Day Trips from Connecticut

1. Branford

Located on Connecticut's Long Island Sound, the welcoming shoreline town of Branford offers plenty of things for visitors to see and do, including breweries, museums, and walking trails. If you want to spend the day by the water, you can visit one of the beaches on the coast or head out to the Thimble Islands, a beautiful archipelago sitting just off the mainland.

The town is also home to more than 20 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Harrison House museum, which is full of fascinating artifacts that tell the story of the days gone by.

2. Burlington, VT

The largest city in Vermont is located just below the Canadian border on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. The compact, historic downtown area is packed with specialty stores, upscale restaurants, and historic buildings particularly on the pedestrian-only Church Street, where visitors will often find street performers, live music, and local vendor stalls.

From Church Street, it's a short stroll down to the beautiful waterfront, where there are plenty of parks and trails for walkers and cyclists to enjoy.

In the summer, the most popular is a 12.5-mile path that leads to the Lake Champlain Islands via a seasonal ferry. Burlington Map

3. Cape Cod

Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, the hook-shaped peninsula of Cape Cod has been one of the country's most popular vacation spots for generations. There's something here for everyone; families with young children might want to beeline out to the northern side of the peninsula to enjoy the tranquil waters of Cape Cod Bay, while anyone looking for classic New England charm should visit the seaside town of Chatham. And of course, no day trip to Cape Cod is complete without stopping in Provincetown to soak in the town's rich history and admire its many art galleries.

4. Chaplin

Named in honor of Deacon Benjamin Chaplin, one of the first settlers in the area, the town of Chaplin is unique in that it was purposefully constructed on a site that had experienced no prior settlement.

The historic town center has hardly changed since it was originally built in the early 19th century, and it's full of beautiful wood-frame houses as well as significant public buildings like a church built in 1812 and an old town hall from 1840.

On the way out of town, visitors can stop by the picturesque Natchaug River or go for a quick hike in the Natchaug State Forest. Chaplin Map

5. Chester

Set on the hilly banks of the Connecticut River, the town of Chester is the perfect destination for anyone longing for a taste of rural New England.

It was first settled in 1692, and although it has a rich and interesting history, it offers plenty of 21st-century comforts as well; its rambling Main Street is lined with handsome 19th-century buildings that house boutique shops, fine dining restaurants, and impressive art galleries.

On the way out of town, consider stopping to visit the animals at Chakana Sky Alpacas, take a ride on the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, and tour the medieval-style fortress in Gillette Castle State Park.

6. Dinosaur State Park

Created to protect one of the biggest dinosaur track sites on the continent, Dinosaur State Park is an impressive natural history preserve located in the town of Rocky Hill.

The highlight of the park is its 55,000-square-foot geodesic dome, where visitors can see hundreds of fossilized Jurassic dinosaur tracks that date back more than 200 million years.

The dome also houses a collection of dinosaur exhibits and interactive rooms where visitors can dig for fossils and examine rocks. Outside, two miles of trails wind through the park's Arboretum, which grows an impressive collection of plants from the time of the dinosaurs.

Dinosaur State Park, 400 West St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067, Phone: 860-529-8423

7. East Haddam

East Haddam is another charming town on the banks of the Connecticut River, and like other towns in the area, it offers a wealth of picture-perfect views, historic homes, and quaint museums.

The biggest attractions in East Haddam include the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, the scenic Staehly Tree Farm & Winery, and the Goodspeed Opera House, where summer visitors might be lucky enough to catch the weekly Music on the River event.

If you want to spend some time in nature before you go, take a walk in Brainard Homestead State Park or check out the waterfalls in Devil’s Hopyard State Park.

8. Essex

Encompassing ten square miles on the bank of the Connecticut River, Essex is comprised of three distinct villages, each of which is well worth a visit.

The tiny Essex Village is full of colonial-era homes and surrounded by the river on three sides, while the artsy Ivoryton is best known for being home to a turn-of-the-century playhouse and a wonderful collection of local art galleries.

If you'd like to travel even further afield, the bustling village of Centerbrook has a steam train running through it, which visitors can ride up to Deep River or Haddam. Essex Map

9. Griswold

Sitting at the junction of the Pachaug River and the Quinebaug River, the town of Griswold is famed for its natural beauty.

Visitors can drive up to the tops of the neighboring hills to get stunning views of the town and the surrounding countryside, and if you have a boat, you can get out on the water at the town's surprisingly large Pachaug Pond.

Try to make time to stop at Buttonwood Farm as well; they're known for their delicious homemade ice cream, and in the summer, the fields bloom with more than 300,000 sunflowers. Griswold Map

10. Groton Long Point

A sleepy residential community on Fishers Island Sound, Groton Long Point is the perfect destination for a day trip with your kids.

The town has less than 1,000 full-time residents, but the population swells dramatically during the summer months, when summer vacationers flood in from the surrounding cities.

There are several public beaches for visitors to enjoy, and there's a playground you can visit if your children tire of the water.

Parking can be tricky during the peak season, but if you bring your bikes, you can park at the nearby Esker Point Beach and easily cycle along the length of the point. Map