With the fall foliage of New England beckoning, we headed north of New York and said hello to Connecticut. First stop: Outriggers in Stratford for lunch. Stuffed clams and prawns, battered cod tacos and oyster shooters made for a super introduction to New England cuisine.
We arrived in Hartford, capital of Connecticut, and escaped the rain by visiting Samuel Clemens’ house. Better known to the world as Mark Twain, Clemens and his wife Livvy built this house in 1873 and from 1874 to 1891 they raised their family here. Many of Twain’s classics were also written here including the The Prince and the Pauper, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The house has been beautifully restored and the tour gave great insight into the story of Mark Twain. The house has been described as “part steamboat, part medieval fortress and part cuckoo clock” and Samuel Clemens himself said that his happiest years were spent in this house.
With clear skies the next day we headed west and took a drive through the leaves. It’s so beautiful and the camera just can’t fully convey the brilliance of the colours but rest assured that won’t stop me taking photos as we continue to make our way around the region 😂 New England fall foliage: another America bucket list item checked off!
Mystic Seaport Museum is the largest maritime museum in America and home to the Charles W. Morgan. The Charles W. Morgan was built in 1841 and used throughout the 19th and early 20th century. Now residing at Mystic Seaport, the Charles W. Morgan is the world’s last surviving wooden whaling ship. The museum has an amazing exhibition on the history of whaling and a living museum shares some of the nation’s maritime history.
Our visit to Mystic included a wander around the Olde Mistick Village, a recreated 18th century New England village.
And finally our Connecticut visit was made complete with an evening with Gena and Frank, friends from Doha. We had a fabulous Oktoberfest meal at Abigail’s Grille and a wonderful evening reminiscing and catching up. Thank you Frank and Gena and we look forward to you seeing you in Australia! ☺️
P&S
