What to Do on Your Day Off: Connecticut

You worked your butt off this year and now it's time to relax. Enjoy your time off with these one-day and overnight itineraries around greater Conneticut.

CONNETICUT – From the snow-covered hills of Litchfield County to the cosmopolitan offerings of Greenwich and New Haven, there's plenty to do when the temperature drops in Connecticut. Bundle up and bask in your day of freedom.

Start your day with an acai bowl at Green & Tonic. Photo courtesy of Green & Tonic.

GREENWICH

Checkout from life: Turn off your cell phone and take a breather at The Mayflower Grace in Washington. Work up a sweat with barre and yoga classes, or head outside to snowshoe in the forest. Curl up with a book at the spa house after a Swedish massage and customized facial.

Or indulge in urbane food and contemporary art: Grab a cold-pressed juice at Green & Tonic before a tour of the latest exhibition at The Brant Foundation Art Study Center. Treat yourself to dinner and drinks at the newly opened outpost of Manhattan bistro The National.

Stay cozy in front of a fire at The White Hart. Photo by John Gruen.

HARTFORD

Hit the slopes: Strap on your skis and pray for a fresh layer of powder at Catamount Ski Area in Hillsdale, New York. Rest and refuel at The White Hart, a cozy country retreat in Salisbury. British chef Annie Wayte's elevated comfort food is drawing crowds and awards.

Or travel back in time: Book a combination ticket to tour the homes of two great American authors, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain. Laugh your head off at City Steam Brewery Cafe, a restaurant and comedy club housed in a Romanesque-style building from the late 19th century.

The work of local artist Francis Palmer. Photo courtesy of Dawn Hill Antiques. 

NEW HAVEN

Head for the hills: For a charming European getaway without the mileage, book an overnight at Hidden Valley Bed & Breakfast in Washington Depot. Shop 18th- and 19th-century Swedish furniture at Dawn Hill Antiques and dine on farm fresh foods at Arethusa al Tavolo.

Or plan a pints-and-pizza tour: Start with a traditional tomato "apizza" (the New Haven moniker for pizza) at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napolentana. Eat your way through the menus at Sally's Apizza and Modern Apizza. Make a final stop at Brü Room at Bar for house-made beers and thin crust pies loaded with gourmet cheeses and specialty toppings like roasted beets, chives, and honey.