12 Magical Spots To Visit In Connecticut That Are Like A Fairy Tale
We could all use a little magic in our lives. And if you’ve been searching for some magic in The Constitution State, you’ll be pleased to know that Connecticut is home to some absolutely magical places. We’re talking castles and lighthouses, pristine beaches and beautiful botanical gardens, estates that look like something straight out of Downton Abbey. Intrigued? Here are 12 magical spots to visit in Connecticut that are like a fairy tale.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Silver Sands Park is one of the most stunningly beautiful parks in Connecticut, and is really a "choose your own adventure" kind of place. The park has marsh, grassland, and beaches, and will totally remind you of Where The Crawdads Sing. At 297 acres, you could easily spend a whole weekend here. If you stick around for low tide, you'll also be able to walk along a sand bar to Charles Island. It's magical.
Bluff Point is a peninsula that remains mostly untouched and offers some of the most scenic views on the Long Island Sound. Between yer beautiful trails and spectacular wildlife viewing, you'll never want to leave. A beautiful two-mile hike through a wooded area will get you to a pristine, white beach where you can enjoy a view of the New London Ledge Lighthouse. Bring bikes and have a total Nicholas Sparks moment!
Take one of the cruises for a relaxing sunset ride through Thimble Islands -- Connecticut's collection of scenic islands. There are three boats from which to choose; take a sunset cruise for the most romantic date ever. (You're welcome!)
This place is truly unlike any other. At 1,950 feet long and 135 feet tall, the masonry work on Saville Dam is incredible. It's an ideal spot for a picnic -- or even a proposal. (We are so romantic around here!) Saville Dam is basically a castle tower on water!
Harkness Memorial State Park will make you feel like a member of the 18th century elite. Wander the estate's 230 seaside acres of sweeping lawns, stately trees, and spectacular gardens. You'll be charmed by intricate mansion archways and take the boardwalk to the beach to complete this glorious adventure that will make you feel like you're part of Downton Abbey.
Elizabeth Park is one of those places that's hard to put into words, or even describe with pictures. It's really something you have to experience for yourself -- but, for the sake of this article, we'll try to do it justice. Elizabeth Park is over 100 acres of lush foliage, bountiful blooms, and charming wildlife. It's
It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is such a wonderful gift to the Connecticut community. Its crown jewel is the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden. The first municipal rose garden in the United States -- and the third largest rose garden in the country today -- this garden is utterly sublime. These romantic flowers bloom June through October, and it's worth scheduling your trip around their arrival.
Known for its picture-perfect pier and the absolute bluest waters in the state, it just doesn't get any more gorgeous than Walnut Beach. Soft white sands and unparalleled sunsets push Walnut Beach over the top.
More of a dark fantasy fan? Then venture to Devil's Hopyard, a preserve that looks like something straight out of Middle Earth. But just like Mordor in Middle Earth, Devil's Hopyard has a dark side -- it's rumored to be a hangout of the devil himself.
What's more fairy tale than a castle? (Answer: nothing.) Gillette Castle was built by the famous actor William Gillette and is just about as quirky as he is. Not to mention, the views of the river -- wow. Definitely check their website before you go; often times if the castle itself is closed, the grounds will still be open!
So this list has several super-romantic spots, but Wadsworth Falls may indeed be the absolute most romantic. This is basically the Platonic Ideal of waterfalls; it's 15 feet tall with rushing cascades, surrounding by incredibly scenic Connecticut forest. Want to be extra? Go during the autumn, when fall foliage is in full color.
There's something inherently "fairy tale" about lighthouses, and Lighthouse Point Park does not disappoint.
This perfect little lighthouse is located on a romantic, rocky shoreline that's just begging for a long walk on the beach. There's also a carousel - a whimsical, magical carousel. You'll be absolutely delighted at Lighthouse Point Park.
For starters, doesn't Sleeping Giant Tower make you think of Jack and The Beanstock? Does it get any more classic fairy tale than this? The mountaintop viewing deck at Sleeping Giant Tower will completely blow you away with its sweeping panoramic views. A visit to this pristine stone wonder is definitely worth the hike. It's also the place of much folklore -- and maybe some magic!
Did you know about all of these magical spots to visit in Connecticut? Which are you most excited to explore? Share it with us in the comments below! And if castles are your thing, you’ll enjoy this deeper dive about Gillette Castle (#9 on our list)!
Address: Silver Sands State Park, 1 Silver Sands Pkwy, Milford, CT 06460, USA
Address: Bluff Point Beach, Groton, CT 06340, USA
Address: Thimble Islands, Branford, CT, USA
Address: Saville Dam Rd, Barkhamsted, CT 06063, USA
Address: 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT 06385, USA
Address: Elizabeth Park Conservancy, 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
Address: Walnut Beach, Milford, CT 06460, USA
Address: Devils Hopyard Swamp, Connecticut, USA
Address: Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, CT 06423, USA
Address: 366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423, USA
Address: Wadsworth Falls, Middlefield, CT 06481, USA
Address: 2 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT 06512, USA
Address: Hamden, CT 06518, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Magical Spots To Visit In Connecticut
February 10, 2021
Sarah
Are there any castles in Connecticut?
Connecticut is home to more castles than you’d think — and these aren’t just any-old castles. There are also mansions and estates — equipped with all the modern furnishings your heart desires, but all the architectural lure and design of the 1700s. There are rustic little castle towers. There are epic estates that go on forever. And of course, some of Connecticut’s most iconic buildings (cough, Yale, cough) are castle-like in stature and significance.
Does Connecticut have any ruins?
A prison, a mill, a castle, a religious retreat and a quarry walk into a bar… just kidding! What could these seemingly disparate places possibly have in common? They’re all abandoned ruins in Connecticut. They aren’t just lacking residents — these places have all been isolated for years. Some have been forgotten and some simply neglected for so long, that they have succumbed to nature and started to crumble back down into the earth. These ruins will take you back in time to a place deep in the past, and are the ultimate Connecticut adventure.
What are some of the most beautiful places in Connecticut?
If the above roundup of magical places in Connecticut ignited your sense of wonder and awe, these 11 fairytale places in Connecticut are the next step. From waterfalls to farms, mountains to gardens, Connecticut truly is one of the most magical, beautiful places in the country.
Address: Silver Sands State Park, 1 Silver Sands Pkwy, Milford, CT 06460, USA
Address: Bluff Point Beach, Groton, CT 06340, USA
Address: Thimble Islands, Branford, CT, USA
Address: Saville Dam Rd, Barkhamsted, CT 06063, USA
Address: 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT 06385, USA
Address: Elizabeth Park Conservancy, 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
Address: Walnut Beach, Milford, CT 06460, USA
Address: Devils Hopyard Swamp, Connecticut, USA
Address: Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, CT 06423, USA
Address: 366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423, USA
Address: Wadsworth Falls, Middlefield, CT 06481, USA
Address: 2 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT 06512, USA
Address: Hamden, CT 06518, USA
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Taylor Ellis grew up in southern Connecticut. She is a social boss who has worked with several major sites and brands. Follow her at taylorellisblogger.com
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