New England

Living the Stars Hollow Life: A Gilmore Girls Day in Connecticut

Over two decades ago, the TV show Gilmore Girls was introduced to the world. Following the life of a single mom, Lorelai and her teenager daughter, Rory living in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.

I never watched Gilmore Girls until they made the revival for Netflix in 2016. I had just moved to Connecticut a few years prior and the excitement for the revival intrigued me to watch. I binge watched and was instantly hooked! I watch Gilmore Girls on repeat all the time, especially every fall!

Not only do I binge watch the show during fall, but I also roadtripped to the real towns that inspired Stars Hollow! The writer of the show spent two weeks in Litchfield County when she got the inspiration for Stars Hollow. There’s not a definite ONE town, but a few that makes up Stars Hollow. I went on this Gilmore Girls trip twice, both times were mid-October. I recommend this time of year because you also get the enjoy the beautiful foliage in Northwestern Connecticut.

Washington Depot, CT.

Here’s a guide of how to have a Gilmore Girls day/weekend:

WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT

  • Mayflower Inn & Spa [Independence Inn]— The town of Washington gets the most recognition behind the inspiration of Stars Hollow because the writer stayed here. The grounds are stunning! I walked around the outdoor gardens. The screened porch off their restaurant is very dreamy! Don’t forget to look for the library nook.

  • Hickory Stick bookshop [Stars Hollow Books]— A small cozy bookstore that gave the vibes of bookstore that Rory frequented. They even had a small section for Gilmore Girls fans!

  • Washington Supply Co. [Luke’s Diner]— If you recall, Luke’s Diner originally was a hardware store when his dad owned it prior to his passing.

  • Washington Food Market [Doose’s Market]— The small town grocery store looks very similar to Doose’s Market.

  • Titus Park and Garage [Gipsy’s garage] — I stumbled upon this garage when I popped in a store nearby. It reminded me of Gipsy’s garage!

Mayflower Inn & Spa.

Hickory Stick Bookshop.

Washington Food Market.

Titus Park and Garage.

Washington Supply Co.

I found Washington, CT to have the small town charm that Stars Hollow portrayed on the show. The people were very friendly. On the day I visited there happened to be a farmer’s market! Don’t forget to stop in the Five Janes store for some Gilmore Girls merch.

Washington Farmers Market. Held on Saturdays 10am-1pm from June to November.

NEW MILFORD, CT

  • Gazebo — The gazebo on the town green in New Milford is very picturesque. I loved how it was dressed up with fall decor!

  • Canterbury School [Chilton] — The prep school resemblances Chilton, the school that Rory attended. The street takes you directly into the middle of the campus, you can see the gorgeous buildings from the car.

  • Theo’s Downtown Diner [Luke’s Diner]— There’s a long counter with stools to sit on just like Luke’s Diner. It had the small town vibes, there were many locals enjoying their breakfast or lunch with COFFEE!

  • First Congregational Church — Stars Hollow had a white church with tall steeple. While all towns I visited had at least one church, I thought this one was the most similar!

New Milford gazebo.

One of the buildings at Canterbury School.

I loved New Milford, but it is bigger than what Stars Hollow would be. I got a taste of the locals life in New Milford when I saw another farmer’s market and kids collecting donations for their football team. The layout of this downtown reminded me the most of Stars Hollow. There were plenty of restaurants, shops and businesses to visit.

KENT, CT

Book sale at Kent Memorial Library. The sale runs every weekend from Memorial Day until October.

I loved visiting this small town. There was a small town green where a political rally was taking place the day I visited - maybe they’re working on Jackson’s run for Mayor of Kent?! It was also a surprise to find a huge book sale at the library. My inner Rory could’ve spent hours looking through the books! I got a few books, of course. I popped into the local bookstore down the street from the library called House of Books. It is a beautiful curated bookstore. Kent had a small main street, but there were a few shops and restaurants. There was a church on the corner too.

WOODBURY, CT

One of many antiques shops in Woodbury.

Mentioned several times on Gilmore Girls, I had to stop in this town. It’s not far from Washington. Woodbury has an antiques trail where there are 10+ antiques shops. Most of them are located on Route 6, but you won’t come across anyone like Mrs. Kim!

LITCHFIELD, CT

Loving fall in Litchfield, CT.

This town is often mentioned as part of Gilmore Girls trip around Connecticut. I didn’t really see anything that jumped out at me with Stars Hollow vibes. It is a beautiful town to visit, so I wouldn’t discourage you to skip it. Check out the Tapping Reeve House & Law School!

NEW HAVEN, CT

Yale University.

The home of the bulldogs - go Yale! It’s highly recommended that you stop in New Haven, although you could easily take an entire day to explore it. So if you have more than a day to roadtrip around Northwestern CT and if you’re up for another hour drive down to New Haven, go check it out. The campus is stunning and beautiful, I always love to photograph the details, especially during fall!

I throughly enjoyed doing this Gilmore Girls roadtrip around Connecticut. While in Washington and New Milford, I ran across many others who were doing the same thing! The back roads that takes you from town to town are gorgeous and a great place to see the foliage. I loved how almost every town had the small town aesthetic with a church, gazebo, town green, libraries and a main street with shops/restaurants. It’s very quintessential New England!

"It’s just my favorite time of year. The whole world changes color.” - Lorelai Gilmore

Found a Lane St. in Kent, CT!

6 Fall towns to visit in Connecticut

Happy Fall!

One of my most favorite seasons, especially during the foliage! I find myself going back to many same towns during Fall. There are some towns that were just made for this season!

Here are the Fall towns you must visit in Connecticut:

Mystic, CT

As a local of Mystic, I may be biased. You can’t beat the beautiful foliage views on Mystic River! The peak is usually mid to late October. There are plenty fall activities to enjoy - read about them under my Mystic tab here!

Old Wethersfield, CT

During the month of October, they host the annual Scarecrows on Main event. I love seeing all the creativity! It is such a beautiful walkable neighborhood. The residents are always friendly. I usually park in the area of Heirloom Market (go there for lunch - the best sandwiches!) and walk on Main St to Garden St then down to the Cove and circle back to Heirloom Market. Don’t forget to visit the Webb Deane Stevens Museums and Keeney Memorial Center.

Essex, CT

A picturesque town where the residents takes pride in maintaining the beautiful historical homes that lines the Main Street. There are also several shops that you can pop in and peek around. I highly recommend to walk down to the waterside by Connecticut River Museum (also worth to visit!) to see the ducks and enjoy the foliage views. Eat lunch at Olive Oyl’s or Griswold Inn.

Washington, CT

Most known as the town that inspired Gilmore Girls, it is a beautiful small town with that Star Hollows charm! I enjoy every time I’ve visited Washington and never been disappointed. Read more suggestions about Washington + surrounding towns in Litchfield County here. Litchfield County is my favorite countryside in CT during the fall - many beautiful rural roads for scenic drives (a photographer’s dream!).

Stonington, CT

It’s a beautiful town to visit year-round, but there’s something special about fall in the borough. The historical homes are decorated with pumpkins, the crispy leaves falling on the ground and foliage on the water. Read a good book on the green in front of Stonington Free Library. Can’t beat any of that!

New Haven, CT

It’s always a must to walk around Yale Old Campus during fall. It is just stunning with the backdrop of the gothic architecture. The Sterling Library gives a Hogwarts vibes for you Harry Potter fans!

There are many more beautiful towns in Connecticut that didn’t get mentioned, I’m sure! Feel free to share your recommendations in the comments below!

Celebrate International Firefighters Day in Connecticut

Every year on May 4th, International Firefighters’ Day [St. Florian’s Day] is observed. The date was chosen because St. Florian had passed away on this day. St. Florian, the patron saint for firefighters, he was the first known commender in firefighting. 

In Connecticut, there are a few places to go and learn about firefighting history:

The Fire Museum — Manchester, CT

The Connecticut Firemen’s Historical Society was established in 1970. Many of memorabilia and history were becoming lost to other states. The society was formed of firefighters who worked to preserve the history and keep it in Connecticut. The museum is in a restored fire station. The United States Navy Seabees and many other volunteers helped to fix up the station. Now it is a museum that stores some apparatus, firefighting equipment and more. The hours are from 12-4pm on Fridays and Saturdays [April-November]. If you have a larger group wanting to tour the museum, it is encouraged to call ahead. Admission is by donation. 

Fire Museum — Manchester, CT.

I went to this museum and was stunned at how beautiful it was, the collections were preserved so carefully it was very impressive. The 1901 wooden firehouse was bigger than I expected it to be, but the self-guided tour took at least a hour. In one of the rooms, there were photographs from the CT Fire Photographers Association. It was neat to recognize some photographers that I follow on social media. I throughly enjoyed touring the firehouse and would highly recommend it to anyone for a visit.

The fireman’s pole is still intact here, but couldn’t do a slide on it!

The photos gallery of CT Fire Photographers Association.

Posing with one of the apparatus at the museum.

Museum of Fire History at The Carousel Museum — Bristol, CT

The museum preserved the firefighting legacy of Carlyle “Hap” Barnes, who was an avid collector of equipment, memorabilia and technology. The collection consists of over 1,000+ pieces of apparatus, some dating back to 17th century.

Fire Fighter fireboat at Mystic Seaport Museum — Mystic, CT

The Fire Fighter currently docked at Mystic Seaport Museum once helped with recovery efforts during September 11th. It has the ability to pump 20,000+ gallons a minute, which made her the most powerful fireboat in the world. The Fire Fighter was the longest serving fireboat for New York, decommissioned in 2010. The historical vessel is available for guided tours during Mystic Seaport Museum hours.

I have visited the Fire Fighter many times from when she visited City of New London then Mystic Seaport Museum. It is always so fascinating to walk around this historical vessel and think about all it has gone through. It’s like that saying, ‘only if those walls could talk’. The guides are always knowledgable about the history of the boat. As it was mentioned, it served during Sept. 11th - there is a piece from the rumbles that was created into a cross and now mounted on one of the doors on Fire Fighter. During summers, they sometimes do water works show where they use the pumps. It’s such an amazing historical vessel.

Fire Fighter fireboat — Mystic, CT.

Around the state, there are many historical fire stations that have been restored, functioning as private residences (do those people still slide down the pole?!) or abandoned. I can’t list them all here as there are that many through out the state. I love to look for old fire stations and photograph them on my travels. 

Engine No.6 Pizza — Norwich, CT.

An art gallery — New London, CT.

I also enjoy seeing historical fire stations that still operates currently and some stations that have older fire trucks. I’m always looking for LaFrance trucks because my great grandfather painted the lettering on some of the trucks when he worked at the plant in Elmira, NY. 

An antique LaFrance Westport (CT) firetruck.

Thank you to all firefighters for what you do to keep the communities safe and always there for us! A special thank you to my brother, my favorite firefighter who I am so proud of! 

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8 Libraries You Must Visit in Southeastern CT/RI

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Happy National Library Week! I have such a huge appreciation for the libraries. I have been a bookworm dating back to my childhood days. Due to my deafness, I wasn’t able to hear information, books gave me that access. I learned so much through books about the world, people, cultures and beyond.

I still utilize libraries to this day. One thing that I love about Southeastern Connecticut is that there are so MANY libraries and some are in historical buildings. Where I grew up, I only had one library in a rural town. I’m amazed at how many there are within half hour of Mystic, CT so I’m sharing some of my favorites that you must visit:

WESTERLY LIBRARY & WILCOX PARK — WESTERLY, RI

This is a beautiful library overlooking a park. Keep an eye out for their book sales over the summers - they have a great selection. This time of the year is definitely the best to visit the park, all of the trees and plants are blooming. I always make this an annual spring trip!

WHEELER LIBRARY — NORTH STONINGTON, CT

In a former schoolhouse, this library is gorgeous. Especially the upper level. When you walk in Wheeler Library, there are two lions statues guarding the doors (reminds me of NYC Public Library!). Also the best part? There’s a year-round book sale in the cellar, all profits go back to the library. The staff here is so friendly, I would go back there just for them alone!

STONINGTON FREE LIBRARY — STONINGTON, CT

You can’t miss this library situated in the middle of the green, right as you enter the borough. Go inside and see the gorgeous upper level combined with regal columns and amazing floors. When the weather is beautiful, they have an outdoor patio where you can read or work at the table.

MYSTIC NOANK LIBRARY — MYSTIC, CT

One of the most beautiful libraries! Since it was a sea captain who built this, you can see nautical touches throughout the library. I love the exterior details… those green moldings! I also admire the carved oak ceiling! Cat lovers, this will be the one for you - there are two library cats that lives there. I always have to visit with them every time I drop in. The interior detail is just stunning, especially the green banker lamps which reminds me of the ones at Boston Public Library.

BILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY — GROTON, CT

Located right next to Fort Griswold, this beautiful small library is worth a peek. The interior details are stunning, wood paneled ceilings and the iron cast doors! Despite it being probably the smallest library, it is very cozy.

BILL LIBRARY — LEDYARD, CT

Yes, you read that right - there is another library in the area with the same name. If you read up on the history - there is a family connection with both. There is a walkable sidewalk from the library into Ledyard Center.

NEW LONDON PUBLIC LIBRARY — NEW LONDON, CT

Situated in Downtown New London, on the corner of State Street and Huntington Street. The historical library is surrounded by other historical buildings — the oldest courthouse across the street, Garde Art Centers and more.

PHOEBE GRIFFIN LIBRARY — OLD LYME, CT

I enjoy my visit there as it is perched on Main Street in Old Lyme, where there are nearby businesses to check out. The library also has a book sale cellar opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

There are more libraries in the area that I didn’t include. I always make sure to visit libraries on my day trips or travels. It’s amazing to see the variety of details and structures. I am forever grateful that libraries exist in today’s world!

My experience at Wicked Tulips in Preston, Connecticut

One of my bucket list items for years now has been to visit Wicked Tulips in Exeter, Rhode Island. Imagine my excitement when they opened a Connecticut location in Preston, 30 minutes drive from Mystic. I was thrilled to finally get my chance to go on opening day for Preston farm this year.

The Preston farm is the largest with 700,000 tulips! All together there are 1.5 million tulips between the three farms [Exeter, RI / Johnston, RI / Preston, CT]. It was easy to find the farm, they have a flags/“Entrance” sign off Route 164. A few people directed me where to park. It is a grassy farm land. The check-in was quick and easy. You do have to purchase tickets online as there aren’t any tickets sold on site. The tickets are sold in bundles at a time, as they follow the bloom reports closely and want to be sure there’s enough for everyone.

Each ticket will allow you to pick 10 tulips and any additional are $1 per. At the check-in, the staff was very helpful and asked if it was my first time visiting. They explained how to pull tulips appropriately. The website also explains everything. Pulling the tulips was fun, some of them will come up with its bulb attached (don’t worry, they’ll cut it off for you!).

It was a STUNNING sight. ALL. THE. COLORS. Wow. It was very impressive. I don’t know why I waited so long to visit Wicked Tulips! A very photogenic spot, they encourage you to take as many photos as you can! There’s a guideline on the website for photographers (professional and causal). I enjoyed photographing the tulips. I was there right before the sunset, so the lighting was mostly good!

Did you know there’s morning yoga sessions at Wicked Tulips too?? It’s on the weekends, pending weather. The tickets are sold the week of the yoga sessions. There’s also some sunset yoga sessions as well. It’s definitely worthwhile to subscribe to the emails where all the most recent updates are shared, even some information that you’ll get before it’s shared with the public.

I was able to stay there as long as I wanted. There were several tables and benches where you can take a seat. Snacking is allowed. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I was very impressed by their positive attitudes. On the way out, they even asked if we enjoyed ourselves and to have a good night. I was able to ask a staff to snap a photo of me and my family member. 5 stars for the staff!

Don’t wait on visiting Wicked Tulips like I did. The season is also very short, and varies on each location so again the website here will be helpful to plan your day. It’s so stunning and I loved it there. Definitely won’t be my last time visiting Wicked Tulips.

Wicked Tulips

  • Preston | 382 Route 164 Preston, CT 06365

  • Exeter | 400 Hog House Hill Rd Exeter, RI 02822

  • Johnston | 90 Brown Ave Johnston, RI 02919

www.wickedtulips.com

Cherry Blossoms in New Haven, Connecticut

The month of April always welcomes the beautiful cherry blossoms in New Haven, Connecticut. It is located at the Wooster Square Park. This is every photographer’s dream as the park is surrounded by beautiful historical homes. Usually the Historic Wooster Square Association hosts a cherry blossom festival the first Saturday of April.

As a photographer from Mystic, CT — I love to check out the cherry blossoms in New Haven. I usually can find parking right by the park. Do keep in mind, I have only gone during weekdays. I have no idea what the parking situation is like on the weekends. Since I drive an hour from Mystic, I also tend to make a day out of it in New Haven. Yale campus is a beautiful spot for photographing!

Two hours parking Mon-Fri from 8am-7pm all around Wooster Square Park.

It is a short walk around the Wooster Square Park but I take my time to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms. It is stunning! There are a few benches around the park, I’ve seen people do picnics and bring their dogs there to play around on the grass. As I mentioned, the park is surrounded by beautiful historical homes. I’ve walked along some side streets from the park to admire the details and photograph them.

While you’re at Wooster Square Park, you always can smell pizza from one of the famous New Haven pizzerias that are nearby. If you’re hungry for a bite, look no further than Frank Pepe Pizzeria or Sally’s Apizza — you really can’t go wrong with either. Both are just 5 minute walk from Wooster Square Park. Modern Apizza (the only one that offers gluten free options) is not within walking distance but only 5 minute drive.

Enjoy the snaps I captured of the cherry blossoms (and surrounding scenes at Wooster Square Park and Yale campus) during April 2024 & 2025 season.

April 15, 2024

April 17, 2025

Connecticut Maple Weekend in Hebron, Connecticut

It’s time of the year for maple! I consider myself a maple syrup connoisseur. My love for maple started as a kid living on the border of New York/Pennsylvania. I would hop over to Pennsylvania to this tree farm that would sell maple flavored cotton candy. When I moved to New England, I noticed that many states do a maple weekend so naturally I had to go see what a maple weekend was like!

Last year, I visited East Hampton and Hebron. It also colluded with the annual Hebron Maple Festival so there were even more activities to do. While I didn’t get to see what the festival offered because I wanted to focus on touring the open houses of several sugar houses.

If you plan to go to that area, I recommend this list (in order):

RICK’S SUGAR SHACK 69 COLLIE BROOK RD EAST HAMPTON, CT

I’m so glad that this was the first stop because Rick, the owner was VERY informative! I never seen the process of a sugar house so Rick really explained the process, showed a lot and was willing to answer questions. There was a small store offering maple syrup, maple flavored cookies and brownies, maple candy and more. Don’t miss the tasting room where you can sample the products before purchasing them!

WENZEL SUGAR HOUSE 522 EAST ST HEBRON, CT

The sugar house was similar to Rick’s Sugar Shack, but instead of collecting the sap in bags they used tubing system. I learned more about that process. This location was known for their maple pudding cake too, it looked delicious (but I couldn’t enjoy it because of my allergies unfortunately!). They also offer maple syrup for purchase.

WOODY ACRES 80 CONE ST HEBRON, CT

Here, I learned more about the amount of sap needed to collect to make one small tin of maple syrup. It is fascinating how much goes in a pint! Maple syrup and maple candy are also available to buy here.

WINDING BROOK 254 SKINNER LANE HEBRON, CT

The biggest sugar house, with a bigger machine to produce 300 gallon of maple syrup (other sugar houses produced 60 gallon). The machine used oil to operate, while the other machines I saw used wood stove. I learned more about the differences of the machines. Maple syrup was available for purchase, and you could taste them beforehand.

MORE SUGAR HOUSES IN THE AREA:

  • BRIGHT ACRES FARM 46 OLD KINGS HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT

  • BUELL’S DRAGONFLY FARM 105 OLD GRIFFIN HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT

  • GOSHEN HILL MAPLE 1040 GOSHEN HILL RD EXT LEBANON, CT

There were a few more sugar houses I planned to go, but time ran out for me. I plan to return and visit them as well see more of the Hebron Maple Festival! It’s a fun weekend to celebrate our local farmers and the hard work they put in to providing us delicious maple syrup!

Southeastern CT Lighthouses

Today marks National Lighthouse Day! I have been fortunate to visit many lighthouses ever since I lived in coastal New England. Coming from a rural farmland in Upstate NY, I never saw lighthouses unless I went on vacation down south with my family. Now I get to see lighthouses daily! I thought I’d share some of my favorite lighthouses [in order]:

Morgan Point Lighthouse [Noank, CT]

My most favorite lighthouse. It is so gorgeous and located in Noank, CT. I’m lucky to see it every time I go out on my sailboat. Unfortunately, it is a private residence (lucky owners!). While you can’t see it on foot/on land (the road leading to the lighthouse turns into their driveway), you can see it from the water in Long Island Sound. I recommend a cruise on Argia out of Mystic, CT to see this gorgeous lighthouse. If you own kayaks, you can use the public launch at Esker Beach to paddle out there.

Stonington Lighthouse [Stonington, CT]

Located on the point of Stonington Borough, this historical lighthouse is open to the public to tour. You can walk up to the tower which gives you a panoramic view of the water. Check the website here for their hours as they are opened seasonally and admission tickets. I love the stone-covered lighthouse. I enjoy sitting on one of the few benches in the back overlooking the water, where you even can see Watch Hill, RI.

Ledge Light [Groton/New London, CT]

Located in the mouth of Thames River on the line of Groton and New London, you can see this lighthouse from various points. Some of them are: UConn Avery Point campus, Eastern Point Beach, Ocean Beach Park in New London, Harkness Park in Waterford, CT. If you want to get up and close, I suggest the Lighthouse Cruise with Cross Sound Ferry. More info here. *Note: Both beaches require a fee during in-season, but free to enter off-season. Harkness Park requires a fee for out-of-state visitors.

Avery Point Lighthouse [Groton, CT]

Located on UConn Avery Point campus, the public is welcomed to walk around on the waterside walking path. No admission fees, but you need to pay for parking. The lighthouse is located behind Branford House. While you can’t tour the inside, you can peek through the windows. It is the last lighthouse to be build in the state. Also from here, on a clear day you can see New London Light, Ledge Light and Race Rock Light.

Mystic Seaport Light

The lighthouse is located inside Mystic Seaport Museum so you will need an admission ticket to enter the grounds. It is a replica of the Brandt Point Light from Nantucket. You also can see it from across Mystic River in the area of Pearl Street x Seahorse Ln. A very photogenic lighthouse!

North Dumpling Light [Long Island Sound]

Located on its own island between Groton Long Point, Connecticut and Fishers Island, New York. Built in 1849, it is an octagonal tower on a house. Since it is out on the water, you can see it up close in your personal vessel (boat) or the Lighthouse Cruise I mentioned for Ledge Light. You can see it from Groton Long Point in the distance. I suggest you reading up on the tidbits of this lighthouse as there were some interesting drama behind it!

Watch Hill Light [Watch Hill, RI]

This may not be in Southeastern CT, but it is just a hop over the border. Located in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, you can walk around the lighthouse but there is no tours of the inside. It is a gorgeous waterside walk taking you through a maze of mansions to the lighthouse. There is time limited (2 hours, I think) free parking on Bay St and you can walk up Larkin Rd to Lighthouse Rd. Cars are not allowed on Lighthouse Rd unless you are handicapped.

That’s it for my favorites! Enjoy seeing those beautiful lighthouses!

The Ultimate Guide to New London, Connecticut

New London, CT is one of the oldest seaport city on Thames River. A city filled with rich history, art and music, eateries, diversity and many more.

Here are some suggestions of what to do in New London:

Custom House Maritime Museum

New London has a rich history, being one of the busiest whaling port during the 19th century. The museum has a lot of exhibits to explain the history. Located in the heart of New London’s Bank Street and housed in the former historic Custom House built in 1833, it is worthwhile to visit. The gift shop is also a fun spot for nautical goods.

Art Community

The city is known for its art. You can see the murals in several spots. If you walk around a bit, you can enjoy them. My particular favorite is the whales (of course!) at the intersection of State Street and Eugene O’Neill Drive. In downtown, there are several art galleries to visit, one of these is housed in a former firehouse! I love seeing artworks with the Ledge Light (one of my favorite lighthouses). There is definitely a lot of pride in reserving the art culture in New London.

Garde Arts Center

One of the most fascinating venue to visit. A former movie theater during the 1920’s is used as a multi space for performing shows, musicals, education, movies, events and many more. I’ve attended a few shows and a book signing here. I admire the interior details!

Oldest Courthouse in CT

Across the street from Garde Arts Center is the oldest courthouse in Connecticut. It was built in 1784. The wood framed structure with wooden clapboards, gambrel roof and cupola is just a beautiful sight!

The Starr Street Historical District

A block of homes that were built during the 1800’s. Each home has a unique detail, it’s a fun small street to walk up and down and just admire the homes. You can easily type in Starr Street Historical District on Google, it’ll show you several websites with facts about some of the houses and the map of the walking route.

The Waterfront

There is a pier with a boardwalk where many go to enjoy the views of Thames River.

Fort Trumbull

Located on the waterfront, an old battlefield was built in 1839 to protect New London Harbor from British attacks. It is currently a state park for people can enjoy. There is a pier in front of Fort Trumbull where many people fish. The fort itself is opened to the public Wednesdays-Sundays (Memorial Day-Labor Day) from 9am-5pm for a fee. The top platform of the fort gives you a panoramic view of Thames River.

Cross Sound Ferry

Over the summers they also offer lighthouse cruises. The lighthouse cruise is a 2 hours long ride taking you around to see all of the lighthouses and sights. I’ve took the cruise twice and enjoyed it so much! They also offer daily ferry rides to Block Island, RI; Fishers Island and Orient Point, NY.

Ocean Beach Park

It’s one of the nicest beach in Connecticut, with a half mile long boardwalk. There is a daily fee to get in the beach during the summers. Nearby is a mini golf course, a swimming pool, gym, arcade and snack bar. Ocean Beach Park hosts a lot of events such as movies on the beach and classic cars shows. A few years ago, I wanted to watch a movie on the beach to check off my bucket list - they were very accommodating and put captions on. I was very grateful for the experience!

Michael’s Dairy

Not too far from Ocean Beach Park, this well established institution is the best spot for ice cream in New London. It is located on Mitchell College next to the red barn.

Muddy Waters Cafe

A great breakfast/lunch spot! It’s a fun spot with many movie posters, nautical photos plastered all over the walls making it a fun Instagrammable spot. If you come to New London by train, it isn’t far from the station.

Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock

If you’re in the mood for seafood, this is a good spot! It is a hidden gem located in a marina with outdoor dining area. The lines can be crazy long but the food is so worth the wait.

Fiddlehead’s Food Co-op

A cooperatively owned grocery store. You do not need to be a member to shop there. They offer many local goods and delicious produce. Always a friendly service every time I drop in to find gluten free goods!

New London Public Library

Every time I visit a town, I always stop in the library. This particular library is housed in a historical 1889 Richardsonian Romanesque style building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, so it’s worthwhile to visit this beautiful site!

Mike’s Famous Harley Davidson

Housed in 1938 Coca-Cola factory, it is one of the largest motorcycle selection in New England. The storefront is decorated with old Coca-Cola memorabilia keeping the building’s history alive. New London/Groton has a strong military presence, home to the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London Sub Base and Electric Boat. Mike’s is a huge supporter of the military, hosting their well known fundraising event Toys for Tots.

Sail with Tall Tales

Go sailing on Thames River on Tall Tales — a 35 ft sailboat with Captain Stu! The boat is located at the marina right next to Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock. Captain Stu is an interesting person with many stories from his life experiences!

Where to Stay in New London

I had a wonderful stay at Inn at Ocean Avenue — a historical bed and breakfast inn built in 1914. It is located near Ocean Beach Park. Read more about it here.

New London has so MANY to offer, that I didn’t even cover everything in this guide. Be sure to follow Visit New London here to find more tailored to your interests. It’s a city that definitely has something for everyone!

A novel day in New Haven, CT

I celebrated my birthday this past weekend. It’s always hard to plan a fun getaway in the middle of winter. I decided that my love for books would make New Haven a perfect destination. I got the inspiration from two women who were bookstore hopping in Kent, CT during fall. I never did bookstore hopping and thought that was a brilliant idea!

In New Haven, there are so many bookstores, libraries and museums within walking distance, and all indoors! The best part? It was very low cost. I only had to pay for parking and snacks. I ate lunch beforehand and didn’t stay long enough to eat dinner in New Haven, so if you do - look into the pizzerias. New Haven is known for their pizza!

Here is the itinerary of my bookish day:

Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library

For the longest time, I’ve been seeing photos of this library on Instagram. I had to finally check this off my bucket list! The largest building in the world devoted to books. There were over a million books, manuscripts and more. It was a beautiful sight to see all the books. I took my time, sitting in one of the comfy chairs around the library to take in the sights!

Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library

I’ve passed this iconic library several times on my walks around Yale campus but have never gone inside. On reason why is cause I’ve always had my pup with me. It was too cold for her to join me this weekend so I finally got my chance. I WAS BLOWN AWAY. The library was GORGEOUS. It is built in the collegiate gothic style (resembling a European cathedral). There are many beautiful stained glass windows everywhere (later on, I read there is a total of 3,300!). All the study spaces were stunning, I’m jealous of the students who gets to enjoy the beauty of the library on a daily basis! It would be a dream to work there!

Grey Matter Books

A small bookstore with many used books! The books were mostly unique, rare and unusual. I enjoyed looking through the older editions of classics. The atmosphere was very laid back and relaxing. Chairs were scattered throughout the bookstore for people to take a seat while browsing. There were multiple piles of book stack everywhere.

Atticus Bookstore Cafe

Located on the first floor next to Yale Center for British Art, it is a small bookstore and cafe. The bookstore had beautifully curated organized sections of books. I loved browsing through the ‘staff recommendations’ and ‘best books of 2022’ sections. The cafe was bustling, with nearly every table occupied.

Yale Center for British Art

This isn’t a ‘bookish’ spot but worthwhile to check out! It had a large collection of British art. It was organized by time period, making it easy to maneuver through the gallery. They suggest starting at the 4th floor and working your way down. My favorite was The Long Gallery on the 4th floor. A gallery with the walls covered in paintings. I could see myself take a seat and study the art!

Yale University Art Gallery

The oldest university art museum has four levels of extensive art collections from African Art, Asian Art, paintings, sculptures, Early European art, photographs, drawings, coins and many more. It had plenty to see! I didn’t get to see the entire gallery because of timing, so be sure to plan at least half a day for this. I was excited to spot some of my favorite painters like Monet. The building itself is also gorgeous!

Book Trader Cafe

This bookstore was really crowded when I visited. I didn’t get to see much of it unfortunately, but I did see that it had a good selection of used books from $1-$10. The atrium side of the shop was really busy, it is a cool spot where the tables were surrounded by bookshelves. The cafe sold coffee, drinks, pastries and more.

The Yale Bookstore

Every time I come to the Yale campus, I always pop into Barnes and Noble (The Yale Bookstore) to browse through the Yale memorabilia and souvenirs. Of course, I also browse through the books, especially the Yale authors section. Did you know that the author of Ninth House and recently released Hell Bent, Leigh Bardugo is a Yale alumni?

It was a fun book themed day and I enjoyed my time in New Haven! I love Yale with all of its gorgeous gothic architecture. There’s so many details that I continue to find new-to-me every time I visit. New Haven has plenty more that I didn’t share here such as shops, restaurants, more museums, so forth. It’s easy to do a day trip here during the winter! I had the perfect evening at home reading Ninth House which the opening scene was at the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscripts Library while drinking delicious tea in my new Yale mug!