things To Do

Get a Taste of New Haven

Gather with friends to soak in the tastes, sights, and sounds of New Haven. On Taste of New Haven themed food and drink tours, guides lead guests through the buzzing city and into its finest eateries, with fun stops at cultural spots along the way. Tours are food-themed (New Haven pizza, sushi) or neighborhood-based (Canal Quarter, Wooster Square), and timed to warm you up for a night at the theater. Tours run year-round for 1.5-4 hours in rain or shine, and your departure point is revealed when you register. 888-975-8664.

denison pequotsepos nature center in Mystic CT with VisitNewEngland.com

Meet the Outdoors at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center at 109 Pequotsepos Road in Mystic is a nature preserve and learning center with lots of hiking trails and a delightful nature store. Bring your family for a day of walking, birdwatching, nature photography and a picnic. On the 10 miles of hiking trails through woodlands, wetlands, and meadow, you can search for bluebirds, turtles or bullfrogs, admire a summer wildflower garden or simply enjoy a peaceful walk. Wander the Butterfly House and enjoy the tree house. See “Night in the Meadow” in the small theater. Open daily. Trail map. 860-536-1216

Artwork Down on the Farm

Weir Farm National Historic Site on Nod Hill Road in Wilton is one of two national historic sites that preserves and displays a place for the visual arts. (The other is the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, New Hampshire.) From 1882 to 2005, Weir Farm was the home and workplace of three generations of painters, starting with J. Alden Weir. Visitors today can view the Weir home and studios, take guided walks of stone walls and painting trails, and enjoy the rotating art exhibits. In April 2020, the farm was featured in the newest coin produced by the U.S. Mint in its American the Beautiful Quarters program. The grounds are open year-round; hours at the Visitor Center vary seasonally. Phone: 203-761-9945

Olde Mistick Village for Nostalgic and New Shopping

Olde Mistick Village, at 27 Coogan Blvd. in Mystic, just off Exit 90 of I-95, is a quirky but really fun place to shop, especially as the Christmas season approaches. It is an open-air shopping center set up to resemble a Colonial village, complete with duck ponds, a waterwheel and replica of a steepled New England meetinghouse, where performances and special events take place. Visitors can wander along brick pathways to more than 40 stores that sell gift items from the world over. The meeting house and Victorian gazebo host performances of musicians, dancers, and storytellers free of charge. Open daily, year-round. 860-536-4941.

Arrive, Then Drive! Or Jump!

Supercharged, at 1 Sachatello Industrial Drive in Montville is well-named. At this 110,000-square-foot indoor karting and trampoline park, electric-powered karts speed around an indoor multi-level track. Two tracks offer challenges for all ages and skill levels. All drivers be at least 58 inches tall, and be able to operate the vehicle safely. There is no minimum age requirement. At the 8,000-square-foot, multi-angled trampoline park, everyone can jump for fun or tension relief or just because it feels good. Dream up games of dodgeball, airbag play and basketball. Open daily. 860-444-7700

Visit the Giant World Through Its Animals

Plan to bring your young ones – or adults with a love of exotic animals – to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo at 1875 Noble Avenue in Bridgeport. One of the state’s top family attractions, the zoo displays 300 animals: condors, tigers, ocelots, wolves, a giant anteater and a golden lion tamarin. The zoo is open daily and the carousel is open Thursday through Sunday. Feed your brood at the Peacock Café then go on for further explorations. Special areas include a tropical rainforest, an aviary, and a New England farmyard. This is a great activity for bad-weather days. Zoo is open daily, year-round.

Arboretum Is a Portal to Nature

Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens at 151 Brookdale Road in Stamford welcomes people every day from dawn to dusk to explore 12 gardens and many trails (with your dog, if you like), and to enjoy champion trees, gardens, wildflower meadows, red maple wetlands and boardwalks, and woodland walking trails. The arboretum’s Silver Center hosts art displays and summer concerts. Come for botany classes and doggy happy hours. Events, classes and concerts. Trail map. 203- 322-6971

For Late-Night Camaraderie, Try the Owl Shop

The Owl Shop at 268 College Street in New Haven has a long pedigree. It was opened in 1934 on Wall Street as a bookstore by Greek immigrants. The proprietor was also mixing his own tobacco blends, for sale. A second store opened on College Street in 1937. Today, this history has created a convivial cigar lounge and coffee bar frequented by Yale and New Haven people for relaxation and camaraderie. You can buy light snacks and enjoy live jazz on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Happy hour, needless to say, happens nightly. Open daily, past midnight. 203-624-3250.

Snowy Owl - Group Tours at CT Audubon Society in Greenwich

Private Group Tours of Animal Life

Greenwich Audubon is offering in-person, outdoor private adventures for groups of up to 8 people at the Audubon property at 613 Riversville Road in Greenwich or at Grass Island Park on Greenwich Cove. The adventures may include bird watching or bird counting, owl prowls, guided hikes, and exploration of ponds and wetlands.

Knowledge. Experience. Teamwork. Street Smarts

Here’s an intriguing indoor activity for you and your smartest friends. Adventure Rooms at 282 Main Street Extension on Middletown offers a simple challenge: escape from a closed room in less than 60 minutes. You and your teammates will find yourselves in an unfamiliar environment, where you have to rely on common sense and each other to escape the room. You work together to gather objects, find clues, decipher codes, open locks and solve puzzles to find the key that will lead you to freedom. Are you part of the 30 percent who escape? Advance registration is required. Typical group is two to eight people and typical cost is $27 to $30. 860-358-9130.

Bird Watching at Bluff Point State Park - Groton. CT - Photo Credit CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Birds from the Bluff

Among its other virtues as a hiking and lookout site, Bluff Point State Park off Depot Road in Groton is a rich resource for bird watchers. Many shorebirds can be seen year round. Along the loop trail watch for various shore birds in the river, mudflats and salt marsh. The tangles of vines along the trail and the beach are other fruitful places to view many species. In the fall American pipits are common and in the winter the Ipswich race of the savannah sparrow is sometimes seen, as well as an occasional snowy owl. Various grebes, cormorants, gulls and ducks are often seen from the bluff.

Go Climb a Rock

During the chilly seasons or on rainy days, are you and your kids climbing the walls? Come of the place where this activity is a fun, challenging indoor sport (for all ages)! Prime Climb is an indoor rock-climbing gym at 340 Quinnipiac Street in Silversmith Park in Wallingford, next to Walco Park. For fun and physical training, rock climbing is the next big thing, and indoor clubs are springing up everywhere. Good for children, teens, and adults. Prime Climb offers specials and kid-oriented activities.

Barn Quilt Trail in Connecticut - Photo Credit Linda Pouder of Merryall Studio

Look Up! Quilting History on the Barns

You never need an extra excuse to take a ride around the lovely country roads of Connecticut, but here’s one anyway: the New Milford Barn Quilt Trail. This trail passes eight farms and consists of eight colorful quilt patterns painted on large wood blocks and hung on antique and vintage barns around New Milford. The trail is fun from explores and photographers and people who simply love the old barns. It honors the state’s agricultural history and the tradition of quilt making. The barn quilt blocks are hung on private property and may be viewed only from public roadsides.

Taste of New Haven Food and Drink Tours - Great Things To Do

Find Food Adventure with New Haven Food Tours

Most of us know that New Haven is famous for its original and authentic pizza, but there is so much more for your palate to enjoy there. Taste of New Haven Food & Drink Tours hosts culinary walking culinary tours of this delightful, historic city. Experienced tour guides lead guests on tours with names and themes like Theater District, Canal Quarter, Goatville, Wooster Square, Pizza and Pints Bike, New Haven Symphony, Latin American Tapas, Pizza Lovers, Live To Eat, Theater District, Latin American Tapas, and On 9. Tours usually last 3 to 4 hours, although the Pizza Lovers Tour and the Pizza & Pints Bike Tour are 6 to 7 hours. Gift certificate available for a unique present. You also may book a private tour! Call and check the website for 203-710-3710.

New England Air Museum - Windsor Locks, CT

Historic Aircraft on Display at Air Museum

The New England Air Museum at 36 Perimeter Road at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks is New England’s largest aviation museum and one of Connecticut’s most interesting attractions. It houses more than 80 aircraft and an extensive collection of engines, instruments, aircraft parts, uniforms and personal memorabilia. Within this collection are the Sikorsky VS-44A; a B-29 Bomber; the Silas Brooks Balloon Basket (1870); the Bunce-Curtiss Pusher (1912); the Sikorsky S-39; and a Kaman K-225 helicopter. The museum hosts lots of special events, many of them welcoming to children. Open year-round.

Northwest Park & Nature Center - Windsor, CT

Year-Round Fun in Nature and a Coffeehouse, Too

Located on Lang Road in Windsor, Northwest Park & Nature Center is a 473-acre recreational facility that has the virtue of staying open and lively throughout the year. There is a nature center, 12 miles of trails to enjoy during the winter and summer, maple sugaring, a Coffee House Concert Series that brings live music to listeners, and more. Annual events include Country Fair, pancake breakfasts, maple sugaring demonstrations, owl prowls, holiday wreath-making workshop and other forms of fun for all ages. Nice outdoor activities for parents and kids. Phone: 860-285-1886

very and dash antiques in stamford ct for gthings

Antique Shopping Is Artful & Abundant in Stamford

Stamford, just a hop and a jump from the New York border, is a beehive of antiques stores, and a place where antiques lovers could get lost and put a grave dent in the checkbook. Among the places that are named in the upper strata of Stamford antiques shops are Avery & Dash Collections on Jefferson Street; Stamford Modern on Pacific Street; Hamptons Antique Galleries on Canal Street; Hidden Galleries on John Street.

Come Visit Connecticut’s Beautiful Barns

You don’t need to be a photographer or painter to appreciate the beauty of farm barns. These icons of farming life have caught the attention of Connecticut historians, who created a Connecticut Barn Trail. Use the trail and its maps to explore this beautiful countryside at your own pace. The trail has seven routes that highlight barns at farms and farm stands, orchards, wineries, and historic sites. 203-562-6312.

Knock Back Some Truffle Shots

Chocolate Geeks, located in The Barn at Griswold Square, 49 Main Street in Essex, is a business founded on a single product: truffle shots. (If you go gaga for chocolate truffles, these are up your alley.) Now they also sell bean-to-bar craft chocolate, artisan baking chocolate, tasting classes, chocolate chip cookies, and more. Open Wednesday – Saturday, noon – 5 p.m., or by appointment.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford - CT Great Things To Do

Wadsworth Presents a Mix of Art and Entertainment

The marvelous Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford is a grand place to visit, particularly after the mid-decade overhaul of the galleries. Permanent and changing exhibits are always worth a fresh visit. This museum leads the way in providing events and entertainments to showcase and enhance exhibits. These may include films, talks, live music, even Sunday brunches. There’s always something to enjoy. 860-278-2670.

A Bookstore With a Serious Love of Reading

R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison opened two decades ago as an independent bookstore whose mission was, and is, to be a place where words matter and where writers meet readers. The store hosts more than 200 events a year. Authors from all over the country visit the store to inspire, educate, and entertain. A knowledgeable staff, opinionated book selections with shelf-talker tags help book lovers find books that are just right for them. Open daily.

Bushnell Park on Trinity Street in Hartford, CT

Beautiful Oasis in the City

Bushnell Park on Trinity Street in Hartford is a wonderful public sanctuary that merits a full-day visit. The park is home to a carousel that dates from 1914 – the golden age of these structures that combine artistry, magic, and simple fun. For people who love the artistry of nature, Bushnell Park is an urban arboretum of rare and native trees. Visitors can pick up a brochure and take a self-guided walk of magnificent trees from many parts of the world. The park also has beautiful fountains, statues, a pond, and a performance pavilion. The park offers free tours of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch and hosts many public events. Open: May to mid-October. Phone: 860-232-6710.

Burgis Brook's Alpacas Offer a Friendly Welcome

Burgis Brook Alpacas on North Canterbury Road (Route 169) in Canterbury is a full-time farm for raising, showing, and breeding alpacas located on 43 acres of rolling hills and forest. The farm store carries farm-raised alpaca yarn milled in Connecticut as well as hand-woven and knitted scarves and accessories and high quality Peruvian imported garments. Visitors are always welcome, but call in advance to let the farm hosts know you're coming. Hours: Sunday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 2-4 p.m.

The Shops at Yale - New Haven, CT - Great Things To Do

The Shops at Yale Are Just the Start of Your Exploration

With more than 50 unique boutiques and shops in Chapel Street Historic District and Broadway, Shops at Yale at 255 Crown Street in New Haven has the perfect mix of browsing, shopping, dining and people-watching to fill a weekend. The Shops at Yale are rich with boutiques alongside national retailers like Apple, J. Crew, and Urban Outfitters; bluestone sidewalks and beautifully restored architecture; award-winning restaurants and theaters; and world-renowned museums. Near at hand are public spaces that host lots of fun cultural events (one example among many is the sidewalk chalk art festival in August). Mix your pleasures with a visit to ancient beauty at the Yale Center for British Art, the Peabody Museum, Yale School of Architecture Gallery, and the historic Shubert Theater.

Bluff Point Beckons Walkers, Skiers

Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton offers the visitor a delightful mixture of wooded hiking and cross-country skiing trails coupled with spectacular wildlife viewing on Long Island Sound. Because of its Coastal Reserve designation, access to the bluff is by foot or non-motorized vehicle only. The trail to the bluff passes through wooded and open areas until the view broadens as the bluff is approached. Here vegetation is more sparse and diminutive because of wind exposure. Among the plants to be found at the headland are native beach plum, beach pea and red and white shore roses.

Audubon Center Brims With Activity Year-Round

Greenwich Audubon Center at 613 Riversville Road in Greenwich offers lots of recurring classes and programs that encourage people of all ages and physical abilities to enjoy the center and its lessons about nature. All year round, the center offers activities like Nature Yoga with Brittani Kelly, emphasizing nature around us and the health of the environment; Family Yoga, which welcomes kids to join the experience; and Sensory-Sensitive Saturdays, welcoming people with extra sensitivities who would like to enjoy learning about nature in a quiet and soothing space. Check out the center’s events pages to learn more. These are great activities for cold-weather and warm-weather seasons.

Beauty, History of Connecticut River on Display

If you are drawn to the Connecticut River by the beauty of its unspoiled marshlands, the Connecticut River Museum on Main Street in Essex offers an exceptional vantage point in all seasons. From its docks you can see bald eagles, migratory birds, and a wide variety of waterfowl. The tidal wetlands that surround the Museum are an environmental treasure and a beautiful natural attraction. The family-friendly exhibits are filled with art and artifacts that link the river’s stories to our lives today. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Skydiving: The Leap of a Lifetime

Ready to face your fear of heights? Take the plunge and experience the sensation of floating in a freefall at speeds upwards of 120 miles per hour. At the Skydive Danielson facility in Danielson, qualified instructors lead first-time skydivers into the adrenaline rush of a lifetime: a scenic ride over the landscape followed by a tandem jump from a height of 13,000 feet! Those who leave the Skydive Danielson facility wanting more can sign up for technical classes and receive their license to skydive.

Connecticut Wine Trail - Great Things To Do

Absolute Bliss: A Day Along the Wine Trail

Connecticut’s mild climate makes the state a fruitful place for growing grapes, and the state’s wine-making industry has bloomed in the past three decades. A delightful way to sample Connecticut vintages is to take a drive along the Connecticut Wine Trail , a route that bypasses 15 vineyards (and some beautiful countryside). The trail consists of two sections, in the eastern and the western parts of the state. Blue highway signs mark the trail and the state produces a colorful brochure. Remember: the Winter Wine Trail is very active! a winery tour in winter is a great way to lift your spirits. All the wineries have tasting rooms and all offer at least one tour daily.

General Store Covers All Needs With Classic Warmth

Carson's Store on Main Street in the very quiet and pretty seaside town of Noank was founded in 1907 and it is still going strong, serving tasty breakfasts, lunches, and ice cream along with the other joys of any old general store (penny candy, anyone?). Settle into a padded stools at the counter and contemplate an old-fashioned milk shake. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

CT Audubon Birdcraft Museum & Sanctuary - Fairfield, CT

Sanctuary Is Home to Birds of Many Feathers (and Species)

Connecticut Audubon Society’s Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield is an intimate natural history museum with its own songbird sanctuary. This family-friendly museum offers first-class natural history programs and exhibits to bird lovers of all ages. Planted in 1914 as a refuge to attract, and harbor migratory and resident birds, the six-acre site has sheltered more than 120 species of birds. A bridge over a pond on the property allows close-up views of the sanctuary and its inhabitants. Visitors can observe a honeybee hive, a collection of African animals, and other changing exhibits, and attend scheduled demonstrations of bird-banding in spring and fall.

Fairfield Southwest

Hartford Central

Litchfield Northwest

Mystic Eastern

New Haven South Central