Connecticut is a small state, with a diverse landscape. You have gorgeous leaf peeping locations to the north in the fall, flowing rock covered streams, plenty of historical sites in the countryside, and adorable coastal port towns that give all the New England vibes.
Where to Shop:
Bishop Orchards
One of the first places you will want to explore is Bishop Orchards. You can pick your own delicious apples, pick out a pumpkin, pet some goats, and the adults can even sit and enjoy some beer or wine while the kids play. You will not want to miss out on the farm store. They have an abundance of produce and health food options to stock up on. Our favorite thing about this location, you can park your RV in the field out back. If you are @harvesthost members you can even stay the night. This is one of the few Harvest Host locations that ask if you want to stay multiple nights in a row. You aren’t far from the coast here, so you may want to plan to spend two or three nights exploring the area.
Where to Explore-
Mystic
This is a historic Seaport and you wont want to miss it. It’s full of New England charm. Think cedar shakes, boats in the harbor, and delicious seafood with sunset views. I cannot recommend this place enough. The kids LOVED the Seaport Museum. We toured the oldest whaling ship in the world and got a real feel for what historic life was like in Mystic. We thought it was similar to touring Historic Williamsburg in Virginia. Before you leave, grab some pizza or cheese bread from Mystic Pizza, which was featured in the 1990’s film with Julia Roberts.
Where to Camp:
Nickerson Park Family Campground
This may be off the beaten path, but that’s how we like it. This campground is situated near Chaplin, in the Natchaug River Valley. It’s nestled in the forest, on the banks of the Natchaug River. The clear rapids were perfect for swimming or tubing and the deep pools stocked with trout for the world class fishing experience. The campsites private, large enough for big RVs, and some even back up to the river. Our kids enjoyed hours at the playground that featured a number of unique pieces of equipment to play on. Make sure to hike to Diana’s pool, a short drive and a short hike down from the parking lot. There are numerous historic sites within driving distance, and you can get a good cup of coffee from Grounded Coffee Company in Willimantic. You will also find a great health food grocer if you are into that like we are.
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Connecticut surprised us. I guess we thought it was just a state to pass through the get to Boston or up to Maine. We have truly enjoyed spending the past three falls here.
