Hear the word “Connecticut” and your mind may conjure up landmarks like Mark Twain’s childhood, home, Yale University, or Dinosaur, but what many people won’t tell you about is its wide array of luxury offerings. If your idea of the high life is staying at elegant resorts, dining on haute cuisine, or shopping ‘til you drop, Connecticut will be right up your street. Best of all, you can go sightseeing in the morning and bask in its high-end offerings from sunrise to sunset.
Places to Rest and Disconnect
To savor the best of Connecticut, it pays to choose a home base that is stylish, one where you feel pampered and where you are surrounded by stunning interiors and elegant outdoor features. You can’t go wrong at resorts such as Winvian Farm, a luxury resort comprising 18 themed cottages, each of which has been designed by a renowned architect. Set on 113 acres of farmland and surrounded by 4,000 acres of nature preserve, it’s the ultimate place to hone the body-mind connection and relax from your usual stressors. The Winvian is also home to a 5,000 square foot spa with six treatment rooms and a sizeable outdoor swimming pool. The resort also offers an excellent farm-to-table dining experience with a Zagat-rated restaurant that emphasizes seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. According to the Connecticut Visitor Guide, there are numerous five-star establishments where you can relax. One of the finest is the Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection (with an impressive 20,000 square foot spa), and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and outdoor swimming.
Top Gourmet Establishments
If fine dining is your thing, you will find many restaurants in Connecticut worth trying out. These include The Capital Grille in Hartford, which is best known for its expertly prepared steaks, which are dry-aged in-house for 18 to 24 days and then hand-cut by the restaurant's on-premise butcher. Another famous Hartford dining establishment is Feng Chophouse, where you will find juicy steaks and market-fresh sushi and seafood. Another establishment that won’t disappoint you is Millwright’s Restaurant & Tavern in Simsbury, serving farm-fresh American fine dining in a breathtakingly beautiful setting with waterfall views.
Luxury Spa Experiences
Those who associate luxury with top spa experiences will find good reasons to spoil themselves in Connecticut. We mentioned that both The Mayflower Inn & Spa and Winvian Farms have sizeable spas with impressive features, but there are many more to choose from. Take the Water’s Edge Resort & Spa, a beachfront establishment overlooking Long Island Sound. Here, you can relax on a white sand beach and feast your eyes on perfectly manicured gardens. The Delamar Spa, meanwhile, offers a range of exceptional massages and faces and is known for its excellent anti-aging treatments. Also look into The Spa at Norwich Inn, with a whopping 27 treatment rooms and a pool, sauna, steam room, and many more exciting amenities.
Connecticut may be known for its stunning landscapes and cultural offerings, but it also has plenty to offer in terms of luxury getaways. It has countless resorts set in lush landscapes, with spas, gourmet restaurants, and beautifully designed interiors. It is also home to world-class restaurants and spas that beckon those in need of a little “we time.”
