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9 getaways · 11 hotels with a private tub · At a glance · FAQ
For a romantic getaway in Connecticut, couples head to Mystic and Stonington on the shoreline, to Essex and Chester in the Connecticut River Valley and to Litchfield for fall color. This guide covers 9 places across the state, among them Madison, Hartford and the resort casinos of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. For each one you get what to do, when to go and hotels where the room has its own jacuzzi or whirlpool.
| Getaway | Best for | Best time | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mystic | Seaport, aquarium | December | About 2 hours from Boston |
| 2. Stonington | Harbor village, vineyards | Late October | |
| 3. Madison | Beach walks, bookshop | Summer, or winter | |
| 4. Essex and Chester | Steam train, river castle | Summer, or winter cruises | |
| 5. Old Lyme and Niantic | Impressionist art, beach walks | Winter | |
| 6. Litchfield | Fall color, antiques | Early to mid October | |
| 7. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun | Shows, spa days | Any time of year | |
| 8. Greenwich and Stamford | Waterfront park, museums | Winter city break | |
| 9. Hartford | Rose garden, Mark Twain | Mid June into July |
Mystic sits on the Mystic River near the Rhode Island line, and CTvisit points visitors to its aquarium and waterfront shopping district. Mystic Seaport Museum, which calls itself the nation's leading maritime museum, has historic ships and a seaport village on the river. Inn at Mystic has king rooms with a hot tub, and Stonecroft Country Inn, about 6 miles north in Ledyard, has rooms with whirlpool tubs.
Great view inn in Mystic Harbor with a romantic Jacuzzi, offering free breakfast, on-site pool and a restaurant.
Quiet country hotel near Mystic and the Casinos, with private spa tubs and free breakfast at The Yellow Barn.
Stonington Borough is the old harbor village on a point in Long Island Sound, just east of Mystic, and CTvisit leads its feature on romantic towns with it for the sea views. It is also home to the Old Lighthouse Museum, which CTvisit bills as the first lighthouse museum in the country. Cedar Park Whirlpool Suites in North Stonington has suites with a private in-room hot tub, and Abbey's Lantern Hill Inn in nearby Ledyard has rooms with a two-person jetted tub.
Casual roadside hotel with free parking, king beds, and quiet rooms with hot tub near the Mohegan Sun Casino.
Top-rated hotel in Ledyard with Jacuzzi in room, organic breakfast, and a mile from the Mashantucket Pequot Museum.
Madison is a quiet coastal town on Long Island Sound, east of New Haven, and CTvisit suggests a walk on the sand at sunset or sunrise. Hammonasset Beach State Park, the largest shoreline park in the state, is in town. Three of the rooms at the Scranton Seahorse Inn have jacuzzi tubs.
Highly-rated hotel in Connecticut with private hot tub, offering bike rentals, cooking classes, and access to a beach.
Essex and Chester are small towns in the lower Connecticut River Valley, a few miles up the river from Old Saybrook. Across the river from Chester, Gillette Castle sits 200 feet above the water, and CTvisit recommends the Chester-Hadlyme ferry for its views of the castle. Copper Beech Inn in Ivoryton, a village of Essex, has a suite in the main house with a whirlpool tub.
Victorian-style inn with in-room Jacuzzis and an on-site restaurant, just 2 miles from Ivoryton city center.
Old Lyme sits at the mouth of the Connecticut River, and the Florence Griswold Museum there is the historic home of the Lyme Art Colony. Niantic is on Niantic Bay to the east, and CTvisit suggests an off-season hike along the crescent of white sand at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme. Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, across the river in Old Saybrook, has guesthouse suites with a jetted tub.
Luxury waterfront resort with spa services, private hot tub, and marina views near Fort Saybrook Monument Park.
Litchfield is in the Litchfield Hills of northwest Connecticut, which CTvisit describes as rolling hills made for a tranquil getaway. Antique shops, art galleries, historic homes and gardens are spread across the region. The Litchfield Inn has a room with a whirlpool tub for two in the bathroom.
Colonial boutique hotel in the Berkshires with private hot tubs and free breakfast, inspired by Litchfield’s history
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket and Mohegan Sun in Uncasville are the two resort casinos inland of Mystic, and CTvisit's date night guide points couples to both for a luxurious hotel stay. Mohegan Sun has a 10,000 seat arena and the 350 seat Wolf Den for shows. At Foxwoods, Grand Pequot Tower has suites with a whirlpool bath in an oversized master bathroom.
Four Diamond hotel with private Jacuzzi, dining at Paragon, gaming at Foxwoods Casino, and 2.1 mile from Narragansett Trail.
Greenwich and Stamford are on the Gold Coast of Fairfield County, in the southwest corner of the state and the closest part of it to New York City. Greenwich is home to museums, galleries, shops and restaurants, and it is the first stop in CTvisit's guide to romantic winter retreats. The Armon Hotel & Conference in Stamford has rooms with a jetted tub.
Deluxe hotel near E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course offering private hot tubs, suites with kitchenettes and restaurant.
Hartford, the state capital, has the first municipal rose garden in the United States, in Elizabeth Park, on the West Hartford edge of the city. The Mark Twain House is where Twain wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Hilton Garden Inn Hartford South/Glastonbury, in the riverside suburb just south of the city, has deluxe rooms with a jetted tub.
Jacuzzi in bathroomModern Hilton hotel with private spa tub, a fitness center, and indoor pool, near upscale shopping at Somerset Square.
Stonington is a strong pick. CTvisit, the state tourism office, leads its feature on romantic towns with the harbor village for its sea views, and Mystic, just west, adds Mystic Seaport Museum and the aquarium. Cedar Park Whirlpool Suites in North Stonington has suites with a private in-room hot tub.
Fall. CTvisit expects peak color in the Litchfield Hills in early to mid October, and on the shoreline and in the lower Connecticut River Valley in late October and early November. In December, Lantern Lights brings carriage rides and carols to Mystic Seaport Museum.
The Litchfield Hills. Have dinner at Arethusa al tavolo in Bantam, then spend the night at The Litchfield Inn, which has a room with a whirlpool tub for two. On the shoreline, Abbey's Lantern Hill Inn in Ledyard has rooms with a two-person jetted tub.
About 2.5 hours by car from New York City and about 2 hours from Boston. Hartford and Providence are less than an hour away.
Daily castle tours run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, then on weekends and holidays through Columbus Day, with holiday tours Friday through Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The park grounds open daily at 8 a.m. and close at sunset.
CTvisit lists Greenwich, Madison and Old Lyme among its romantic winter retreats. Take an off-season walk on the beach at Rocky Neck State Park, book a quiet night at the Scranton Seahorse Inn in Madison, or catch a RiverQuest Winter Wildlife Cruise at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex.
Where the facts on this page come from. Hotel details come from our own listings, checked as described in How we verify.
