knows just how important it is to have a plan for your precious vacation time. That’s why we’ve created this list of weekend getaways in The Constitution State.

From foodie adventures and Ivy League universities to world-class hiking and family fun, these are the best weekend getaways in the great state of Connecticut.

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The best weekend getaways for couples in Connecticut

Old Saybrook

A small sailboat putters out of the mouth of the Connecticut River.

Stay at:

Saybrook Point Inn and Spa

(rooms from $265/night)

Or:

Quality Inn Old Saybrook - Westbrook

(rooms from $118/night)

If you stay at the Saybrook Point Inn, start your weekend off with a walk along the shoreline, then brunch at the charming

Fresh Salt

restaurant.

Next, spend your afternoon checking out the area’s local history at the

General William Hart House

and the

Fort Saybrook Monument Park

. Then, wrap things up with fresh, local seafood at

Liv’s Oyster Bar

Kick off day two with breakfast at local favorite

The Paperback Café

, then head to

The Katharine Hepburn Performing Arts Center

, the town’s most popular attraction.

Spend your afternoon shopping on Main Street, and wrap up your weekend with a romantic dinner at Café

Routier

. Make sure to check out the Mood Lounge, where food is served tapas-style and paired with “sensory libations.”

Mystic

Stay at:

Spicer Mansion

(rooms from $299/night)

Or:

Howard Johnson by Wyndham

(rooms from $152/night)

Start your Connecticut getaway by touring the Connecticut Wine Trail.

Saltwater Farm Vineyard

and

Stonington Vineyards

are great local options, and Saltwater often has live music and food trucks.

Later, take a romantic sunset cruise on the schooner

Argia

and enjoy a late dinner at

The Shipwright’s Daughter

Begin day two with breakfast at a local spot (if you stay at the Spicer, make sure to check out their

brunch

!), then spend the day at one of Mystic’s many

beaches

Not a beach person? Stroll through historic downtown Mystic instead, and make sure to grab a slice at the famous

Mystic Pizza

. Finally, end your trip by sampling an age-old aphrodisiac at the

Oyster Club

Pro tip If you head to Old Saybrook, make sure to check out the 18th-century-style gardens located behind the General William Hart House. During the spring and summer, they are particularly magnificent with shrubs, roses, fruit trees, and flowers.

The best weekend getaways for families in Connecticut

Hartford

Stay at:

Best Western Hartford Hotel & Suites

(rooms from $213/night)

Or:

Candlewood Suites Hartford Downtown

(rooms from $122/night)

Historic Hartford, Connecticut is loaded with things for the whole family to enjoy. Kids love the vintage carousel at

Bushnell Park

and the fun exhibits at the

Connecticut Science Center

. Meanwhile, parents enjoy the

Harriet Beecher Stowe House

, which features a children’s educational center where kids can try out various 19th-century activities.

For family-friendly meals, grab a pizza at

Angelina’s

or head to

Chowder Pot

for one of their famous lobster rolls (don’t worry, they have fried mozzarella for the kids).

Bristol

Stay at:

DoubleTree by Hilton

(rooms from $158/night)

Or:

Holiday Inn Cheshire

(rooms from $114/night)

For a slightly more adventurous weekend, head to Bristol, home of the country’s oldest theme park.

Lake Compounce

features dozens of rides, including the world’s 14th-oldest wooden roller coaster, Wildcat. Afterward, check out the

Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum

, an homage to the golden era of horror and sci-fi.

If your kids are on the younger side, check out the children’s museum

Imagine Nation

or the

New England Carousel Museum

Looking for some grub? Try

Buster’s Drive-In

for some good, old-fashioned burgers and shakes, or

Greer’s

for some of the tastiest fried chicken in the area.

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The best weekend getaways for casino enthusiasts in Connecticut

Foxwoods Casino (Mashantucket)

Stay at:

Hilton Garden Inn

(rooms from $132/night)

Or:

The Whaler’s Inn

(rooms from $325/night)

There is plenty to do at Foxwoods without ever leaving the property: fine

dining

, a spa,

shows

, golf, and (of course)

gambling

. There are even attractions for the

little ones

, including bowling, an arcade, and ice skating.

That being said, there is plenty more to see in the area. Just minutes from the casino, the

Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center

is the largest Native American Museum in the world.

If shopping is more your speed, check out the

Tanger Outlets

, where you can find discount prices at over 70 stores, including Nike, Coach, and Michael Kors.

Mohegan Sun Casino

Stay at:

Hyatt Place

(rooms from $128/night)

Or:

Mohegan Sun

(rooms from $208/night)

Mohegan Sun is right down the road from Foxwoods and offers just as much to do (you could feasibly visit both casinos in one weekend, in fact). While at the casino, you can choose from

43 different restaurants

, see a show at the arena, or catch some stand-up at

Comix

. Past acts at the theater have included acts ranging from Taylor Swift to Jon Bon Jovi.

Off-site, check out the

Tantaquidgeon Museum

or drive a few miles to tour the historic

USS Nautilus

at the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association. Want to get away from the hubbub for a bit? Head to

Yantic Falls

for a short (but beautiful) hike.

Note: If you have risk factors for compulsive gambling, consider avoiding gambling in any form, people who gamble, and places where gambling occurs.

MORE: The best ghost towns to visit in Connecticut

The best weekend getaways for foodies in Connecticut

South Norwalk

Stay at:

DoubleTree by Hilton

(rooms from $105/night)

Or:

Residence Inn

(rooms from $170/night)

South Norwalk is practically overflowing with restaurants: Edwin Montoya, the owner of French restaurant

Appétit Bistro

, calls the town a "foodie destination." It seems like no matter where you go, there is another place to eat.

There are dozens of choices, from globally influenced

Match

to Asian comfort food restaurant

Mecha Noodle Bar

to local favorite

O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant

While you're there, don't forget to check out

Burger Bar & Bistro

for “the best burger in the state.” Located just minutes from the

Maritime Aquarium

, it's a great place to go with the family after a long day out.

New Haven

Stay at:

Graduate New Haven

(rooms from $206/night)

Or:

Courtyard New Haven at Yale

(rooms from $151/night)

New Haven is best known for pizza, but the food scene has more to offer. Locals love

Louis’ Lunch

, creator of the first hamburger, and

Miya’s Sushi

, the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the world. The

East Rock Brewing Company

is great for sampling some local craft beers and grabbing a bite to eat.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the pizza: New Haven is known for having some of the best pies in the Northeast. People travel hundreds of miles to hit up the iconic

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

and

Sally’s Apizza

Pro Tip Many of the restaurants in South Norwalk (or “sono”) are close together, so you can totally walk from one to another. Why not make a list of all the places you want to check out and set up your own foodie tour?

The best outdoor weekend getaways in Connecticut

Middlefield

Stay at:

Lake Compounce Campground

(sites from $32/night)

Or:

Passport Inn & Suites

(rooms from $80/night)

If you’re an outdoors enthusiast, Middlefield is the place to be. This small town doesn’t offer much in the way of hotels or restaurants, but it does have one of the most scenic hiking trails in Connecticut.

The Mattabesett and Mount Higby Trail

is an 8.9-mile trail that runs along cliffs, allowing for several panoramic views of the Quinnipiac Valley (look for the CT Police Academy below!).

Visit in the spring or summer to see some of the state’s beautiful wildflowers, or in the autumn for magnificent fall foliage.

Pack a picnic lunch in case you get hungry, but remember: this is bear country! Keep everything sealed up.

Roxbury

Stay at:

Lake Waramaug State Park

(sites from $17/night)

Or:

Mayflower Inn and Spa

(rooms from $775/night)

Tiny Roxbury, CT has a little over 2,000 citizens and no “downtown” to speak of. What it does have is tons of country charm and some incredibly cool hiking at the

Mine Hill Preserve

A 19th-century iron mine and furnace complex site, Mine Hill offers abandoned mine shafts, a granite quarry, blast furnaces, and more to explore. Right down the road is

Lake Waramaug State Park

, where you can camp, fish, boat, and swim.

Make sure to check out

Mamie’s

while you’re in town. Locals rave over the friendly service and fantastic food (especially the breakfasts).

Pro Tip Connecticut has hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, from easy to difficult and high land to low. Of note is the Appalachian Trail, which travels 52 miles in Connecticut, mostly following the ridges to the west of the Housatonic River Valley.

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The best weekend getaways for history buffs in Connecticut

Old Lyme

Stay at:

Old Lyme Inn

(rooms from $159/night)

Or:

Pier Blue Inn

(rooms from $99/night)

Old Lyme was founded in 1655 when it separated from Saybrook. Early industry centered on fishing, shipping, shipbuilding, but in the early 19th century, the town evolved into an artists’ colony. Today, it remains a rich center for culture and the arts.

You can visit the

Florence Griswold Museum

, home of the former Lyme Art Colony, or the

Lyme Art Association

, which has been showing fine art exhibits since 1914. Round out your trip with some shopping in the

historic district

and a meal at the

Griswold Inn

, in business since 1776.

Groton

Stay at:

Hampton Inn

(rooms from $228/night)

Or:

Ramada

(rooms from $92/night)

In 1655, a tiny trading post near Nod Brook on the Nashua evolved into The Plantation of Groton. Centuries later, many monuments to the town’s history still stand, such as the Groton Leatherboard Factory (opened in 1916) and a cemetery dating back to 1704.

One of the main draws for history buffs is the

Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park

, the site of the 1781 massacre led by Benedict Arnold. While there, you can tour the historic fort and stop by the

Ebenezer Avery House

, where patriots sheltered those wounded in battle.

If you have time, stop by the

Avery Copp House

, which houses artifacts from the Revolutionary Era through both World Wars.

And don’t forget to grab a bite to eat! If you’re a meat and potatoes person, check out the

Gibbet Hill Grill

for the perfect steak, or swing by

Salt & Light

if you’re in the mood for lighter fare.

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The best cheap weekend getaways in Connecticut

Stamford

Stay at:

The Lloyd

(rooms from $161/night)

Or:

Amsterdam Hotel

(rooms from $95/night)

For the traveler on a budget, Stamford is full of cheap and free things to do. Start your weekend with a coffee and a scone at

Lorca Coffee Bar

—grab some extra snacks for a picnic later!

Then, head to the

Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens

and spend your day exploring the 93 acres of hiking trails, gardens, and wetlands. Finally, end the day with a meal both your wallet and your tummy will love at middle eastern restaurant

Layla’s Falafel

The following day, grab a pancake tower at the

Elm Street Diner

, then check out some artwork for FREE! Start with the UConn Stamford Art Gallery, then head to

Stamford Art Association and Townhouse Gallery

. Round out your day with the

Whitney Museum at Champion

, then back to the Elm Street Diner for one of its famous extreme milkshakes.

New Haven - Yale Campus

Stay at:

La Quinta

(rooms from $98/night)

Or:

Holiday Inn Express

(rooms from $80/night)

Yale University

’s beautiful campus is one of New Haven’s biggest attractions. Grab a breakfast sandwich or tea, then take a free guided tour of campus (10:30 am, Monday-Friday, or 1:30 pm on weekends).

If you’d rather explore on your own, pick up a Blue Trail Map at the Visitor Center for about $5 and stroll at your own pace. Wrap your day up with a trip to the

Yale University Art Gallery

, and then drinks, dinner, and live music at

Stella Blues

Continue your art tour the next day with a trip to the

Yale Center for British Art

, followed by the

Knights of Columbus Museum

. Grab an ice cream cone from

Arethusa Farm Creamery

, then walk around the historic

Grove Street Cemetery

—the oldest cemetery in the nation.

Before you leave, make sure to stop by

St. John the Divine

, which was built in 1863 to “civilize the miners.” The original walls, rafters, and handmade nails are still visible.

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