Sarahritchie17 Travel Blogs from the Vault
Dear Reader, sometimes, a lot of times, I’ll start drafting a blog post on the flight home from the latest adventure when the thoughts are fresh and the creative juices are flowing. Then, the plane lands, and I run out of time to finish the post. It’s back to the scramble of everyday life and then into routines which sadly make writing fall low on my priority list. So here we are at the end of May 2026, and I’ve come to find that it’s been a full year since I actually published anything. This series of posts is dedicated to finishing the post or the passion project or whatever dream you have that you started working towards but lost focus on. Because it is important and it matters to someone out there. Cheers! -Sarah
June 2025
My husband and I recently spent a wonderful wedding weekend in Connecticut. Since we grew up in the Northeast and went to college in New London, this is the not the first time we’ve found ourselves as guests of a CT wedding. If you’re looking for some recommendations to round out a weekend visit with great food and yummy lattes, this post is for you.
Hartford
Start your trip by flying into Bradley International Airport. We recommend renting a car to get around since there are plenty of quaint towns and farms to explore. Since the airport is relatively central to the state, you can get to most of the towns listed below within an hour.
If you’re hungry when you get in, we recommend Doro Marketplace for breakfast or Mazatlán Mexican Grill for dinner, both just minutes from the airport.
Doro Marketplace is a modern-styled cafe with baked goods as well as full breakfast plates.
Mazatlán serves up authentic Mexican dishes and is the kind of place where the chips come free with not only salsa but also bean dip.
Mystic/New London/Groton
Try the Engine Room for brunch. This was a favorite of ours in our college days.
There is usually parking available near Mystic River Park. Walk across the drawbridge towards Mystic Pizza. Though it’s famous from the movie, we usually skip this one—we think it’s a little overrated. There are lots of cute boutiques, gift shops, and candy stores along the way to shop or window shop.
Save your dessert compartment for Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream. With small batch ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbets, they serve up simple cones, smoothies, shakes, and sundaes. They have coffee too, though I haven’t tried it.
Our favorite Thai spot in the area is on the water in New London. Jasmine Thai is a large restaurant with parking available. A cherished memory is celebrating a friend’s birthday there back in 2014.
My absolute favorite restaurant in the world is an unassuming Italian spot in Groton called Paul’s Pasta. I cannot make a trip to the state of Connecticut without going there. The pasta is made from scratch, and just thinking about it makes my mouth water, it’s so good. I usually go for the Fettuccine Alfredo, except in the fall. They have a seasonal Pumpkin Ravioli that can’t be beat. The cannolis there are also amazing.
Manchester
In Manchester, visit Silk City Coffee. We didn’t spend much time in Manchester, but we did check out this coffee shop, and it was packed for the couple hours we were there. It’s a great place to meet friends or get creative work done if you can find a seat!
Willamantic
If you find yourself near Willamantic, we recommend Grounded Coffee Shop if you’re looking for a light bite or That Breakfast Place if you’re looking for something more hearty. That Breakfast Place is your classic hometown diner with a huge menu of comfort food. (2026 update: Looks like Grounded Coffee closed in September and was replaced by another Silk City Coffee location.)
Windsor
If you’re looking for a good BBQ joint, try Bear’s Smokehouse.
Mohegan
If you have an evening to spare, Mohegan Sun is the nicest and cleanest casino I have ever been to. Even if you don’t gamble, this casino has concerts, restaurants, shopping, bars, and night clubs. There’s even a Krispy Kreme and a Chick-fil-A there.
Where to Stay
We stayed at an adorable farmhouse Airbnb called Hanover Vineyards. It’s a perfect place for a small group or, in our case, a wedding party. My husband was the best man for this wedding, and the groomsmen got great “getting ready” pictures right on the property.
Orchards
Visiting Connecticut in the fall? There are so many options for apple picking. On another trip, we visited Clark Farms. We ended up getting there right after they closed for picking, but the store was open for another half hour. Their apple cider donuts were delicious!
Have you been to any of these places? What else would you add to this list? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Cheers!
Sarah
