Fall Activities in CT: Top 23 Most Unique Picks

couple enjoying CT fall foliageAs summer whispers away and winter begins to approach, fall leaves burst with color and temperatures add a crisp bite to the air.

 

There’s no better time to visit Connecticut than in the fall.

 

There’s no mistaking the bright red, burnt orange and brushed bronze of Connecticut’s fall foliage.

 

An attraction in and of itself, many people travel from all over the country to see the stunning vistas, parkways, and hilltops awash with color. Whether you’re a regular leaf peeper or you’re visiting for the first time, you’ll find endless things to do in fall in Connecticut.

 

Be sure to peruse our list of favorite fall activities in Connecticut before you head up our way!

Explore the great outdoors of Connecticut

With a range of high-octane activities and more relaxed ways to fill your day, you’ll never tire of spending time outdoors in Connecticut.

 

And while that applies year-round, it’s especially true in the Fall season.

Connecticut Apple Picking

You’ll find that apples are everywhere in fall, with delicious ciders, apple pies and caramel apples to enjoy. Take a break in one of the many cafes lining the streets for your necessary pumpkin spiced drink. Or visit a ‘pick your own’ Connecticut apple orchard or farm and get back to nature.

 

Some top picks include:

  • Lyman Orchards
  • Beardsley Cider Mill and Orchard
  • Silverman’s Farm

 

Some apple orchards even host cider mills, so you can bring home a pitcher of fresh apple cider, cider doughnuts, or both!

Pumpkin Picking

Once you’ve picked your apples, don’t forget to search for the perfect pumpkin!

 

If you’re visiting Connecticut before October 31st, you’ll be in time to scour the local pumpkin patches for the best Halloween pumpkin you can find. Don’t wait too late into the season, or you’ll risk finding slim pickings.

Haunted Connecticut

Don’t forget – Connecticut has some of the best Halloween attractions around.

 

So why not see the ghosts at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk?

 

Or you could take a lantern-lit walk through the graveyard at Mill Hill Historic Park.

 

Actually, fans of history or the occult would delight in the various attractions and activities in Norwalk, CT, in the fall.

 

Though many of the most haunted places in CT are not necessarily family friendly fall activities, so plan ahead if that matters!


Map design by Stanton House Inn with resources from Flaticon

CT Corn Mazes

For more outdoor fun, try one of the many corn mazes across Connecticut. Perfect for fall fun, there are corn mazes to suit all ages, with some strictly for adults.

 

For a great day out, try Plasko’s Farm in Trumbull. Stretching over eight acres, the farm is full of delights and features one of the oldest corn mazes in the county on weekends in the fall. With endless twists and turns, you can spend hours trying to find your way around or give in and ask one of the many corn cops for help!


Map design by Stanton House Inn with elements from Flaticon

Fall Hiking Trails

couple enjoying fall activities in CT like hiking to see CT fall foliagePerfect for nature lovers, there is a wide selection of hiking trails to enjoy in Connecticut, and fall is the perfect time to get out there.

Greenwich Hiking Trails

Open from dawn to dusk, the Greenwich Audubon Center features over seven miles of trails within its 295-mile reserve. With trails for all levels, you can set off for a serious hike or plan a less intense walk for a family friendly fall activity.

 

You can also head to Babcock Preserve to trek through the forests or traverse the trails on horseback.

 

Other top fall Connecticut hiking trails include many of the best state parks in CT, plus preserves, state forests, and a nature center or two:

  • Mianus River State Park
  • Mianus River Gorge Preserve
  • Devil’s Den State Park
  • Bear Mountain State Park

 

If intense, uphill hiking isn’t your thing, you can also plan a picnic at one of the more manicured parks, such as:

Greenwich Point Park

It doesn’t matter if you’re a new visitor to Greenwich or the picturesque scenery and array of attractions keep drawing you back. No trip is complete without a visit to Greenwich Point Park. At over 147 acres of beach and parkland, you can explore the best the area has to offer at this unrivaled beauty spot.

 

Home to the Old Greenwich Yacht Club, the site features a public marina, as well as areas dedicated to saltwater fishing. If you want to spend more time on the water, there’s even kitesurfing and windsurfing areas to keep you entertained. Book a picnic area and enjoy an outdoor clambake with friends. You can also explore the area on one of the many walking trails or simply relax on the sand and watch the waves roll in.

 

This best of the Greenwich beaches is worth visiting, regardless of Long Island Sound’s temperature!


Map design by Stanton House Inn

Get adventurous in Connecticut

If you want to get active this fall, why not try ziplining at the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport?

 

A dedicated aerial forest rope park, there’s fun for all ages. You can spend your time traversing the trails and looking out over the treetops of Connecticut with:

  • Challenge bridges
  • Climbing and zip lines

 

But the fun doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down. Throughout November, the Park stays open late on Fridays and Saturdays. You can zipline well into the evening. Be sure to dress warmly, though, as temperatures can fall on November evenings.

CT Events in the Fall

Speaking of fall events, there are a plethora of fall fairs and fall festivals in CT! Plan which weekends to visit and plan day trips with our handy list.

Indoor Fall Activities in CT

For better or worse, not every fall day in Connecticut is perfect. Luckily, there are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy throughout the state.

Connecticut Fall Shopping Trips

If you want to combine your trip with a spot of shopping, the various antique stores in Connecticut have a lot to offer. Giving you the lowdown on all the best places to pick up an old-world bargain or historic artifacts, you can splurge to your heart’s content.

 

Or take a stroll down historic Greenwich Avenue. Spend an afternoon and check out the wide range of stores and boutiques in the downtown Greenwich shopping district.

 

A more unique (and often less-expensive) option than both of the above two would be a visit to one of the best flea markets in Connecticut.

Connecticut Museums to See in the Fall

Nearby Bruce Museum is a great place to explore science and natural history, as well as art.The most famous museum in Greenwich, the exhibits, features, and galleries will entrance you.

 

For children and young people, the Stepping Stones Museum is an interactive wonderland. It’s filled with hands-on exhibitions, activities and special events.

 

Meanwhile, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo makes the list of top attraction in Bridgeport, CT for families.

 

Enjoy a Craft Beer or two at Connecticut Breweries

A fall road trip (or afternoon) is significantly more pleasurable with a craft beer in hand somewhere along the way.
 
The reason why is beyond the comprehension of this writer.

 

It just lends itself to wearing flannel and warmer clothes.

 

Especially if you pick a nice weather day and find one of the top Connecticut breweries with outdoor seating. Be on the lookout for events on various brewery patios throughout the state, many featuring live music.

Driving Connecticut fall foliage routes

sunrise on connecticut fall foliage driving routes, a favorite of fall activities in CTThe stunning fall landscape will surround you wherever you go in Connecticut. That said, it’s well worth taking a drive to see the best of what the area has to offer. No list of things to do in the fall in CT would be complete without a guide to fall foliage!

 

Take a ride east on the Merritt Parkway and enjoy the scenery as you whizz past the forests, wilderness, and parks. The spectacular natural beauty and fall activities in CT can’t fail to impress even the most avid fan of leaf peeping.

 

Or drive up to Kent and the Litchfield Hills, by far a must of places to visit in Connecticut in the fall! A hike to see Kent Falls State Park fall foliage or a drive around Lake Waramaug are typical Kent to-do’s on most Connecticutians’ lists.

 

Or, head further east to the Connecticut River Valley, the Quiet Corner, or Mystic Country. Every spot in the state hosts ideal driving routes for leaf peeping.

 

Some ideal destinations for a fall day trip to some of the best places to see fall foliage near NYC include:

 

There are plenty of other gorgeous Connecticut fall foliage driving routes to choose. Pick a couple to enjoy this year, and plan to try more next!

 

Connecticut offers everything you could want and more, whether you’re planning to:

The state offers beautiful natural sites, a range of attractions and a calendar full of festivals. Your fall trip to Connecticut will be a getaway to remember.


Updated and republish: August 15, 2022