A nearby escape: Connecticut offers surprises and delights that are close at hand
Forget the getaway car, we found ourselves a Getaway House. Located just an hour from Worcester, Getaway’s tiny cabins in Eastern Connecticut are the perfect place for a no-frills escape this spring.
Moodus, Connecticut
Moodus, Connecticut, was our home base for the weekend with its lush forest views and starry skies. We snuggled up in a secluded cabin, just large enough to accommodate the whole family, including our 100 pound golden retriever. Although we came prepared with a portacrib and a dog crate, in the end, we all slept together in the fluffy queen bed under a gigantic picture window. I would describe the experience as nature-forward, but not camping. Our cabin’s bathroom came with a flushing toilet and a hot shower. We didn’t have to interact with anyone on staff for check-in or check-out; they simply texted us a digital lock code before we arrived.
Our cabin offered basic provisions — supplies for s’mores, tea, and coffee; however, my husband opted to explore town and ended up at a cobalt blue café called the Two Wrasslin’ Cats, where a couple of six-foot high feline statues greeted him at the door. Two Wrasslin’ Cats is located in a quaint residential home built in 1784 that is decked out in cat-themed décor; there are no actual cats on the premises. The owner is a retired Molecular Biologist who makes a great cup of Joe.
Salem, Connecticut
Next, we visited Fox Farm brewery, which is housed in an old dairy farm in nearby Salem, Connecticut. As they say with every pour, “From the soils come the spoils!” There are no remaining cows on the farm, but there are plenty of well-behaved dogs on leashes. We bundled up in Adirondack chairs outside the barrel room and drank a couple of punchy table beers called Pebbles. I overheard someone in the taproom say that Jackie Robinson’s widow, Rachel, once owned the property.
Mystic, Connecticut
We became intimately acquainted with Baby Beluga at the Mystic Aquarium, which was a dream come true for our daughter. She was equally star struck by the sight of a real life “baby shark.” (I fear my Spotify algorithm may never recover.) We grabbed lunch at Mystic Pizza, the inspiration for Julia Roberts’ iconic 1988 rom-com. I’m not sure what’s in the sauce, but it quite literally made my toddler stand up and dance. After pizza, we walked across the street to an enormous books store called Bank Square Books with a children’s section that made me swoon.
Chester, Connecticut
Our friends drove up from Manhattan to meet us for dinner in the most Stars Hollow-like town I’ve ever visited —Chester, Connecticut. Downtown Chester is filled with adorable boutiques and galleries. We found our friends at the wishing booth, which resembles a classic red telephone call box like you would find in London. Artists Caryn Paradis and Christopher Owens created the booth as an interactive installation for visitors to anonymously record their deepest wishes. Inside the restaurant, Grano Arso, we enjoyed fresh bread and pasta along with locally sourced short-rib and duck. Fun batched cocktails arrived in apothecary bottles that we gamely poured over big blocks of ice. We ended the evening next door at Little House Brewing, where we sat in the window seat and raised our glasses to old friends and new adventures.
Eastern Connecticut is a light lift for families that are looking to take a quick trip from Worcester County. We plan to return in April for a picturesque float down the Connecticut River when the Hadlyme Ferry resumes service.
Do you have a favorite destination in Eastern Connecticut that I missed? Find me on Instagram at @sarah_connell to share your suggestions.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: In need of a quick escape? Look no further than Connecticut