12 Things People From Connecticut Always Have To Explain To Out Of Towners
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Taylor Ellis
Author
Plenty of things are different about Connecticut, and this list aims to highlight some of them. Whenever outsiders roll in, it seems you have to spend a lot of time explaining the state’s traditions or disproving common assumptions. But that’s okay! It comes with the territory, and we’re happy to fill in any gaps. How many of these things have you had to explain before?
Sure. A lot of people use the train to visit NYC, and it has a large commuter demographic. But for some folks, it's also their primary method of transportation. That's why we have so many stations. There are a lot of points of interests right here in the state, and the train is convenient.
With its hills, sharp turns, hidden drives, and narrow bridges, Connecticut driving is practically a sport. Especially in the winter. Locals don't take too kindly to folks who drive like they're "obviously not from around here." Best to let the native do the driving during your visit.
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Forget what's different about Connecticut. Let's talk about what's different about its counties. Each of them offers a different depiction of Connecticut life, from Fairfield's wealthy fast paced living to Windham's quiet, picturesque retreat. The experience of growing up in Connecticut is marked by the county you lived in.
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They exist, but we don't go crazy for them. Since we take our pizza and seafood so seriously, you'll probably never hear anyone talk about Red Lobster or Pizza Hut. We much prefer our local spots and family owned diners.
We have a lot of Italians, and they shake their heads at the mispronounciation. In some areas, they may shorten it to "moots" but they'll never get caught saying motz!
We can't really explain it, but Connecticut definitely attracts ghosts. Thanks to our Puritan settlers, there are also a number of places associated with the devil. I'm not saying you're going to see ghosts everywhere, but you'll definitely hear about places being haunted.
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Visitors tend to assume that Connecticut is nothing but small towns, so they don't expect much after dark. But we have our fair share of bars and late night venues. Especially in the cities.
Don't forget that the New England region is generally pricier, and Connecticut is no exception. Especially in areas that favor small boutiques over larger chain stores. But the prices aren't so bad when you consider the exceptional quality and unique finds.
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Don't come expecting a surf scene or warm waters. Connecticut beaches usually run a little colder, and a lot of them have rocky shores. You may even want to invest in water shoes.
Not a yard sale, and not a garage sale. This phrasing seems to be unique to the East, so visitors are often confused by the flyers advertising a tag sale.
Some places are known for their die hard fans, but with no football or baseball team, Connecticut's approach is pretty open. Like most New Englanders, we believe sports are whatever you want them to be. That's why Quidditch took off so easily in the region. We don't take sports too seriously, and any rivalry is really just for laughs.
People will crack jokes about all the trees, and it may seem strange that a place so densely populated is concentrated more on preservation than development, but we like it that way. We wouldn't trade our nature escapes for the world.
What else is different about Connecticut? Tell us in the comments! And check out this list of Weird Things Nutmeggers Do to see what makes the people different too!
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