Last updated: April 21, 2024

The links in this post are affiliate links which means if you click them and purchase the item, I’ll earn some money at no additional cost to you which I promise to use to buy more cool stuff to blog about and share with you.

I love that I was able to take nine days and explore New England. While that’s definitely not enough time to thoroughly visit Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, it was enough time to get just a taste to know I want to go back!

Connecticut

I knew nothing about Connecticut before visiting but have since learned:

• Highest median household income in the United States (interesting!).
• Third smallest state (trailing Rhode Island and Delaware).
• Known as the “Constitution State”, the “Nutmeg State”, the “Provisions State”, and the “Land of Steady Habits”.
• Anthem is Yankee Doodle
• They didn’t have a stage food until 2021 when a bill was passed naming pizza the official state food. I honestly spent way too much time reading about this, but being a pizza lover, I just couldn’t resist.
• Insect is praying mantis
• Bird is the Robin

I had one goal while in Connecticut, and that was to visit Weir Farm National Historical Site as part of my quest to visit all of the the National Park System. This is the only Park to date in Connecticut, so this was at the top of the list.

Weir Farm National Historic Park (Wilton, CT)

Some of the day was spent driving, checking into our hotel and all the things that come with this type an adventure related to seeing as many things as possible, however I did make it to Weir Farm!

So what is this place? This farm is in Wilton, Connecticut and commemorates the life and work of American impressionist painter Julian Alden Weir and other artists who stayed at the site or lived there, to include Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, John Singer Sargent, and John Twachtman. It gives visitors a perspective into an important period in American art, as well as a much-needed space to reconnect with our natural world.

In 1882, Julian Weir purchased this 153-acre farm for $10 and a one of his paintings. He then hosted numerous artists who produced many paintings the property and other nearby country sides. Here is a painting Julian painted in 1987.

In 1990, the U.S. Government designated Weir Farm a National Historical Site, and in 2020, President Donald Trump redesignated it as a National Historical Park, making it Connecticuts first and only National Park. This is one of only two sites in the National Park Service devoted to the visual arts, the other being Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in New Hampshire. Both maintain ongoing artist-in-residence programs; to date, the Weir Farm Art Center (formerly the Weir Farm Trust) has hosted more than 150 artists for month long stays at the site. Weir Farm also runs an ongoing “Take Part in Art” program, under which visitors can create their own works on site.

Fun fact: Weir Farm was recognized on the 52nd quarter in 2020 as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

While roaming the property, I have to admit it is paint worthy. The grounds were gorgeous and the house was impressive. Honestly, where else would some of America’s greatest artists live?

Maggie McFly’s (Glastonbury/Hartford, CT)

Ok, so because I love me some good food, I have to throw a shout out to Maggie McFlys. Kris and I loved it so much we ate there two days in a row – once for dinner and the next day for brunch, and if I’m ever back in this area, I’ll eat there again! I had lobster pasta for dinner and cinnamon cheesecake for desert and it was honestly Christmas in my mouth. Brunch the next day included scrambled eggs with lobster. I regret nothing.

Mark Twain House (Hartford, CT)

So this was a pleasant find! It was not on the original agenda. We had some time to kill before our flight back home and we stumbled upon this gem. The museum and bookstore were awesome and seeing Twains house up close and personal was a treat.

The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, was the home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) and his family from 1874 to 1891 and has been described as part steamboat, part medieval fortress and part cuckoo clock.

The museum was small but I learned so much about Twain, especially how his front row seat to slavery as a young child impacted him later as an adult and influenced his writings. His original writing desk and several other items relating directly to him and slavery are on display. I truly enjoyed this and even bought The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to reread with this fresh perspective and add to my library as a reminder of my trip.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Hartford, CT)

You get a two for one deal when you go see Mark Twains house, because right next to it is the Harriet Beecher Stowe House who’s owner was the author of the 1852 Uncle Tom’s Cabin which was instrumental in changing Americans attitude towards slavery and galvanized the anti slavery movement. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and declared a National Historic Landmark in 2013

My biggest takeaway from my time is Connecticut is that some of Americas most creative minds roamed these streets. That, and I’m pretty sure me and Twain would have gotten along famously. I see you, Mark.

Have you been to Connecticut? I only had one day to explore but would love to know your recommendations for when I visit again.