My discovery of Connecticut began at Gillette Castle State Park on a gorgeous fall day. The castle and grounds once belonged to a prominent son of Connecticut who became an actor, then retired at home. Upon his death, the state bought the land and building so visitors can enjoy it, if they come on a day when it is open. I got there on the day it was closed, but Tamu and I were able to walk the grounds and begin taking in the fall foliage, which was in good color at that point in mid-October. We walked around enjoying autumn, then moved on to the nearby town of East Haddam to explore it. Tamu made friends with various visitors, even posing with a German family for a photo, where I like to believe he sits on their mantle all these years later.
East Haddam straddles the Connecticut River and the town looks like a movie set. The opera house is gorgeous and boasts of being a founding site where eventual gems of American theater get their start. Unfortunately, there was nothing playing that night that compelled me to stay until evening, so Tamu and I pressed on southward along the Connecticut River toward Long Island Sound, admiring the stunning colors and hoping the rain would hold off until dark.
Our next stop was Essex, where we stopped at the Connecticut River Museum. It provided a solid overview of shipping along the river, the evolution in technology that enabled it, and how the area became an important one for yachting. The museum includes a submarine from the American Revolution, which failed in its first effort to bomb a British ship but managed to survive the attempt.
At Long Island Sound, we stopped at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, where I walked the stone free beach. I was able to dip my toes in the sand a bit. There were just enough locals around to keep me from bringing Tamu onto the beach.
From that point, I headed through New London to Mystic. I hate to be a cliche, but Mystic Pizza was open and convenient, while many other places were closed. So I ordered a slice and strolled around the town a bit with Tamu. The sunset made pictures difficult and I realized how tired I was from the previous long journey there, so I headed back up to my hotel for the night.