I have lived in Connecticut my entire life and I still revel in all it has to offer, from its beauty to great food. I think it is a great place to visit, so I have created a condensed travel guide if you were to ever venture over to the beautiful Nutmeg State.
1. Hammonasset Beach State Park – Madison, CT
Close to downtown Madison, Hammonasset is an expansive beach on the Long Island Sound. It is Connecticut’s largest shoreline park and a major tourist attraction. I go to this beach often each summer because of the soft sand, calming waves, the gorgeous panoramic views, and the nature walks.
2. Yale University Art Gallery – New Haven, CT
This art gallery houses many collections of art from all cultures and epochs. The museum is free to enter and is a great thing to visit on a hot or rainy day. But if you want to go the rooftop sculpture garden, make sure it isn’t raining, because it’s a really nice part of the museum. While you’re here, explore the rest of the Yale campus, which is one of my favorite parts of New Haven.
3. Devil’s Hopyard State Park – East Haddam, CT
A 1,000 acre park, Devil’s Hopyard is perfect for a nice summer day. There are many fairly easy hiking trails around the park that lead to the beautiful waterfall. Once at the waterfall, it’s so much fun to take a dip in the cool water and enjoy the Connecticut scenery. Pack a picnic to eat on the rocks to complete the outing.
4. Lake Compounce – Bristol, CT
Lake Compounce is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States. It has a handful of very fun roller coasters, including Wild Cat, which is the 12th oldest wooden roller coaster in the country. When I was a kid, my family and I went here every summer, so it has a really special place in my heart. Going to Lake Compounce is a guarantee for an incredibly fun day.
5. Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria – various locations in CT, originally New Haven
Frank Pepe’s, colloquially just called Pepe’s, is an iconic restaurant in Connecticut. It is one of the oldest pizzerias in the United States, opening in 1925. It is famous for the invention of New Haven thin-crust pizza baked in a brick oven. The crust is crispy and slightly burnt on the bottom and is unique for its uneven slices. It is absolutely delicious.
6. We-Li-Kit Ice Cream – Abington, CT
Tucked away in the Quiet Corner of Connecticut (its northeastern region) and not very widely known, We-Li-Kit is the ice cream stand my family goes to whenever we are staying in the area. It is a part of a farm, so they make the homemade ice cream from their own cows. The ice cream comes in many different flavors which are all excellent. Make sure to get a warm waffle cone and look at all of the cute farm animals while you eat the ice cream.
I truly believe that Connecticut is a great place to visit and if it wasn’t on your bucket list before, you should definitely add it now. These are only six things to do in Connecticut, but there are many more. So go out and explore all the hidden gems that the state has to offer.
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