When many people consider where to go to enjoy winter activities, they book faraway places, not thinking that Connecticut has endless opportunities for travelers. To them, wintry things to do are found in upstate New England or off in the Rocky Mountains.
The biggest misconception about Connecticut is that it’s better left for the summer months, particularly for enjoying the beaches. Even many Connecticutians assume that the best way to pass the winter is to hole up at home and wait for warmer weather.
But here’s the thing: You don’t have to! You can enjoy the beauty and excitement of winter in your own backyard or short drive away in CT!
There are endless opportunities for fun winter activities —all you have to do is plan what would make the best weekend for you.
You start by doing your research on what to do in CT, but fear not. We took care of that part for you!
Winter activities in CT range from the outdoorsy: hiking, skiing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, fishing, and even sleigh rides. Add indoor winter activities like museums, indoor ropes courses, axe throwing, dining by the fire, afternoon tea, and even gambling, and you’ve got a busy winter ahead of you.
First, watch a quick video on our favorite winter activities in Connecticut. Then, keep scrolling for a map, and more details:
Map design by Stanton House Inn with elements from Flaticon
Read on for the details on fun places to go in CT.
Outdoorsy Winter Activities in CT
Some argue that the only time worth going outside is when the temperature is above about 60 degrees.
But that would be preposterous in the Northeast! It’s only above 60 for about half the year—and even that estimation is generous.
You have to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, regardless of the time of year. And no, going outside to shovel your walkways doesn’t count.
Spend some time figuring out your favorite outdoor winter activities in CT. Just don’t forget to bundle-up so that you’ll be sure to look forward to getting outside in the winter weather!
Walks Along the Connecticut Shoreline
Most people associate visiting the best beaches near Greenwich, Connecticut, with being one of the best summer activities. Here’s the thing: a winter visit is fantastic, too.
There are way fewer people visiting the beaches during the day, allowing you to spread out and enjoy peace and quiet alone or with your loved ones.
Plus, many authors have written about the quiet solitude afforded by walking along the beach on a winter day. It’s hard not to want to write some bleak poetry while walking along a windy beach on an overcast day.
The added benefit is that with so few people visiting the beaches, there’s no fee for non-residents to visit.
Greenwich Point Park
Be sure to explore this top Greenwich park for a walk along its beach and the walking trails. Walk to the far end of the park to witness a sweeping view of the Manhattan skyline off in the distance or see the rolling waves of the water. This is a really special park because of the different nature it offers and its solitude during the winter.
Rye Marshlands
This little park off the beaten path in nearby Rye, New York, offers a little bit of each major ecosystem along the Long Island Sound Shoreline:
- Woods
- Marsh
- Coast
- Swamp
Rye Marshlands even hosts a historic site: the boyhood home of Founding Father John Jay.
Sherwood Island State Park
Head up the coast to the cute town of Westport. There on Sherwood Island along the coast is one of the most-visited parks in Connecticut.
Sherwood Island State Park offers an expansive beach and beautiful woods and marshes to walk along in the winter.
With great parking, two beaches, a pavilion with bathrooms, grilling areas, and fishing spots, you really can’t beat the versatility of this park.
Hammonasset Beach State Park
The longest of the beaches on the Connecticut shoreline is always a great spot to explore the coastline.
Hiking Winter Connecticut Trails
On a sunny, not too cold day, wandering through the winter woods is a splendid way to pass an afternoon.
While the fall foliage is long gone in the winter, the bugs are all dead, so you can hike unencumbered by bug spray. And bare trees mean better views of the surrounding winter wonderland.
Close your eyes and picture it: you’re wrapped in a warm, comfortable coat, you hear the crunching of fresh snow under your fear with the birds chirping from the treetops overhead, you smell the sweetness of pine, and you feel the gentle breeze of winter air. Heaven, right?
Some of the top Connecticut hiking trails that are especially beautiful in the winter include those that pass waterfalls. If the temperatures are at or below freezing, seeing frozen waterfalls is worth the hike.
A few options to see frozen waterfalls include:
- Naugatuck State Forest, near Naugatuck, Connecticut
- Ice Falls at Valley Falls in Rockville, Connecticut
Connecticut’s hiking trails are beautiful, with or without frozen waterfalls. Some personal favorite trails include Mianus River State Park and Devil’s Den Preserve, where you can walk past creeks, hike through snowy trees, and witness the mountains.
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding at Connecticut Ski Resorts
Avid Connecticut skiers and snowboarders often demand making the trek to Upper New England, Quebec, or even Colorado to enjoy the best powder and slopes.
But sometimes, it’s okay to plan a less complicated (and less expensive) ski trip closer to home.
Some of the top downhill skiing and snowboarding mountains across the state include one of the best skiing resorts near NYC:
- Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort in Middlefield
- Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall
- Ski Sundown in New Hartford
- Mount Southington in Plantsville
Because many people are off in those other touristy skiing areas, these trails are more open and less crowded. You can take as many trips up and down the mountain as you want, having to wait for far fewer people to make their pass first.
Just don’t be that person who uses the chairlift ride to complain to strangers about how much better the skiing is elsewhere.
Snow-tubing in Connecticut
If downhill skiing sounds too daunting, perhaps heading down the mountain in a giant inflatable sounds easier.
Snow-tubing often gets a bad rap for being just a family-friendly activity. However, it’s worth trying it once for yourself, at least to know if it’s for you or not.
Head to Powder Ridge in Middlefield to try out Connecticut snow-tubing for yourself. And listen, if it wasn’t for you (or if it was and you just want to celebrate!), head inside for a glass of beer or wine to warm up next to the fireplace.
Cross-Country Skiing Through Connecticut in the Winter
This sport takes a lot of effort for infrequent and short bursts of trips downhill.
It may not be the activity for everyone, but it’s certainly a thrill for some!
Some options for cross-country skiing in Connecticut include:
- White Memorial Conservation Center Museum in Litchfield
- Winding Trails Cross Country Ski Center in Farmington
Ice Skating in Connecticut
Ice skating in Greenwich has been a well-known phenomenon for decades. It all started when Dorothy Hammill left town to become an Olympic medalist and put the town on the map for ice skating.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, many of the biggest names in ice figure skating passed-through Greenwich. And many of them stayed with us, including Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan.
A few skating rinks in Greenwich and nearby include:
Winter Ice Fishing in Connecticut
You don’t need to travel to the Great White North to enjoy a little ice fishing!
Assuming we’ve had a couple of solid freezes that same winter you’re looking to ice fish, the activity is just as doable in Connecticut. That said, it’s typically reserved for the lakes in the north of the state, like in the Litchfield Hills, AKA Litchfield County.
Lake Waramaug, one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire state, is a perfect place for ice fishing.
Check-in with a local bait shop, like at the Sportsman’s Den or Byram Bait and Tackle, and gear up before you plan your day of ice fishing.
Not sure how to ice fish? The Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education department offers classes!
Winter Sleigh Rides in Connecticut
The fastest way to feel like you’re in a Currier & Ives print while on your Connecticut winter vacation is to take a sleigh ride through the countryside.
This equestrian Connecticut winter activity is definitely one of the more unique things to do on this list.
Finding an area with a large-enough countryside for this activity straight out of the 1800s requires a longer car ride from Greenwich than many of the other activities on this list. But don’t let that discourage your dreams!
Head to Allegra Farm out in East Haddam, Connecticut, for your own real-life version of Jingle Bells.
Not sure how the drivers—or horses—will appreciate you singing, though.
Bald Eagle Watching
While many famous Connecticut birds migrate south for the winter, the bald eagles of the Connecticut River Valley settle along the banks.
There, they enjoy whatever food they can scrounge-up, living or dead.
After recovering from the DDT death spiral of the mid-1900s, bald eagles and other birds of prey have made a sizable return in our state. And you can schedule a Winter Wildlife Eagle Cruise to see them for yourself!
Learn the Art of Connecticut Maple Syrup-Making
While Vermont gets all the press for its maple syrup (and Quebec produces the most), plenty of other states produce it too.
On that list is Connecticut. In the late winter (mid-February to mid-March), Connecticut maple syrup farms produce massive vats of maple syrup.
If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to spend an afternoon visiting any of them, sampling their goods.
Indoor Winter Activities in Connecticut
Winter getaways in New England are like managing summer in the South.
You spend most of your time indoors and only go out for a fun activity or two. While staying inside can be fun, it can also result in the classic case of cabin fever.
So, be sure to get out of your house and do something—even if it’s inside somewhere else!
Here’s a list of indoor winter activities across Connecticut.
Connecticut Museums
Plenty of the museums in Connecticut, and nearby are open and ready to keep you occupied while the snow falls outside.
Greenwich Museums
The two closest museums in Greenwich, CT, to downtown Greenwich are:
- The Bruce Museum, known for its art and natural history exhibitions
- And the Greenwich Historical Society, which highlights the town’s history
- And the Flinn Gallery at the Greenwich Library is always worth a visit
Stamford Museums
- The Stamford Museum and Nature Center occupies a former estate and seems to keep adding attractions and exhibits
- The Ukrainian Museum and Library is one of the more unique spots to visit in Stamford in the winter. Or anywhere, for that matter.
- The Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, CT, offers tours until its winter closure from January to March. So get that tour of the glass house is in by December!
Even more Museums in Connecticut
Farther afield, depending on which direction you take into Connecticut, are even more options:
- The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme was home to impressionist artists at the turn of the 19th century and remains a top home for their work today.
- Yale University’s various museums in New Haven include the Yale University Art Gallery, Peabody Museum, Museum of British Art, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
- Visiting the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is a great excuse to explore one of the cutest towns in Connecticut, Ridgefield.
- New Britain and Hartford share more than a few great art museums between them, including Wadsworth Atheneum and New Britain Museum of American Art.
- The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, CT, was the writer’s home for 17 years, where he created his most famous works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
- Mystic is home to Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport Museum.
- Head to Groton, across the Thames from New London, to see the Submarine Force Museum.
A few of the more unique indoor attractions and museums in Connecticut include:
- The Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, where a bulldozer driver discovered a strip of fossilized dinosaur prints. The exposed prints and dioramas are protected by a geodesic dome, while the forests surrounding Dinosaur State Park are ideal for hiking.
- The New England Carousel Museum in Bristol is an in-depth introduction to the history of the carnival staple: the carousel.
- The Pez Candy Factory in Orange is the home of the world’s largest collection of PEZ memorabilia, including the world’s largest PEZ dispenser and samples of the candy.
Indoor Ropes Course in New Haven, Connecticut
Head to Jordan’s furniture store in New Haven. There, you’ll find that Connecticut boasts the world’s largest indoor ropes course. Yes, the two do seem an odd combination. But it works. I promise.
You can test your strength and fear of heights by scaling the walls, holding onto little rocks for dear life. Kidding.
Roped-up, climbers can challenge themselves to harder courses or work on their technique on the easier routes. There’s really something for everyone if you’re even somewhat athletic at this most unique of the list of New Haven activities.
According to Mommy Poppins, this is one of the best family winter activities in Connecticut, especially compared with the next option on this list.
Axe Throwing in Connecticut
Axe throwing was all the rage with bachelor parties and has slowly been spreading across the country.
Blue Ox Axe Throwing introduced Connecticut to axe throwing, after the owners enjoyed it in Minnesota. The studio in nearby Bridgeport, CT can be an intense way to blow-off some steam.
It can even be a great place for a Connecticut date night idea. Just depends on your vibe.
Winter High Tea in Connecticut
If axe throwing isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps something slightly more genteel-feeling would better suit?
As befits a state associated with all things quaint, there are Connecticut tea rooms scattered throughout the state, including:
- Cady’s Tea Room, at Stanton House Inn in Greenwich
- The Drawing Room, in Cos Cob
- Sundial Gardens & Tea Shop in Higganum
- Alice in the Village is in Olde Mistick Village, in the Mystic, Connecticut area
- Tea Roses Tea Room in Cromwell
Here, you can spend the afternoon chatting with friends, enjoying the wintery scenery outdoors while warming up with a hot cup of tea.
Connecticut Hockey Teams
Winter is the hockey season in the northern half of America.
Before or after throwing an axe or two, head over to the Webster Bank Arena to catch a game by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
You can be the biggest hockey fan in the world or someone loosely interested in the sport and still have a great time.
Dine by an Open Fire
Dining fireside is one of the wintriest of winter activities in Connecticut.
Dining, or even just having a drink, by an open fire is as delightful in winter as waterfront dining is in the summer.
Our top downtown Greenwich restaurants with fireplaces in their dining area include:
You’ll find more options in other towns nearby:
Find the Best Hot Chocolate in Connecticut
Speaking of dining, hot chocolate seems the most appropriate pursuit in the winter months.
Nothing says winter quite like snow, a pair of mittens, and a cup of hot chocolate. Think of every Hallmark movie… they always have all three.
Luckily for you, there are a few options to get a cup of this perfection in Greenwich and Stamford:
- Aux Delices is a family-run local chain that will customize your hot chocolate with your choice of peppermint, pumpkin, cinnamon, caramel, and much more.
- Lorca coffee bar offers Mexican hot chocolate, dark hot chocolate, or s’mores hot chocolate. Be sure to add some of their famous churros to your order for dipping!
Discover Something a Little Stronger Throughout the State
If hot chocolate’s not your thing, there are stronger options to discover.
Connecticut breweries and distilleries are open throughout the winter, and their beer is just as good as in the warmer months.
The Connecticut wineries on the Wine Trail are open, too. The plus side is that fewer people visit the Connecticut wine trail in the winter, so it’s easier to take your time and enjoy what you’ve selected to taste.
Gambling Casinos in Connecticut
The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Native American tribes were rather limited in what economic activity they could generate on their respective lands in eastern Connecticut.
So, they opened casinos in the 1990s:
- Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut
My grandparents’ generation used to make a point of traveling to the casinos on an overcast winter weekend for the fun of it.
But even those not into gambling (including this writer) can find the casinos fascinating.
Like their rivals in Las Vegas, the casinos are enormous. You eventually lose track of time without visual access to the sky. But with top entertainment venues in the state, fine dining, spas, and high-end shopping, you likely won’t mind.
Go Bowling
Bowling used to be a typical evening winter activity for Connecticut teenagers. You can spend the afternoon or evening at the lanes, enjoying some pizza, trying to get the highest score, and enjoying a cold one or two.
This is a great option for families because it’s fun for everyone!
The closest bowling alley to Greenwich is Bowlmor in Norwalk.
See a Movie
Going to the movies is a standard for anyone everywhere.
Regardless of age or time of year, seeing a movie is one of the best things to do in Greenwich, CT, at night.
And just because you can see a movie at home doesn’t mean you should skip out on seeing a movie somewhere new! Who knows, you might even enjoy it more!
Witness How Exotic Wildlife Live Through the Winter
If the only wildlife you’ve seen lately are crows, pigeons, and squirrels, it’s time to head somewhere more exotic.
There are some great places in CT where you can see incredible wildlife from the comfort of a closed building:
- Check out the belugas and penguins at Mystic Aquarium
- Visit the harbor seals, stingrays, and jellyfish at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk
- Wander through the winter wonderland of the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport
Holiday Winter Activities in CT
Quaint, little Connecticut, is the ideal place for celebrating the winter holiday season. Wander through charming towns or two on a wintry CT day trip to enjoy the holiday lights and holiday music.
Check out our guide to the best things to do in Connecticut in December for all of the best holiday attractions and activities.
A few top picks on the list of holiday season activities include:
- Holiday shopping at Connecticut holiday markets
- Places to learn the art of craft making for unique gifts
- Holiday and winter festivals in every corner of the state
- Holiday and Christmas lights displays across Connecticut
- Christmas tree farms
- Connecticut day trips to see the cutest towns festooned with holiday decorations
- The North Pole railway at Lake Compounce
- Or take Metro-North into NYC, and explore the lengthy list of things to do in New York City this winter
Still Not Convinced By Our List of Winter Activities in CT?
No worries! Keep exploring fun things to do in CT, across our state.
Head to our guide on romantic things to do in CT in the winter if you’re planning a more romantic visit to our state. Or a romantic winter getaway anywhere in New England, for that matter.
You can also check-out our guides to things to do in Connecticut throughout the season:
Or read our full guide to the most unique and fun things to do across Connecticut. Our CT Travel Guide has you covered with the most unique things to do in CT, from Greenwich to Hartford! You’ll never run out of ideas for what to do in Connecticut.
Stay warm!
Embrace Winter’s Charm: Your Haven in Connecticut
As wintry magic spreads across Connecticut, the temptation of a getaway is impossible to resist. Amidst snow-draped landscapes and frost-kissed streets, Stanton House Inn beckons. Experience the magic of winter in Connecticut like never before at our inn. It seamlessly blends timeless elegance with modern comforts.
The guest rooms with gas fireplaces in-room offer a cozy atmosphere, perfect for romantic getaways or peaceful respite. Or reserve one of our king bedroom suites for a little more space during your visit. You can enjoy a cozy afternoon tea or continental breakfast in the historic dining room, centered on a grand antique fireplace. The library, adorned in classic charm, offers a serene haven for literary adventures by the fireplace. This cozy haven offers solace and relaxation against the winter backdrop.
The inn is within walking distance to dining and stores on Greenwich Avenue, offering easy access to shops and culinary delights. You can freely wander through the winter streets, to discover hidden gems and local treasures. And all without worrying about driving on snowy roads. Indulge in warmth by the fire, savor tasty food, and enjoy the charm of our historic inn in Connecticut.
Updated and republished: August 2, 2023
