Small Town Beauty in Connecticut

Chester is a small town located in Middlesex County that is situated directly along the banks of the Connecticut River. The town has a long history as a river community and remains connected to the waterway through various maritime services and landmarks.

The Chester Museum at the Mill tells the history of the town’s heritage.

For swimmers and boaters, there are the Pattaconk and Cedar Lakes.

You’ll find great hiking trails in the Cockaponsett State Forest.

The historic Chester/Hadlyme Ferry is one of the state’s last working ferries and takes visitors to the iconic Gillette Castle. Gillette Castle State Park rises above the Connecticut River. The mansion was designed and built by William Gillette, an American actor most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage. 

Everyone enjoys the Chakana Sky Alpaca Farm, offering guided tours. Meet the friendly alpacas and find alpaca-made products at the gift shop.

Situated on the Connecticut River in Middlesex County, Essex is a lovely town where the river plays a huge role and is famous for shipbuilding. Main Street is lined with boutiques, federal-style buildings, and restaurants.

Visit the Connecticut River Museum with maritime exhibitions, shipbuilding artifacts, and amazing views of the river.

Visitors enjoy cruising on the Connecticut River in a historic riverboat.

Litchfield has been a National Historic Landmark District since 1968. The town has late 18th-century architecture and is a popular town to visit in northwestern Connecticut.

The White Memorial Conservation Center is great for nature lovers with wetlands, forests, and fields.

Enjoy the Topsmead State Forest with its Tudor-style cottages, formal gardens, and tree-lined paths that meander through scenic pastures.

The Litchfield History Museum tells the town’s story from its 1719 settlement through rotating exhibits and archives.

The Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy boasts one of North America’s largest collections of waterfowl, home to over 500 birds from more than 90 species.

Mount Tom State Park rewards visitors with breathtaking views. A climb up the historic 34-foot stone tower from 1888 reveals stunning 360-degree vistas of the surrounding landscape.

The beautiful town of Mystic is a New England watertown divided into two parts by the iconic Mystic River Bascule Bridge.

Olde Mistick Village has transformed from a trinket marketplace into a unique shopping destination.

Among the highlights in this popular town is the Mystic Seaport Museum with historic ships and a walk-through genuine 19th-century village.

Also, the Mystic Aquarium has many sea creatures, among them beluga whales, jellyfish, and sharks. Visitors can touch the marine life in interactive pools.

Sitting on the Gold Coast of Connecticut is New Canaan with a mix of architectural styles from historic New England colonials to quaint farmhouses.

The Philip Johnson Glass House was designed in 1949.

Grace Farms is a humanitarian and cultural center with the lovely River Building.

Enjoy Waveny Park with open fields, ponds, and walking trails.

The park surrounds a grand 1912 mansion. The architect for the structure was William Tubby, and the landscape architect was Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This house was used for the exterior shots for the fictional Cortlandt Manor on the soap opera “All My Children."

The New Canaan Nature Center offers trails, gardens, a greenhouse, and wildlife exhibits.

Situated on the banks of the Housatonic River, New Milford has a downtown area with quaint shops and restaurants.

Visitors enjoy its picturesque Greene, with the gazebo.

Nature lovers enjoy the Lover’s Leap State Park with the iconic 1895 Berlin Iron Bridge, which is one of only four iron bridges still standing in the area.

Harrybrooke Park offers hiking and biking trails and waterside picnic spots.

The beautiful beachtown of Niantic has a quaint downtown area with boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants.

For strolling, enjoy the Niantic Bay Boardwalk.

It is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the state, among them Rocky Neck State Park. The park has a soft, sandy beach, picnic areas, places for birdwatching, trail systems, and salt marsh viewing platforms.