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Northeastern Connecticut's charms are so unknown that even the tourist office calls it the Quiet Corner. Discover its secrets by following scenic Route 169 (paralleling I-395), between Norwich and the Massachusetts border. Allow plenty of time to browse in Putnam's antique shops and explore the area's historic sites. Gardeners should stop at Caprilands Herb Farm in Coventry; Woodland Trails Wildflower Nursery (860-974-2300) in Eastford, and Martha's Herbary, a delightful shop and learning center. Dozens of peaceful trails invite hikers. More info…
Appealing B&Bs include Celebrations Inn, a bright and airy Victorian home with spacious guest rooms and ample common areas. Chickadee Cottage is perfect for a romantic escape or business travel. The comfortable accommodations are enhanced by a setting adjacent to the Audubon Society's Bafflin Sanctuary. The Friendship Valley B&B, a handsome 1795 Georgian-style home, is made even more pleasant by innkeepers, Bev and Rusty Yates, who combine warm hospitality with careful attention to detail. An unexpected find is the Still Waters B&B in Storrs (860-429-9798), a contemporary fieldstone home. Three beautiful and affordably priced guest rooms overlook a quiet pond and the woods beyond. More inns…
Recommended restaurants include: the Fireside Tavern at the Sharpe Hill Winery; the Vine Grill in Putnam; the Harvest restaurant in Pomfret; and especially the Golden Lamb Buttery in Brooklyn, a creative and memorable dining experience. More info…
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About halfway between New York City and Boston, the eastern Connecticut Shore is especially rich in maritime history, but is packed with sights and activities for every season, taste, and pocketbook.
Activities:
Do not miss a visit to Mystic Seaport comprising more than 60 buildings on 37 total acres. Special holiday events include the family-oriented Field Days (November 24-25), and the old-fashioned evening Lantern Light Tours (December 1-18). Neighboring Mystic Aquarium is another long-time favorite. For a more modern slice of nautical history, visit the U.S. Navy's Submarine Force Museum in Groton, home of the Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine.
Lovers of art and music should focus on the Connecticut River Valley, starting with Old Lyme's Florence Griswold Museum, America's most famous Impressionist art colony. Travel up river to Essex, an impeccably preserved Colonial village, home to appealing art galleries, antique and specialty shops. Get tickets for the revival of Cole Porter's "Red, Hot, and Blue!" playing at the renowned Goodspeed Opera House through December.
If you have Christmas shopping to do, take Exit 63 off I-95 to visit Clinton Crossing; second choice is the Westbrook Factory Stores near Exit 65 off I-95.
Feeling lucky? It's a short drive north to Foxwoods® Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino, if you want to take a chance on the slots or tables. Big name casino entertainment ranges from alternative R&B singer Macy Gray to oldie-but-goodie Barry Manilow. More info on activities & events…
Inns
Built as a warehouse, the Steamboat Inn overlooks the Mystic River and offers ten luxurious and private guest rooms with a convenient, in-town location.
At the Greek Revival House of 1833 innkeeper Carol Nolan serves delicious breakfast, while her husband Matt provides the live piano accompaniment. The Peach Room on the first floor has a whirlpool tub and a fireplace; the Cupola Suite on the third floor has a four-poster canopy bed, whirlpool tub, and the cupola, where you can sit with a glass of wine and watch the sun set.
Five miles from Mystic is Stonecroft, an 1807 sea captain's country estate. The Stonecroft room has a whimsical hand-painted wrap-around mural of the grounds as they might have appeared in the 19th century and a king-size canopy bed; the Buttery is the oldest room, dating back to 1740. The Grange is a post-and-beam barn, and houses the inn's outstanding restaurant, plus six luxury guest rooms, each with a fireplace and double whirlpool tub.
Twelve miles from Mystic is the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic, overlooking the marina docks, the Niantic River, and Long Island Sound. Appealing water views; clean, comfortable guest rooms; and friendly innkeepers make it an attractive and affordable choice. More Mystic area inns...
At the 1746 Deacon Timothy Pratt B&B in Old Saybrook, innkeeper Shelley Nobile has restored such original details as the wide-board floors with hand-forged nails and door latches, hand-hewn beams, and stenciled walls, while adding the necessary modern comforts.
One of the country's oldest inns is the Griswold Inn, in Essex. When the inn was commandeered by the British during the War of 1812, the commanding officer remarked that the inn was "long on charm but short on plumbing." The antique charm remains, but now each of the 30 guest rooms have private baths. Hearty American food is served at lunch and dinner, plus an extensive Sunday buffet brunch; the dining rooms are decorated with an extensive collection of original marine art. More CT River valley and shoreline inns...
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