Connecticut holidays

This New England maritime village mixes historic charm with heaps of attractions — plus a side of pizza, made famous by Julia Roberts.

A college town at heart, this Connecticut coastal city is also home to historic museums and galleries, plus a food scene that appeals to all tastes and budgets.

One of the top things to do in Connecticut is to experience its maritime past. Explore a recreated 19th-century seafaring village at the Mystic Seaport Museum. Or see the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine in Groton, described as ‘the submarine capital of the world’. And you can’t miss the 160-year-old lighthouse on remote Sheffield Island.

With over 160 sites spanning 70 towns, the Connecticut Freedom Trail documents the struggle of enslaved Black people seeking emancipation. It also honours key achievements of the state’s Black trailblazers. Learn about the fascinating Amistad uprising of 1839, and see stops on the Underground Railroad, including Farmington, considered the ‘Grand Central Station’ of fleeing slaves.

Yale University, the fourth-oldest college in the country, should be on your must-see list. Housed in a six-storey glass enclosure, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library boasts a stunning collection that includes a Gutenberg Bible. At the Yale Peabody Museum, see the ancient skeleton of a giant ground sloth and a 3,500-year-old poem carved into clay tablets.

The beaches in Connecticut are laid-back and family friendly. Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison is three kilometres of sandy shoreline and calm surf, with restrooms, picnic areas and a nature centre. Ocean Beach Park is known for its white sand and boardwalk attractions, including a carousel and waterslide. Some beaches charge visitor fees, so plan ahead.

Connecticut’s pastoral appeal is on full display in Kent Falls State Park. Here, you’ll find a covered bridge and a 76-metre waterfall that barrels 21 metres into the Housatonic River. Bone up on the state’s prehistory at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, where more than 750 preserved dinosaur footprints are on display within a museum.

Sample some of the state’s most iconic fare at shoreline restaurants in Connecticut. Norwalk is famous for its oysters and hosts popular ‘clambakes’ (seafood picnics) throughout the summer. As you travel the coast, look out for lobster rolls served with hot butter instead of mayonnaise. And don’t miss the New Haven pizza called ‘apizza’, famous for its thin, charred crust.

Cross two of the best museums in Connecticut off your list on a trip to Hartford. Housed in a castle-like building, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art has more than 50,000 works. After strolling the galleries, head to the nearby Mark Twain House and Museum to walk in the footsteps of the famed author. The ornate three-storey home has been carefully restored.

For a classic New England experience, the best time to visit Connecticut is in autumn when crisp weather is accompanied by dazzling foliage. Winter is ski season, with Mohawk Mountain Ski Area being the largest and arguably most popular spot. Expect rain in spring and hot, humid weather in summer, which draws crowds to the beaches.

A cheap holiday in Connecticut is possible if you dig in and look for deals. Blowout seafood feasts can set you back a pretty penny, but you’ll find bargain bites at kiosks or food trucks along the coast. An inexpensive meal will cost you about 15 US dollars ($), while a domestic beer is usually around $8. Take a short taxi ride starting at just under $3.