Thing To Do In Connecticut With Kids, Rest & Relaxation

Since moving to Connecticut I really haven’t been able to do as much as I’d like. I would love to be able to go on lots of day trips with my husband but his hectic school schedule wont permit it. Lame right? I got this brochure in the mail full of great getaways in Connecticut! Normally I’d put it in a folder labeled “Things to do in Connecticut” and never look at it again, but I want to go out and do more…even if gas prices are astronomically high! So I decided to be proactive and share them with you too. Now these great ideas wont be stuffed in a folder!

I decided to break them up in segments, and this post is dedicated to rest and relaxation! The best part is, most of the things you can do with children.

Things To Do In Connecticut: Rest & Relaxation

  1. Gourmet Getaway – 
    Photo Credit: roadfood.com, CTvisit.com, Openplac.es, Lyman Orchards


    • Start at Bidwell Tavern Coventry and try their fantastic chicken wings and Yankee Pot Roast
    • Visit Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret for a tasting, tour and gourmet dining
    • Then head to Creamery Brook Bison in Brooklyn to see buffalo, purchase bison meat and take a wagon tour (seasonal)
    • Last but not least try the award winning Hi-Top Apple Pie at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield
  2. Girlfriends in Heaven –
    Photo Credit: sodahead.com, greenwichct.com , blog.ctnews.com
    • Head to Westport, the east coast equivalent of Rodeo Drive, after shopping relax at an area spa.
    • In Greenwich, explore fine art galleries, purveyors of imported linens, designer clothes and restaurants, then head to Greenwich Avenue to view Cavalier Galleries
    • Before heading home, soothe your soul at Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford.
  3. Inn Style
      • Get inn-spired with the warm hospitality and serene setting Connecticut inns offer. Reserve a spot at a historic inn, like the B&B at Taylor’s Corner or the Elias Child House B&B in Woodstock.
      • Explore the Roseland Cottage-Bowen House, home of merchant and publisher Henry Bowen during the 19th century.
      • The next day, head to the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme where art, history and landscape is located in one remarkable place.
  4. Shore Things –
  5. Photo Credit: tinhouse.com, destination360.com, Scranton Seahorse Inn
    • Head to Madison, a historic shoreline town with boutiques, restaurants and R.J. Julia, a top independent bookstore.
    • Grab a spot in the sand at Hammonasset Beach State Park, which features a nature center and campsites. Locals love feasting at Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale.
    • After fun in the son, check into the scranton Seahorse Inn, located in Madison, this 1833 Greek revival home offers charm and ambiance of a historic New England homestead.
  6. Wine & Roses
      • Treat yourself and a loved one to a romantic weekend filled with aromas of grapes and flowers. Start at the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden in Bethlehem. This 1754 landmark has a formal parterre garden with roses, peonies and lilacs.
      • At White Flower Farm in Litchfield, stroll through five acres of public display gardens
      • Sample wine at Haight Vineyard in Litchfield.
      • The next day, take a country drive to Hartford’s Elizabeth Park, home to the oldest municipally-operated rose garden in the country.
  7. Bridges to Paradise –
  8. Photo Credit: stateparks.com, Berkshire Balloons
    • If you love old bridges, Connecticut has you covered. From Route 7 in Kent, cross Bulls Bridge, a covered timber truss that spans the Housatonic River. Travel over Kent Falls Brook via a covered pedestrian bridge and enjoy a picnic lunch by a cascading waterfall, followed by a drive across the Cornwall Bridge.
    • On day two, go on a hot-air balloon ride over Litchfield Hills. Aer Blarney Ballons in Litchfield and Mooney Time in Woodbury offer champagne flights. Keep your eyese peeled for covered bridges.
  9. Farmington Valley Visit
      • Dotted with farms, recreational and historic sites, antique shops and inns, Farmingotn Valley is the place to savor creature comforts in a lush country setting. Book a canoe trip on Farmington River through Huck Finn Adventrues in Avon.
      • Next, visit the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington. At this National Historic Landmark, you can view paintings by Degas and Monet and see the Sunken Garden.
      • The next day, drive to Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury for a hike to Heublein Tower and views of Hartford’s skyline and Farmington Valley.
  10. Mystic, Connecticut
  11. Photo Credit: argiamystic.com, familyvacationcritic.com, ctfoodandwine.com
    • Southern Connecticut is the perfect place for a romantic rendezvous. Treat your sweetheart to a sunset sail aboard Argia in Mystic, a replica of a 19th-century schooner.
    • Stay at the Inn at Mystic, which overlooks Mystic Harbor and Long Island Sound.
    • Wind down at Chamard Vineyards in Clinton, which features an elegant tasting room with a large fireplace and deck offering panoramic views.
  12. Currier & Ives Christmas
      • Experience an old fashioned, postcard perfect Connecticut Christmas. Start with a holiday festival, like Bethlehem’s annual Christmas Town Festival in early December. The festivities include a tree lighting, arts and crafts exhibitors and carolers.
      • Dash through the snow on a horse-drawn sleigh at Loon Meadow Farm in Norfolk.
      • The next day, ride the Holiday Express at the Naugatuck Railroad in Thomaston. From the comfort of a vintage coach, you’ll view a winter wonderland.
      • Don’t forget the Christmas tree! Angevine Tree Farm in Warren has a restored theatre pipe organ that plays holiday music.
  13. Spas by the Sea   
  14. Photo Credit: flickr.com, history.com, ctvisit.com
      • A spa treatment by the water is just what the doctor orders for ultimate rejuvenation
      • Take a therapeutic stroll at Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton. The area includes an undeveloped barrier beach, bird-waching and views of coastal landmarks.
      • Purchase relaxing bath products, candles and herbal therapies at Olde Mystic Village in Mystic, or New London’s Historic Waterfront District.
    • Country Rambles and Ambles
        • Forget your troubles by taking a soul-soothing drive along eastern Connecticuts boarder. Start at B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill in Old Mystic (seasonal), home of New England’s last steam-powered cider.
        • In downtown Putnam – a prime antique spot in the state – peruse more than a dozen shops.
        • Next, explore Woodstock’s Roseland Cottage-Bowen House on Rte. 169 (seasonal). The Gothic Revival home includes an 1850 boxwood parterre garden and a barn with an indoor bowling alley.
        • At Mrs. Bridges Pantry in South Woodstock, linger over afternoon tea and dine on British fare.
    • Essex Escape 
    • Photo Credit: ctrivervalley.com, collinwood.net, tripadvisor.com, ronsaari.com
      • Spend the weekend exploring Essex, and you’ll understand why it was included in The 100 Best Small Towns in America
      • Stroll to the Connecticut River Museum‘s dock and tour the historic waterway aboard the Mary E. Inside the museum, see the nation’s first submarine. Enjoy lunch at the Griswold Inn, one of the oldest continuously operated inns in America.
      • Then hop aboard the Essex Steam Train for a journey through the scenic Connecticut River Valley. 
      • At Deep River Landing, switch to a riverboat for views of the Goodspeed Opera House and Gillette Castle.
    • SONO is SO GO
        • In the last decade, historic South Norwalk (SoNo) has undergone a revival, now boasting shops, nightclubs and cultural treasures. EnjoySoNo’s cutting-edge and conventional offerings and the surrounding landmark district. For lunch, SoNo offers innovative ethnic cuisine.
        • The Maritime Aquarium at Normwalk features 1,000 sea animals, an IMAX theater and guided seasonal cruises on Long Island Sound.
        • On your night out in SoNo, check out hotspots like Ego, The Loft and Lush, or catch an indie flick at SoNo Cinema.
        • The next day, board the G.W. Tyler Lighthouse Ferry (seasonal) for a cruise to Sheffield Island Lighthouse.
    • Hit the Jackpot 
    • Photo Credit: ustours.biz, troongolf.com, thenewyorkmom.com
      • Bet on a great weekend at two of America’s most famous casinos, offering non-stop entertainment and – of course – gaming.
      • At Foxwoods, the world’s largest resort, enjoy six casinos, nightclubs and specialty stores. “Hit the links” at Lake of Isles, named “one of the best new upscale public golf courses” by Golf Digest and Golf. Walk through a realistic Native American village at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.
      • Indulge in a night of luxury at Mohegan Sun. The resort features gaming, 40 shops, a spa, live entertainment and nightclubs.

    I received this information from a brochure featuring getaways in Connecticut. More information can be found by calling 1-888-CTvisit or visiting CTvisit.com. I am not endorsing any of these companies or activities.


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      1 Comment

      1. February 15, 2013 / 4:02 pm

        Lets go find some of these bridges!

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