Your Guide to a Fantastic Winter in Connecticut

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Are you looking for fun things to do during your next winter in Connecticut? The Nutmeg State has a ton of awesome options for winter trips, including ways to be active and have fun in the snow, ways to relax and stay comfy cozy indoors, and everything in between; there are so many ways for you to enjoy a fantastic winter in Connecticut!

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Attend an Annual CT Winter Event

Winter in Connecticut sees a lot of fun annual events across the state! Welcome in the New Year with Hartford’s First Night Celebration, beginning on the afternoon of December 31 and continuing through midnight with live entertainment, art exhibits, tasty treats, and a scavenger hunt style walk through downtown Hartford, with a final culmination of fireworks at Bushnell Park at midnight! Hartford is full of cool things to do (and awesome breweries) so choosing to ring in the New Year in Connecticut’s capital city is a pretty safe bet when you’re looking for great winter fun!

Head to Newtown for a taste of small-town winter fun with their Snow Much Fun event, featuring music, games, treats, tractor rides, a community bonfire, and ice skating if the weather cooperates! Plus, you’ll be near Waterbury for more small-town charm and fun things to do.

In nearby New Britain on select evenings December through February, you’ll find Winter Pub Nights at the New Britain Museum of American Art. Live jazz and rotating beverage options from local breweries make these intimate art events a community favorite; New Britain is home to one of the best breweries in New England, too!

Get Out in the Snow

Connecticut gets a lot of snow during the winter, especially in the Northwest corner of the state. In addition to the snow that falls naturally from the skies, Connecticut’s most popular ski resorts all feature great snowmaking potential, so there’s plenty to play in! There are multiple ski areas and resorts to choose from, with Ski Sundown being a strong favorite with a variety of trails and terrain parks on 70 skiable acres with excellent grooming and snowmaking capabilities. Plus, its close proximity to Hartford makes Ski Sundown an even more attractive option!

You’ll also find snow tubing and sledding options around the state, like at Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort in Middlefield, another favorite ski spot in CT. Powder Ridge even offers ski biking, which is basically exactly what it sounds like if you’re not familiar! If you’re looking for even more snowy activities, you can also check out the ice climbing opportunities with Ascent Climbing.

Connecticut has lots of great options for getting out to play in the snow!

Rest and Rejuvenate

Are you looking forward to a quiet and calm winter in Connecticut? There are several places in The Nutmeg State that fit the bill! One of the best bets for tranquility is to look for areas that are favorite warm-weather destinations and take advantage of “off-season” prices of a hotel in a town on the coast, like Gold Coast’s Greenwich.

There are lots of great things to do in Greenwich, but during the winter season, Greenwich Point Park’s beachfront goes from a crowded, fight-for-your-space spot to a tranquil place to enjoy the sounds of the winter waves; Tod’s Point is considered one of the most beautiful spots in the state. Plus, rooms at the luxurious Delamar Hotel, one of the most gorgeous hotels in New England, are a little easier on the pocketbook in the winter months, too! The onsite restaurants, entertainment, and spa make the Delamar a one-stop-shop vacation destination.

Another option for a restful winter getaway is to head to Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, specifically to the quaint little town of Woodstock. One of the best places to visit in CT, Woodstock is the perfect spot for a tranquil winter getaway. The Inn at Woodstock Inn offers comfy cozy rooms, many with fireplaces, for the perfect spot to cuddle up and shelter from the winter weather outside; add in a phenomenal onsite restaurant and a gourmet breakfast, you’ll feel like you’re pampered in all the best ways.

Take a Romantic Connecticut Getaway

If it’s a romantic getaway you have in mind, you’re in luck because Connecticut in winter is the perfect setting for romance! All across the state are dreamy bed and breakfasts that offer sweetness, charm, and of course, fantastic breakfasts. Take, for example, Manor House Inn in Norfolk. Not only is this incredible property a throwback to Gilded Age grandeur, but it also delivers big on warmth and charm, with 5-acres of beautifully manicured grounds to enjoy, and a fantastic location in charming Litchfield Hills; take in a show at the historic Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk!

If you’d like a romantic getaway with a view, look no further than Saybrook Point Resort and Marina. Spectacular views of the Long Island Sound can be easily arranged in this gorgeous hotel, and the onsite restaurant and spectacular spa services only serve to add to the sheer perfection of this sweet romantic getaway spot! They also host an incredible New Years Eve party, if you and yours are looking to ring in the new year together on your romantic vacation; the sweet little town of Old Saybrook has plenty to keep you busy, too!

Enjoy Connecticut Christmas Charm

If your winter in Connecticut vacation ends up overlapping with the holiday season, you’re in luck because Christmas in Connecticut is full of fantastic things to do and see! Mystic has so many awesome things to do year-round, but during Christmas, you’ll find great events like the Festival of Lights at Olde Mystick Village, the Ghosts of Christmas Past Strolls, the Mystic Lighted Boat Parade, and so much more! There are also lots of great places to stay in this cute waterfront town.

Plus, Hallmark has filmed a couple of their Christmas movies in Mystic, so watch “Holiday for Heroes” and “A Very Nutty Christmas” to see if you recognize anything during your Mystic winter getaway; it is a quintessential Hallmark Christmas movie town!

The Litchfield Hills region of Connecticut is always a safe bet when it comes to Christmas charm and cute small town Christmassy things to do. Visit Torrington to meet Santa at the Christmas Village and sip hot chocolate with his elves, or go shopping in downtown Kent and enjoy sweet small-town boutique shopping with a little bubbly during their Annual Holiday Champagne Stroll. Plus, Litchfield Hills is full of fun things to do, so it’s always a great choice for a getaway.

Cozy Up in a Charming CT Cabin

Connecticut is full of neat vacation rentals, including charming cabins, lakefront cottages, and even interesting treehouses for exceptionally unique stays. There’s The Little Lake Cabin in New Fairfield, the perfect spot to get away from it all during your winter in Connecticut. Toast marshmallows in the fire pit outside before heading to the outdoor hot tub to warm up a bit!

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If you’re looking for something with a fireplace, there are a ton of options for that, too! Check out this A-Frame Cottage off Candlewood Lake in New Milford. Not only does this adorable A-frame offer lovely views of Candlewood Lake, but there’s nothing cozier than watching the snow come down outside as you’re snuggled up toasty warm next to the crackling fireplace. You’re also near Lovers Leap State Park, one of Connecticut’s coolest state parks, too!

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There are so many great ways to enjoy your next winter in Connecticut; wherever you end up in the Nutmeg State, enjoy your winter getaway!

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Amy Hartle

Amy is the founder of New England with love. A proud Vermonter, she hopes to share her love of New England and help you find the best adventures in the region. Amy is also blogger/founder at Two Drifters, where she writes alongside her husband about romantic and couples travel, relationships, honeymoons, and more. When not working on websites, Amy is probably reading, cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.