Peter

My wife and I have travelled quite a lot through NH and VT but have never really explored CT.
Any suggestion for areas worth a vist (Long weekend) we prefer to stay in Inn's rather than hotels or motels.
Also any tips on areas to miss?

MHS

Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods. skip the rest.

nina

Oh please, as a lifelong Connecticut resident, I wouldn't send my worst enemy to Foxwoods or Monhegan. Talk about a scourge on a beautiful state. If you ask me, those are the WORST the state has to offer!

The Northwest corner of the state is lovely, with lots of nice inns, The Boulder in New Preston and The Mayflower in Washington come to mind. Kent, Litchfield, Lake Waramaug, Salisbury is a beautiful area for a long weekend. Eat at Oliva in New Preston or at Hopkins Inn overlooking Lake Waramaug. It's beautiful.

ALF

What about Mystic Seaport? We are taking a family vacation with a historical theme. Is Mystic worthwhile?

Chrissy

The shore is nice also. Mystic is a great day trip, Guilford has wonderful fish n' chips and Essex has been voted the best small town in America (I think that's what it was). CT has a wine trail and farms with homemade ice cream. There's a lovely drive through Pomfret (NW area) with atique stores and shops with fresh-baked muffins. There are some nice hikes if you're into the outdoors as well. You can probably find more at a CT Chamber of Commerce website. Try www.tourism.state.ct.us

sandy

Mystic and surrounding area are great to visit. Don't miss the aquarium there too. Great fun! Enjoy!

michele

Another vote for the shore towns. Born and raised in Fairfield County, so I do also have a soft spot for Greenwich, Wesport, Southport, Darien..all those towns with their great proximity to NYC.

c

Nina! hey! how are you,missed seeing you around

sluggo

I highly recommend the northeast corner of the state. Stay along the scenic (farms, hills, stone walls) Rt 169 (I think)that goes through Brooklyn. It's designated a national scenic byway and has a lot of antique shops. There are many B&Bs in the area. This is close to the Mystic area so you could visit the shoreline too. You could have dinner at Randall's Ordinary in N. Stonington. They prepare dinners colonial style, in the fireplace. Get more info about the state at www.connecticutmag.com or www.visitconnecticut.com/nect/ For the "Conn." experience, please avoid the casinos. (But if so inclined, they are not far from Brooklyn.) I hope you have a great trip to the Constitution State.

nina

Yes, Mystic is a great family day trip, as well as neighboring Stonington. I just highlighted what my first choice without kids would be!

nina

Thanks c, We just got back from a family vacation to Disneyworld and Universal. My husband went begrudgingly and ended up having as much fun as the boys!

kam

Loved the historic old Griswold Inn in Essex. There's also a nice place in Westport on the river as I remember.

nina

The inn in Westport is the Inn at National Hall, it's VERY nice, I go by it almost everyday!

sluggo

I forgot to mention one of my favorite restaurants - the Golden Lamb Buttery in Brooklyn CT. A hayride on the 1,000-acre property can be followed by Châteaubriand, roast duck,
medallions of lamb or salmon. They often get awards for Best Overall, Most Romantic and Best Service in the county. Open for lunch Tues-Sat and dinners Fri-Sat.

deb

How come nobody has mentioned the Goodspeed Opera House? It's been many years since I went to school in CT (make that many, many years), but Goodspeed was always one of my fave places. i forget the name of the little town it's in, but it was lovely. And that little ferry boat to get there....... I need to get back there one of these days.

sluggo

The Goodspeed is in East Haddam along the CT River. Very scenic. They had the original "Annie" before it went to Broadway. Also in the area on the river is Gillette Castle (state park) which reopens this spring after 2 yrs of refurbishing. The medieval castle was built in 1919 by William Gillette, a stage actor known for playing Sherlock Holmes.

kal

Had a very good stay at the Simsbury Inn in suprise, Simsbury Ct.

Very nice town and area. Would love to start a NE leaf tour from there one year.
Kal

sheila

I second the Griswold Inn. What a pretty place. THe whole shoreline.. Old Lyme, Essex, Mystic. etc.. You can't go wrong. Enjoy!

sonia

Kal, I live in Simsbury -- walking distance from the Simsbury Inn! You're right, it's a lovely area to live in -- and come early October, there is a beautiful "leaf" route almost any direction you choose to go. And don't forget plenty of good restaurants around the Farmington Valley, and the wonderful Hilstead Museum in Farmington. I could go on, but you get the idea...

MHS

WARNING: during summer months I-95/Rt 1, i.e., access to all those shore towns, is a vertial parking lot -- bumper to bumper traffic. Those who live in those towns just simply do not leave home on Sat & Sun.

All the "country" suggestions in CT can be matched & perhaps outdone by VT, NH -- without the high "use" tax -- just very unfairly increased for a small portion of residents.

Miss All of CT.

A Born & Bred CT Yankee, who beginning April 1st will be boycotting all CT restaurants, etc., outside the Casino.