Making the Most of Winter in Connecticut

Do you want to enjoy the winter months and have fun with friends, but feel like there’s nothing to do in Connecticut? Whether you want to get active outside, do holiday activities, or stay cozy inside, Connecticut has you covered! Some of my favorite winter activities to do in Connecticut are ice skating, hiking, and checking out holiday light displays.

Skiing, hiking, and ice skating

While Connecticut is nothing like Vermont and New Hampshire when it comes to ski mountains, there are still a few smaller mountains where people can go skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in Cornwall, Mount Southington Ski Area in Southington, Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort in Middlefield, and Ski Sundown in New Hartford are all great places to go for beginners, and if you just want to get some time in on the slopes.  

I love going hiking in the winter, especially when it snows, because the woods turn into a winter wonderland. Connecticut has many different hiking trails throughout the state that remain open throughout the entire year. Also, when there’s enough snow, it’s fun to go snowshoeing. Some of my favorite places to go hiking and snowshoeing in Connecticut are Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden and Paugussett State Park in Newtown.  

My favorite place to go ice skating in Connecticut is the Danbury Ice Arena because it has lots of open skate times and even an open skate with a DJ on Friday nights. Some other great places to go ice skating are the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury and the Northford Ice Pavilion. 

Holiday light shows

In Connecticut, there are many holiday light shows you can visit, some that you can walk through and some that you have to drive through. Some of the best drive-through light shows are Magic of Lights in East Hartford and Lights in Motion in Hebron. Glow Hartford is a great one to walk through, and it has both a holiday light festival and a market. I also find it fun to drive through the neighborhoods in Connecticut with my friends to look at the holiday lights at each of the houses. 

Other holiday activities

You don’t need to go all the way to New York City to enjoy festive shows and music. Connecticut’s Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford puts on several holiday shows throughout the year, including the traditional Nutcracker. 

Connecticut has many towns that are fun to walk through during the wintertime because they are decorated for the holidays. Some of my favorite towns to walk through and get dinner in during the wintertime are Mystic, Westport, and West Hartford. 

Whether you live in Connecticut or are looking for activities to do near campus when you come back from winter break, there are many fun holiday-themed and winter activities to do in Connecticut. As a Connecticut native, I always love exploring new towns in the state and trying new activities and restaurants during the wintertime because so many places have a cute and cozy vibe to them.

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