You’ve managed to relocate without too much trouble, and now you’re settling into your new home.
Between the costs of moving and other new expenses, you’re looking for something a little easier on the wallet (and a little more adventurous than a Netflix night at home).
Fortunately, there are lots of free things to do in CT. Whether you love museums or the great outdoors, here are four things to experience in your new neighborhood.
Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens
If you enjoy the beauty of flowers, the Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens is the stop for you.
Located in a fantastic location in West Hartford, CT, this grand park was the first municipal rose garden in the United States and remains the third largest rose garden in the country.
This historic park offers more than one hundred acres of formal gardens, green space, and walking loops. Enjoy some 800 varieties of roses in the garden, with around 15,000 rose bushes throughout.
Peabody Museum of Natural History
The family-friendly Peabody Museum, located on the Yale campus in New Haven, houses four billion years of earth history. See prehistoric mammals, rare minerals, birds, and the main attraction—dinosaurs!
Peabody members, Yale ID holders, and visitors under three are free anytime, but others can also visit the museum for free on Thursdays between 2 and 5 p.m., September through June.
Don’t miss the spectacular David Friend Hall, a 2,300 square-feet state-of-the-art gem hall, designed as one of the world’s foremost gem viewing galleries.
Check out the current Peabody exhibits. And if you’re looking for more great museums near Hartford, this article has a good list.
Steep Rock Preserve
If you like enjoying nature in person, along with a bit of physical activity, head to Steep Rock Preserve, a 998-acre preserve in Washington Depot.
Walk on trails that wind alongside the river or go on an adventure through a former railroad tunnel that cuts dramatically through the side of a ridge.
Steep Rock provides many exploring options from hiking to horseback riding to river recreation. A pleasant afternoon of fishing, anyone?
Holcomb Farm
Spend a few hours or the day at Holcomb Farm in West Granby, CT. Located between Granby Land Trust properties and the McLean Game Refuge, this historic working farm encompasses more than 300 acres of farmland, rolling hills, woodlands, meadows, and pristine brooks.
Hike the incredible trails from dawn to dusk any day of the year. In addition to the miles of walking, hiking, and bird watching, the farm also offers art classes, nature education programs, and access to its community supported agriculture (CSA) farm store. Select from a variety of vegetables grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Looking for More Free Things to Do in CT?
This list is just the start. There is so much to explore in Connecticut!
Check out our blog for more great things to try in your new backyard, like these free things to do in Hartford, CT or the first five restaurants you need to try in Stratford, CT.
