Chatfield Hollow

Who says there is nothing to do in CT? Not us. Buy yourself a CT Park Pass and you can't get bored. Our first state park this year was Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth. The trails were pretty quiet, since most people were down at the beach or picnicing. We passed maybe a handful of fellow hikers in the few hours we were there. We took the red trail, linked up with the purple and the blue eventually. What's great is that the website for Chatfield Hollow has a printable map that says the mileage of each trail so that you know what you're getting yourself into before you start. We hiked over to a covered bridge and dipped our toes in the water for a little break. Plan on getting muddy. The trails were pretty wet, even though it hadn't just rained.

Elizabeth Park - Hartford

The roses at Elizabeth Park are stunning and unique! There were so many different varieties of roses that I never had even recognized as being roses before. Word of caution, don't do a Sunday like we did. Pick an off-day afternoon to stroll the garden. We encountered droves of people, including 2 weddings and a 2 quinceneras. Also, the non-rose areas were actually more interesting. We found a cozy little bench among the greenery.

 

The Counter - West Hartford

As you can see, we love food- good food, that is. The Counter is in Blue Back Square of West Hartford. Who knew burgers could be so refined? You can select a burger from the menu, or do like we did and fill out a form to individualize your burger. You can pick the size (lbs), chicken/turkey/beef/or vegan veggie burger, cheese, toppings, dressings... And it's not just cheddar and american, iceburg lettuce, etc.! For example, I chose a multgrain bun, veggie burger, apricot salsa, sprouts, mesclun mix greens, TONS of veggies, and a locally made cheddar. There's even a super-cute old-fashioned counter to sit at, if you'd rather not do a booth. Definitely a great place to stop after shopping ;)

crispy onion rings on the side, naturally!

Heirloom @ The Study - New Haven

Not very noticeable from the street, and not too well-known, Heirloom is not to be missed! Local farm produce, meat, and dairy makes everything remarkably fresh. They focus dishes around which produce is in season, so the menu is never stagnant. The cocktails are also a pleasant reprieve from your run-of-the-mill staples like cosmos and margaritas. Each drink is so unique, I didn't know which to try first (so I attempted to try them all...)! These photos do not do the plates justice: