Daniel & Rebecca
Things To Do
Silver Sands State Park and Charles Island
Connecticut may not be known for its beaches, but Silver Sands a a great place for a seaside hangout! The water is a bit cold for a swim, but you will be able to see Charles Island (where we got engaged). The island is a bird sanctuary so is off limits this time of year, but if you time the tides right you can walk out on the sandbar and get a beautiful view of the coast.
Yale University Campus
Any trip to New Haven isn't complete without a tour of the beautiful architecture around Yale's campus. While Dan's medical student misadventures make him more of a fan of the basement of the library, we recommend checking out Old Campus, Sterling Memorial Library, and some of Yale's historic gates (we like Phelps Gate).
New Haven Pizza
As the self-proclaimed pizza capital of the US, you need to check out the various New Haven Pizza. Pepe's Pizza is constantly ranked one of the best, however locals tend to love BAR. We highly recommend the clam pizza from Pepe. We have a few favorites from BAR including Mexican Street Corn, BBQ Brisket, and Mashed Potato with (or without) Bacon. Other popular pizza places (if the lines are too long) are Sally's, Modern, and Da Legna at Nolo.
Sleeping Giant State Park
This is a popular hiking spot that has trails for people of all hiking ability. The observation tower (think castle) has a beautiful view of the surrounding area. After a nice hike, make sure you check out Wentworth Homemade Ice Cream!
Rich Farm Ice Cream Shop
As Dan used to say in high school: "I kinda wish I wasn't making eye contact with the cow that made my ice cream." It doesn't get fresher than this. We try to make it out at least once a summer to enjoy some Black Cherry Vanilla (Dan) or Cookies 'n Cream (Becca)!
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
While we're no stranger to wild animals (aka Luna), we love a good zoo visit! Beardsley may not be the biggest or best, but it has some great animals that you can pretend are pets.
Sports Center of Connecticut
One of the most popular high school hangouts, the Sports Center offers everything from mini golf to batting cages to laser tag. We shall not be held liable for any sports-related injuries or friendships broken through laser-related betrayal as a result of this travel tip.
Yale Peabody Museum
The dinosaur exhibits has always been some of Dan and Becca's favorites. While we didn't know each other as young children, we both have a plethora of memories in this museum with our families. The museum was recently renovated and we've been meaning to check it out. Please let us know what it's like if you go!
Jordan's Furniture New Haven
Why is a furniture store on this list, you ask? Well, "IT" is the world's largest indoor ropes course. It's lots of fun to go from couch jumping to an obstacle course. Just be sure not to lose your keys here like Dan tends to. Otherwise, you'll spend most of your time digging through sofas.
New Haven Restaurants
New Haven is chock-full of restaurants. Some of our favorites include Barcelona, Geronimo, Olea, and Claire's (vegetarian only). For dessert make sure to check out Arethusa or Ashley's (both local to CT)!
Shelton Restaurants
Dan's parents tried out a whole bunch of restaurants near our hotels. They recommend The Spotted Horse, Red Lotus, Chaplin, and Market Place. While we haven't been able to try these ourselves, tell us your favorite dishes so we can give them a try!