Stories > 8 Spring Flings to Get You Out of the City
8 Spring Flings to Get You Out of the City Last Updated 2/19
When the snow and ice finally thaw and things start to turn green again, that’s the perfect time to take a trip outside the city and experience springtime in Connecticut. Late March through mid-June, everything from flowers and fishing to farm animals and food trucks re-emerge from hibernation, ready to be experienced. Got a springtime fling we haven’t mentioned? Let us know, @CTvisit.
Take in the Blossoms
It’s officially spring when the first flower breaks through the ground and stands tall. Enjoy the spring flowers with Connecticut’s Spring Blossom Finder! After Mother’s Day, be sure to plan a visit to Lavender Pond Farm in Killingworth. For something a little more formal, head for the first municipal rose garden in the country, featuring greenhouses, nature walks, and rock gardens at Elizabeth Park in Hartford. For those who really want to stretch their legs, the Connecticut College Arboretum in New London includes hiking trails and a variety of natural ecosystems.
Meet Baby Farm Animals
Spring breathes new life into Connecticut after a snowy winter and of course that means welcoming little farm animals into the world. Start at The Hickories in Ridgefield, then head to Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Heckscher Farm or Buttermilk Lane Farm in Orange for a glimpse of all the new additions. Celebrate spring with an ice cream cone at UConn Dairy Bar and then head to UConn Animal Barns in Storrs for dairy calves and lambs in February & March. Flamig Farm in Simsbury sports their iconic reversed “EGGS” sign and welcomes baby chicks every spring.
Get to Paddling
Head out on the water and try your hand at kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). If you prefer fresh water, Collinsville Canoe & Kayak in Collinsville sits on the bank of the Farmington River. For those who prefer a salty breeze, Scoot and Paddle in Milford is located on Long Island Sound. Finishing the day with a relaxing sunset paddle tour with Black Hall Outfitters in Old Lyme is the cherry on top of a perfect day.
Enjoy a Seasonal Festival
Ring in spring at some of these awesome Connecticut spring festivals. Join in the over 80-year tradition of the Dogwood Festival in Fairfield. Is yellow more your color? The Meriden Daffodil Festival takes place in Hubbard Park in Meriden with food trucks, live music, and fireworks. And mark your calendar for Farmington’s May Market at the Hill-Stead Museum, for flowers, gourmet foods, family fun and more.
Get Your Passport to the Wine Trail
Take a weekend to hit a few stops along the Connecticut Wine Trail this spring with over 40 vineyards and wineries statewide. If you’re in the Hartford area, consider stopping by Brignole Vineyards in East Granby and grabbing a wine slushie. Enjoy wine along the shoreline at Chamard Vineyards in Clinton and don’t forget to peek at their cellar. Nestled in Connecticut’s “quiet corner” is Taylor Brooke Winery in Woodstock, featuring 100% estate-grown brandy and wine dogs.
Search for Wildlife
Need a reason to leave the house and kick-start spring? Every May, during “Migration Madness”, the Connecticut Audubon Society invites the public to help them count birds at locations across the state. Looking for more friends? The residents of Action Wildlife Foundation in Goshen are definitely worth a visit! Westmoor Park in West Hartford has a variety of animals from chickens and llamas to geckos and snakes, and prepare to be amazed by the birds of prey exhibit and trail walks at Earthplace in Westport. Finally, to meet aquatic friends of all shapes and sizes be sure to stop by Mystic Aquarium in Mystic.
Take a Springtime Hike
Feel the sun on your face as you hit the Connecticut hiking trails. Trek to Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam for a taste of history and unique architecture. Explore a 19thcentury iron mine and furnace complex and trek on six miles of hillside hiking trails at Mine Hill Preserve in Roxbury. Pack a picnic and head for McLean Game Refuge in Granby. See how the land has changed from farm to forest at the Belknap Preserve in Wilton with a network of stone walls and formerly cultivated fields. And learn more about wildlife and birds with a guided hike along the Audubon Society’s protected Deer Pond Farm Trails in Sherman.
Go Fish
Whether fishing for leisure or for dinner, Connecticut waterways are abundant with many species of fish. Take a trip downstream and try for Atlantic salmon and trout with Mountain Meadow Outfitters in Milford. Fly fish the day away with Housatonic Anglers in Cornwall. Reel in the big ones with Rum Runner guides in Stonington and fish for striped bass, bluefish, albacore, or bonito. Take a day trip on the Middlebank II based out of Bridgeport for deep sea charters on the Long Island Sound.