8 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns In Connecticut
Connecticut's best day trips sit a few towns past the usual stops. Litchfield keeps the first American law school open as a hands-on museum. Kent Falls tumbles 250 feet through the woods at the edge of the northwest hills. Old Lyme still shows the paintings that made it the cradle of American Impressionism. Mystic ties up the country's oldest surviving whaleship along its working waterfront. These eight off-the-beaten-path towns each fill an afternoon on their own.
Mystic
Along the banks of the Mystic River estuary, the town of Mystic has a deep-rooted history in maritime heritage. At the Mystic Seaport Museum, visitors can walk the deck of the Charles W. Morgan, the U.S.'s oldest commercial ship still afloat. Over an 80-year whaling career, the Charles W. Morgan embarked on 37 voyages, most lasting three years or more, and after a 2014 38th Voyage, it returned to Mystic Seaport Museum as an exhibit and flagship.
Although once known for its aquatic history, it is more recently known for its cinematic prowess. The 1988 film Mystic Pizza was based on the local pizza diner, also named Mystic Pizza, and after its release, the popularity skyrocketed so high that the owner had to open a second location. Other filming locations can be spotted around town, but Mystic Pizza is, without a doubt, the most prevalent. Pick up a pie or a "Slice of Heaven" souvenir and step into the dining room that served as a charmed location for the movie. Grab a drink to go with your pie from B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill. Family-owned and operated since 1881, this is the last remaining steam-powered cider mill in the U.S., recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. During its September-to-December season, visitors can pick up sweet cider, hard cider, wine, cider doughnuts, and local goods in Old Mystic.
Monroe
Ed and Lorraine Warren are possibly the two most significant figures remembered in Monroe for their efforts to introduce people to the world of the supernatural. Their collection of oddities inspired one of the most renowned cult classic horror franchises, The Conjuring. The former Warren Occult Museum has since been purchased by new owner, comedian Matt Rife, and reopened as the Warren House & Museum. The Warrens' former home is available as a private overnight rental with limited access to the Occult Museum and Haunted Passageway, rather than as a general-admission museum. Currently housing over 750 haunted and demonic artifacts, the museum connects to the home through the Haunted Passageway. Although the most prominent paranormal investigators in the U.S. have passed away, supernatural fans can still visit them at the Grave of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Located in the Stepney Cemetery, which is considered haunted, visitors can pay their respects at the tombstones on the eastern side of the cemetery.
There is more to Monroe than just ghosts and spirits. Venture outside without the possibility of the paranormal at Webb Mountain Park. The 135-acre park provides hiking trails, rock climbing, camping, and discovery. Follow the main trail, the Paugussett Trail, to traverse the park and branch out onto smaller trails throughout.
Plainville
Tourists who enjoy a haunted museum might also like a visit to Witch's Dungeon. The classic movie museum, which opened in 1966, displays monsters and props retired from horror and science fiction movies. It is the longest-running exhibit of this genre in the U.S. and features accurate life-sized figures created from the golden age of cinema.
Take some time off from fictional beats and possibly encounter some real-life ones at Sunset Rock State Park. Hike the trail throughout the park to thrilling cliff views and Crescent Lake. At the lake, enjoy the fishing and boating. Experience more natural beauty and unmatched views at Tomasso Nature Park. The 11-acre park includes four wetlands and is home to turtles, fish, frogs, birds, deer, muskrat, and more.
Waterford
Sitting on the shore of Long Island Sound, the Seaside Sanatorium is abandoned and open for visitors to stroll its eerie grounds and marvel at the history of its Tudor Revival architecture. Guests are invited to educate themselves on this place, which is a complex monument to honor sincere attempts at medical innovation. Another innovative spot in the history of medical advancements is the Harkness Memorial State Park. Once a family estate, the compound was bequeathed to the State of Connecticut upon the death of the final occupant for the ongoing rehabilitation of the disabled. Visit and admire the 20th-century buildings and the remarkable landscape, including the estate's formal gardens, considered the most prestigious part of the estate.
Relax the afternoon away at Waterford Beach Park. The quarter-mile stretch of beach offers striking views of the Long Island Sound and widespread tidal marsh, while the sandy shores provide a rare example of a complete dune system, considered one of the most intact in the state.
Orange
The town of Orange welcomes confectionery fans to visit one of the town's most unique and popular destinations, The PEZ Visitor Center. PEZ candy was invented in 1927, and the PEZ Visitor Center opened in Orange in 2011. It displays what the company bills as the largest collection of PEZ memorabilia on public display in the world. Take a picture with the largest PEZ dispenser, play the game of the month, and collect your souvenir PEZ lanyard. Treat yourself to more enjoyment at the Treat Farm. The Treat and Wilson families have farmed in Orange for generations; the farm's dairy roots predate its 1970s expansion into fresh produce at the Old Tavern Road location. This working farm lets friends come and cut their own Christmas tree, get lost in the five-acre corn maze, or take a relaxing tractor ride.
Stop for a meal of local delicacies at Hook & Reel. Featuring a menu inspired by and created in the South, this Cajun-style restaurant embraces the time-honored tradition of a seafood boil. Savor the Southern feel and hospitality with down-home vibes while devouring backyard boils with extra flair.
Old Lyme
In 1900, Florence Griswold began boarding painters at her mansion, hailing Old Lyme as the birthplace of American Impressionism. Art enthusiasts are invited to learn more about this history at the Florence Griswold Museum. Griswold's home, built in the Late Georgian style, sits on 13 acres along the Lieutenant River and features an assortment of art, history, and nature in a New England village setting. Experience more local art at the Lyme Art Association. Since 1914, the location has offered fine art exhibitions and sales by its artist members in the historic gallery. Exhibits are ever-changing and have included First Impressions, The Artists Garden, Ship to Shore, A Connecticut History, and more.
Enjoy a quick trip seaside to the small park of Ferry Landing State Park. Fish or crab from the shoreline, or take a stroll down the boardwalk at this remote site positioned on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River.
Litchfield
Home of the first law school founded in the U.S., The Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School in Litchfield, invites guests to experience what life was like for a law student in the 19th century. Role-playing, hands-on zones, and interpretive exhibits each present visitors with timeless issues of travel, communication, education, and community. Be a student for a day and try on period clothes, make informed decisions about what supplies to buy, and vote on important daily issues. For more historically significant landmarks in Litchfield, visit the Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, which has religious undertones. Replicated from the Lourdes Grotto in France, the 170-acre shrine was constructed by Montfort Missionaries and dedicated as a place of peace, prayer, and pilgrimage. A recently renovated Way of the Cross weaves through the hillside that overlooks the grotto. Shrines to St. Joseph and St. Jude are also located near the grotto as another prayer place.
Explore even more historical attractions featuring nature trails, formal gardens, rare bird habitats, and an English Tudor-style cottage at Topsmead State Forest. A butterfly garden, viewing stand, and ecology trail are also present in the park.
Kent
Kent packs its vistas, parks, and historical landmarks into a walkable stretch of the northwest hills. At Kent Falls State Park, feel the mist on your face from Kent Falls as it drops about 250 feet over a series of cascades. Take the trail across the covered bridge to one of the most elusive sites in Connecticut state parks. Another gemstone of the state parks system is the 2,300-acre Macedonia Brook State Park. Fish, camp, and hike amongst the 10 miles of trail systems to catch the extensive range of terrain, intricate ascents, and wide ridgeline views. The Blue Trail will take hikers across Cobble Mountain and other peaks, offering views of the Catskills and Taconics.
A simple landmark, located on an internationally renowned one, is Bull's Bridge. Located on part of the trail system that incorporates the Appalachian Trail, the historic bridge spans the Housatonic River and offers views of waterfalls, rapids, overviews, and a small gorge.
Connecticut Beyond the Guidebook
These eight towns hold the kind of attractions that rarely headline a Connecticut itinerary. The paranormal sites in Monroe and the retired movie monsters in Plainville draw one crowd, while the maritime history in Mystic and the first American law school in Litchfield pull another. Waterford's abandoned sanatorium and Orange's PEZ factory sit somewhere between the two. None of them takes more than an afternoon to work into a weekend around the state.
