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 fun 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 museum is hosting an open house with antique fire apparatus show on June 4, 2022 from 10am-3pm. Visit the website here for more info. 

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. Opened Wednesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sundays 12-5pm. Admission fee is $8/adult, $7/seniors + students, and $5/kids age 2-14.

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 in the last few years 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 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 my hometown of 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! 

Essex, CT

Essex, CT is a small town on the Connecticut River in Middlesex county. Approximately a 40 minutes drive from Mystic, it is a beautiful historical village to stroll around! I only visited it for the first time in 2019 and now I always have to go there a few times every year since! 

Here are some suggestions of what to do in Essex:

Essex Steam Train

For the last decade, I kept hearing about Essex Steam Train especially during the holidays when they have Polar Express themed rides. I haven’t ride on the train yet, but it is on my list to do. They also have dinner trains. Essex Steam Train goes on a 12-miles long scenic ride through the Connecticut River Valley. I only can imagine how beautiful the views are during fall with the foliage! The trains are 1920’s locomotive steam trains, I enjoyed walking around the train station photographing them. 

Main Street/Essex Town Green 

Historic Essex Village is a very walkable main street with shops, businesses, restaurants and more. I admire a lot of beautiful homes that lines the main street. There is a town green that overlooks the water. A beautiful gazebo sits in the middle of the park. Every time I went there during summer or fall, there’s were always people picnicking in the park. 

Olive Oyl’s 

Olive Oyl’s offers various sandwiches and sides. It’s also a fun spot as it is in a restored gas station. There is a lot of memorabilia and signs hanging on the walls. It’s my go-to for a quick bite! 

Griswold Inn 

If you prefer a sit down experience, don’t look any further than Griswold Inn. One of the oldest operating Inn in America since 1776. Back in those days, it was the destination for seafarers as the Connecticut River is right down the street. I loved all the historical tidbits about this Inn, it is full of history! It currently houses a restaurant, tap room and lounging. The interior design nods to the nautical history of the Inn, which I loved! The food is very delicious, a traditional New England cuisine. I’ve had the clam chowder and fish which were good! 

Goods & Curiosities 

The Griswold Inn gift shop is located across the street. Here you will find merch with ‘Gris’ logo, nautical inspired goods, barware/home decor, candles, books and many more. It is a fun shop to poke around. It’s always a must stop whenever I come to Essex. 

Connecticut River Museum

A short walk from Griswold Inn is the Connecticut River Museum housed in a restored 1878 three-story steamboat warehouse. I often travel over the CT River on I-95 (Old Lyme to Old Saybrook) and never realized the rich history of the river. The museum preserved the river’s history with many fishing tools, nautical artifacts, nautical equipment, etc. It also had the ‘Turtle’ which was the first American submarine built in Essex. I loved the wall mural in the staircase, an illustrated map of all the cities along the CT river. The green by the museum has beautiful views of the river! 

Essex Coffee and Tea Company

After a lot of walking around, we needed some coffee right? I popped in Essex Coffee and Tea Company for some drinks. They offer other drinks and pastries. I was able to enjoy some gluten free goodies! The coffee here also tastes amazing!  

Essex was easily added to my favorite CT towns list. I love the spirit of Essex, as you can see the pride of the town during the various seasons. If you go around Independence Day, the whole street will be decked out patriotically with flags everywhere, red/white/blue flowers and displays. The street has a red/white/blue line that is permanent. During fall, they have a main street scarecrow contest and all the pumpkins everywhere! December is always a favorite time when everything is decorated for the holidays. Recently, I fell in love with Daffodil Days during spring in Essex! There’s always something during every season so you never have to wait to go visit Essex! 

Waterford, CT

Happy first day of Spring! We saw some nice spring weather last week. On Friday, my little family hopped onto I-95 to Waterford, CT. It’s only 25 minutes from Mystic. We headed to the beautiful Harkness Park. 

Harkness Park is practically a garden by the sea with a beautiful mansion. The mansion is named Eoila, former summer home of the Harkness family. It sits on 230 acres overlooking the Long Island Sound (hello panoramic views!). The Harkness family owned it until it was gifted to the State of Connecticut in 1950’s. 

Most often photographed spot at Harkness Park.

The mansion has 42 rooms! There are usually tours but I’m not sure if they will be continuing this summer. Many weddings have been hosted there. It makes a gorgeous setting for those photographs! The mansion is available to rent for private parties, luncheons, etc. The contact information is on the website here.

Pretty flowers in the garden by the mansion (note: this was May 2021).

There are plenty of paths to walk around on the grounds, including one that takes you right through the gardens. I feel like I’m in the movie ‘Secret Garden’. The gardens provides insta-worthy backdrops, I used my pup as a model! The flowers really thrive here in late spring and summer. I also love visiting the 110 years old Japanese maple tree, it reminds me of the tree I had in the yard of my childhood home. 

Harkness Park also has a seaside trail, you can enjoy the smell of the salty air while watching ferries go by. This is the perfect spot for picnics! There are tables with BBQ as well as restrooms. The park is so spacious, that many come to fly kites too. It’s really fun to see colorful kites in the sky! The day I went there, there were people reading books, playing catch and kicking soccer balls around. There are spots for fishing down by the waterfront area. 

During summers, they have a small gift shop, the money goes back into the park. The park is opened daily 8am - sunset. There is a parking fee for out of state residents. 

My pup enjoys strolling the grounds with me!

Harkness Park is neighbors to Camp Harkness, a beautiful 102 acres land consisting of beach, playgrounds, cabins/cottages, animals, etc. Camp Harkness is one of very few state parks dedicated for residents with disabilities. There are been several events there, so be sure to watch the website here, if you have a loved one with disabilities. They host an annual deaf picnic there too.

Waterford Beach Park is a beautiful quarter mile long beach located close by Harkness Park. There is a parking lot with a long boardwalk which allows you to trek down to the beach. The views from this beach are worthwhile! Very beautiful and relaxing there. I enjoyed bringing my pup who loves the beach! They allows dogs from September to June on the beach. You can see the Ledge Light in New London from there! Do note that there is a fee for out of state residents to park and lifeguards are on duty from June-Sept. 

Last year, I tried out a new-to-me spot after exploring around Harkness Park one day. Cowlick’s Creamery for some ice cream! They have non-dairy options which is a win-win for me. I enjoyed the Dole pineapple soft serve. They also have a Dole Pineapple Refresher - a drink option with pineapple juice with pineapple soft serve which I’m looking forward to! My pup enjoyed the ‘pup cups’ - vanilla ice cream with a milk bone. They aren’t opened for the season yet however. Last year they opened at end of April so keep that in mind if you visit Waterford after April!

Delicious pineapple soft serve ice cream at Cowlick’s!

My pup enjoying her ice cream and bone!

If you prefer to eat breakfast/lunch, don’t look any further than ‘Where Pigs Fly’ cafe. It is owned by the same folks of ‘Somewhere in Time’ in Mystic. If you know, then you know it’s good! One of the best in the area for breakfast/lunch! 

Waterford is close by New London and Niantic if you want to make a day or weekend out of it. My recommendations for New London is here and Niantic here. Fun fact, did you know that Waterford was named after Waterford, Ireland? The mall, Crystal Mall located in Waterford has chandeliers from Waterford Crystal. I love this tidbit as an Irish gal! You won’t regret visiting this beautiful town on the shoreline!

Gorgeous flowers at Harkness Park (note: this was October 2021).

Lavender Pond Farm

In 2016, I had read about a lavender farm in Killingworth, Connecticut. I went with my husband to explore the beautiful grounds of Lavender Pond Farm. They are opened to the public starting in June, when the bloom season starts. The best bloom window occurs mid-June to mid-July. The farm has 10,000+ lavender plants on their 25 acres of land. There is plenty to do at Lavender Pond Farm!

The entrance sign to Lavender Pond Farm.

The grounds of LPF.

Lavender everywhere!

Only if this photo included the smell of lavender.

I am able to bring my pup with me as they are dog friendly (leashed and well behaved, of course!). There is a farm dog on the property going by the name of Flora, an adorable lavendoodle. Flora approached my pup to welcome her to the farm the first time we visited in 2016. This year, I decided to have a mother-doghter day, so we returned to the farm last week. Flora unfortunately wasn’t around to greet us this year, which we were bummed about!

The mother and doghter day with my pup!

My pretty pup!

As soon we get there, we immediately explored the fields. I highly suggest you to take a minute and INHALE the beautiful smell of lavender! It helps you to feel calm. There are a lot of bees as they are attracted to lavender. This made me nervous to sit next to the plants for photos but as long you don’t bother them, they will leave you alone.

Gorgeous gardens through out the farm.

The bee hives.

If you want to do more than walking the fields, you can take a tour of the farm on their train, LPF Express. You can’t miss the purple train. The tour goes in depth about the beginnings of LPF and educating about lavender. The tour is 20 minutes long and cost $6 per people. Be sure to check their website for the train schedule. There is also a pond out back of the farm, behind the big barn. There is a gorgeous covered bridge! I’m a fan of any covered bridges, so I was excited to see it.

LPF Express train.

LPF Express on one of their tours.

The pond and covered bridge.

In the fields, they also went all out with making visitors feel welcome. There is a large chessboard and corn hole that anyone can play. There are plenty of sitting areas through out the property. Some small tables with chairs too, which would be perfect for couples. I saw on their Facebook page that they offer yoga on Saturdays. Be sure to follow them on social media for updates regarding events like that, bloom reports, newest products in their shoppe and more.

The giant chessboard that visitors can play.

Another peaceful garden in the fields.

So many lavender plants!

There is a farm shoppe with lavender gifts to take home to remember your visit. I purchased a few lavender candles the first time in 2016, this year I tried the lavender lemonade. The lemonade was delicious! They offer lavender scented soaps, lotions, pillows, candles and more. Flora, the farm dog even has her own line of pet products including shampoo and beds!

The farm shoppe in the distance.

Close up of the farm shoppe.

Flora’s Corner - the dog line in the shoppe.

The delicious lavender lemonade available for purchase in the farm shoppe.

Lavender Pond Farm is opened from June-December daily 10am-4pm. The bloom season is June-August. Parking is free and available behind the big barn. No admission fees. It’s worthwhile to take the drive through rustic countryside of Killingworth and see the beautiful purple glory!

This was a first for me to see white lavender plants!

While you can’t pick lavender, you can purchase them at the farm shoppe.

Buttonwood Farm

Every summer I take the drive on a long scenic country road in Griswold, Connecticut until I reach Buttonwood Farm. Buttonwood Farm is a working family owned farm that sells farm fresh ice cream. They have the best ice cream in New England region. It’s THAT good.

The sunflower field where you can walk through or take a hayride.

Griswold, CT also got the “sunflower capital” cred from Buttonwood Farm’s annual event in July. The Sunflowers for Wishes is a fundraiser event donating all proceeds to the Make-A-Wish of Connecticut. Buttonwood Farm harvest 14 acres worth of gorgeous sunflowers and cuts them to sell bouquets. The week long event is when many people flock there to enjoy the sunflowers by taking pictures, rides on the cow train (kiddos), purchase the bouquets, and ride the hayride through the sunflower field. It’s so striking to see all those beautiful yellow sunflowers enough that I come back every year in July. People drive in from all over Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and who knows where else! Dogs are allowed as long they are leashed and friendly. TIP: it’s better to park in the field on Route 201 as the parking area in front of the farm can get really busy! Buttonwood Farm also sells sunflower ice cream during this event - it’s delicious!

The ice cream stand during Sunflowers for Wishes event.

Let’s talk about ice cream. As mentioned, their ice cream is farm fresh so you can’t get any more fresh than them! They have so many flavors so it’s hard to pick one every time I go there. Few of my favorites include blueberry (made with wild Maine blueberries!), cherry vanilla, chocolate brownie batter, coffee Reese’s and Jungle George (bananas with chocolate chips and walnuts). They make special flavors which is usually shared via their social media (Facebook or Instagram). Buttonwood Farm also makes their own waffle cones and whipped cream. The waffle cones are amazing. I love the smell of them when you walk up to the order window. My pup gets a bowl of whipped cream, it is funny to see her messy face afterwards!

My favorite time to visit the farm is usually during evenings to see the sunsets. Their farm landscape is so beautiful. They have farm animals in the fields too. I have 5 years worth of sunset photos from Buttonwood Farm - it really is magical there! The ice cream is definitely worth the drive if you’re ever in New London County (15 minutes drive from Foxwoods Casino).

One of the sunsets I captured at the farm.

Sunflowers for Wishes 2015.

Sunflowers makes my pup happy!

Sunflowers for Wishes 2018.

The bouquets for sale.

My pup with her cow friend.

Beautiful farm views with sunflowers.

Sunflowers for Wishes 2016.

This blog is not sponsored. All opinions in this blog are my own.