We just got back from an amazing weekend in Litchfield Connecticut. To celebrate my birthday and our upcoming anniversary, we decided to go away without the kids. I’m still a little apprehensive about leaving the kids and Brooks is at a hard age right now, so we decided to go for a weekend and explore someplace closer so we didn’t waste a chunk of our time away on traveling. Since we moved to Connecticut, we’ve had people rave to use about Litchfield, CT and recommend it for a weekend getaway, so we decided to check it out. As some of you may know, I used to cover honeymoons and destination weddings for The Knot, so I spent years traveling around to the coolest and most romantic destinations around the world. Litchfield is a popular place for weddings and mini-moons, but I had never been so I was excited to finally get to see the area. Plus, I’m a huge Gilmore Girls fan, and two of the towns in the area inspired Stars Hollow, aka the cutest town in the world, right? I shared highlights from our weekend on Insta and got lots of questions and requests for where to stay, eat, and what to do in Litchfield Connecticut, so I’m putting it all together in a blog post.
I am trying to bring more travel content here because as I mentioned it’s something I have done a lot of and want to share that, but I’m also feeling the adventure/travel bug these days, so I’m hoping to do some more exploring and sharing. I’ll be mostly sharing a lot of family-friendly travel content, since it’s hard to offload the three little kiddos and well, I love bringing them along, but I also want to share ideas for couples getaways since Andrew and I are going to try and prioritize those as well. I will say that Litchfield could really be a great destination for either. It’s a sweet, romantic spot to visit as a couple but it would also make a great weekend adventure for a family, and there’s skiing nearby if you’re looking to make it a spring or winter break trip. Here’s my roundup of what to do in Litchfield Connecticut, including where to stay, eat, and shop.
WHERE TO STAY
Mayflower Inn & Spa: If you’re looking for a higher-end experience, doing a girlfriends or couples getaway, The Mayflower is a gorgeous destination. Like all Auberge properties, they really have done every detail right, from the decor (an interior-lover’s dream come true) to the spa and food. Personally, I’d reserve this for an adults-only getaway or wait until the kids are older — the restaurants and decor are much to nice for my crazy crew and for the price tag, I think you’d want to bring little kids somewhere more family-friendly. But I also have three wild and very young children.
The Litchfield Inn: A great more budget-friendly option centrally located close to soem of the best restaurants and shopping. The staff couldn’t be more friendly and accommodating and they have lots of great touches that just make your stay that much nicer, like cookies and snacks out in one of the indoor/outdoor hang spaces and wine and apps before dinner as well as a great breakfast in the morning, complete with an omelette station. This would make a great spot for a girlfriends getaway, romantic vacation or to bring the kids. It has more spaces for the kids to hang out, and the breakfast would have been a hit with my kiddos — they love a serve yourself situation.
WHERE TO EAT
West Street Grill: Call and make a reservation (this place is old school), but it’s totally worth it. The food is delicious and the owner is full of fun stories. I recommend the mussels and chocolate lava camp.
Community Table: Chic atmosphere and delicious food, make this a great spot for dinner.
The Garden Room at the Mayflower Inn: Even if you don’t stay here, I highly recommend having brunch/lunch or a dinner here. The food is so delicious and I just love the decor and atmosphere. They also have the Tap Room for a casual dinner or lunch vibe.
The White Horse: An old school Litchfield staple that was recommended to us by multiple people and great for a lunch or dinner or brunch.
Arethusa Al Tavolo: We didn’t end up making it here, but got lots of recommendations for this spot for dinner and it’s on our list to check out next time.
Toast & Co: Great for a quick breakfast or lunch
The BakeHouse: Perfect spot for cookies and coffee and homemade bread with a fun history.
Espresso59: Gelato and coffee, what more could you want?
WHAT TO DO
Mohawk Mountain: You can ski, sled, and in summer/fall/spring, hike at this ski resort. It’s close by and a great spot to go if you’re with the family. You can also stay there if you prefer to center your trip on the mountain and skiing.
Antiquing and Shopping: There are so many great antique shops in Litchfield, which is made up of several different small towns you can explore. We had such a good time checking out all the cute little boutiques and antique stores and finding sweet little gifts and unique items for our house. Some favorite shops we visited:
Sister Paris (closed on weekends so I didn’t actually get to go in but I am coming back just to visit)
Hayseed
Little-ish
Oliphant
Blueprint CT Home
Milton Market
The Silly Sprout
Wine Tasting: There are several wineries around LItchfield where you can visit and do some tastings. We randomly dropped into an adorable one on our way to our hotel on Saturday and had the best time just enjoying a little wine and crackers in a super chill atmosphere.
Laurel Ridge Farm: We didn’t visit on this trip, but would be a great outdoor adventure with the kiddos.
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