The Mansions in Newport, RI.

Litchfield Ct. is a picture perfect New England village, right out of a Christmas card. I've never been there in winter, but I bet it is beautiful in the snow. There are probably farms in the area that give horse drawn sleigh rides. I imagine there's cross country skiing in the area also - just hope for snow!

Go visit my parents for me and you can spend xmas with them. You'll save me the trip!

Only kidding. Seriously, the mansions in newport are lovely. Cold time of year though - right on the bay. The wind is rough.

Sturbridge Village in MA is nice and quaint. It's right over the border from CT. Also, Mystic CT is popular.

Providence is a lovely city that's been revitalized - great new restaurants, walking around the campus of Brown Univ is lovely.

CT has a web site of local events at Xmas - you might get some ideas there.

http://www.ctbound.org/

Have fun and stay warm.

I second the suggestion of the mansions in Newport. They are decorated for the holidays, and less crowded than in the summertime so you can spend more time walking through them. They are really spectacular. If you go to Rhode Island, you might want to travel up to southern MA to see the Christmas lights at LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro. Also, Edaville Railroad in Carver, Ma (also in the southern part of the state) used to open at Christmas time for rides on their steam train. They closed down a few years ago, but I think they might be open again.

Wrong state again, but the Boston Ballet's production of the Nutcracker is quite a spectacle, even if you aren't big ballet fans. There are a lot of other well regarded holiday productions in the city too, from "A Christmas Carol" to the "Black Nativity".

I am originally from Litchfield County in CT and still have family there, but am having a hard time thinking of any particular Christmas activities other than the "staying in a quaint inn" type the above poster mentioned. We always went to see the lights at Constitution plaza in Hartford, but Lasalette has a much more elaborate display.

Hope you have a great trip, whatever you choose.

Lasalatte is incredible. Definitely a nice trip along with the Newport Mansions and Providence.

You might want to call before going to LaSallette Shrine. There was quite a large fire there a few years ago and I believe it has impeded the nuns ability to put up the lights. Someone please correct me if I am wrong or out of date.

Edaville Railroad is indeed open again. Unfortunately, it's one of the lamest attractions in Massachusetts, wouldn't interest anyone over 8 years old, and certainly would not be on my list of things for a mid-20s couple.