If you love historic homes and museums, the Hillstead Museum in Farmington, CT, just west of Hartford is fantastic. The home of a wealthy family with Monets, Manets, Degas, Cassatts, etc., hung in the home. Fantastic. Also the Museum of American Art in New Britain is also a little gem. If you do go to the Mystic area, go to Stonington Burrough, just down the road.

Well, if you head up Rte. 67 north out of New Haven you get into real nice country like Southbury, Bridgewater, New MIlford, north on 202 to the beautiful little towns of Washington, Litchfield over the hill down to Kent up Rte 7 into the Berkshires, Lenox etc to Williamstown and into Southertn VT. That will give you a nice start.

No offense intended Fra Diavolo, but I think Mystic is just OK, kind of overrated. Now you'll never tell me what village is "the most beautiful in New England", huh? I'm curious since I'm a native New Englander. Can I guess that its in Rhode Island???

Lenox,MA or Newport,RI. We loved the Berskshires and you will have Tanglewood as a music destination. If you consider Lenox, check out the Birchwood Inn. It's more like staying at someone's house. It is not precious at all and the host is lovely. There are any number of historic homes including Edth Wharton's to visit.

Newport is a whole other thing and not what I would call quaint but those summer "cottages" of those rich folks are somethin' else.

I also like Connecticut along the LI Sound. There aare places like Ivoryton(check out the Copper Beech Inn) and Essex.

you will have more time to tour if you do an open jaw as suggested. you have alot of possibiities in the east that sometimes can be cheaper than larger airports.

No offense taken, Weadles, everyone has an opinion.

Many people here aren't wild about Mystic -- just as number dismiss Stonehenge (!) and Eilean Donan castle. On the other hand, they praise Williamsburg to the skies -- I found it disappointing -- all reconstructions. Personally, I don't really like the "historic village" type of theme park. What I like about Mystic is that hidden behind the historic village is the foremost maritime museum in the country -- but I admit that is an esoteric interest. The OP mentioned that they liked restored village attractions, so I thought Mystic might suit.

I live in New England myself. My new "crown jewel" of NE villages has to remain under the radar for the present. And anyway, it's just one opinion.

This has got to be the longest thread ever on Connecticut sub-forum!

I was just thinking the same thing. most posts on CT are 3 or 4 replies long...

And rental cars-we picked ours up at the New Haven rail station and returned it at the airport. It may be possible for you to return yours at the rail station and then take the train back into NYC(to Grand Central). You really must see Grand Central Station(check out the ceilings) and the train ride back into the city is stress free. Is it possible to have one night in NYC before you head home? It could be fun.


I still recommend Lenox,MA given your descriptions of what you like. There are many old homes you can explore, the village itself is quaint and the food can be pretty good. We especially liked the Old Tavern outside of Great Barrington. I have to double check the name and website and get back to you. There are also some great antique places to poke about and wish for in the area.

The place I recommend to dine is in New Marlborough check out www.old inn.com

forget the antiques~I just re-read your OP.

PamSF - sf7307 is originally from the NY area. She fled from the snow!

cpg, I was going to write what you wrote about me!! (PamSF, as you know, I now (for 36 years, actually) live in the Bay Area -- where I froze my butt off last weekend.

I would suggest Guilford, Madison, Essex and Chester for walking around, and Old Lyme and East Haddam (more of a driving tour of old homes). There are lots of small museums/sights. Florence Griswold Museum, CT River Museum, Pratt House, Gilette's Castle, Nathan Hale House, etc.

Actually, we have very good friends who live in Madison. I've never really checked out the town, though.

Great suggestions here. My vote is for Providence/Newport or the Berkshires. Imo, there's more to do and see than Old Lyme, etc.
Brown has two libraries that frequently have small historic exhibits from their archives. The area surrounding RISD and Brown is old and beautiful (Benefit Street). I think the city offers walking tours. To tour a mansion or two in Newport is amazing. The Cliff Walk there is also nice. You won't freeze in August; I can promise you that.

The RISD Museum of Art is an interesting museum - sort of a potpourri from Ancient Egyptian mummies to French Impressionist paintings to 19th-c American domestic interiors to contemporary art shows. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, the museum will be closed for the entire month of August (while you'll be here).
http://www.risdmuseum.org/visit.aspx?id=15224

The Rhode Island Historical Society offers walks in Providence:
http://www.rihs.org/

P.S. There's also the WaterFire show in Providence. Check the website for dates and times (I haven't been, but I think it's quite enjoyable based on what I've read.)
http://www.waterfire.org/

sf~if you haven't seen the redo of Grand Central Station, you should. It's stunning. We stayed in Essex last May for Wesleyan graduation. It's small, quaint and generally quiet. If you do stay at the Griswold, I recommend staying in the rooms across from the main hotel. It can get pretty boisterous when folks combine cocktails and music in that tavern.

Pam, I have and it is. I get to NY usually once a year at least. I expect to be there more often over the next three years, as my son and his girlfriend will be in law school in New Haven.