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New Haven is Underrated for Fall Travel

New Haven, Connecticut, is full of charm and gorgeous fall. According to a new article from Fodor’s Travel, it is among the most underrated and picturesque in the Northeast.

Fodor’s Travel says travelers should visit New Haven for cozy fall fun, including pumpkin patches, ghost tours, apple picking, and unbelievable fall foliage.

“There’s nothing like the charm of Connecticut in Fall. And New Haven isn’t just home to Yale University — there are plenty of fall-focused activities to embark on here in autumn,” the travel website said. 

Fodor’s Travel recommends skipping overcrowded Fall destinations and heading to underappreciated spots, such as Westerly, Rhode Island over Newport, the Catskills over the Finger Lakes in New York, and New Haven over Greenwich, Connecticut.

 

Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes

The best pumpkin patches in the New Haven area are at Lyman Orchards, Bishop Orchards, and Jones Family Farms. Lyman Orchards offers the experience of picking your pumpkins straight from the field to find the perfect one for a Jack O’Lantern.

Bishop Orchards and Jones Family Farms offer a more traditional pumpkin patch, with pumpkins stacked high, waiting to find a home.

Lyman Orchards and Bishop Orchards also offer apple picking with dozens of varieties of apples. Different apples are ready to pick throughout the season, so you will want to check before you go.

Lyman Orchards is full of fall festivity with a massive corn maze that will take you at least an hour to get through. Lyman’s Apple Barrel Market sells the best Apple Cider Donuts and Apple Pie.

Jones Family Farms has a hayride perfect for getting into the Fall spirit. The ride lasts about 20 minutes and goes through the woods on the farm.

 

Ghost Tour

For thrill-seekers, New Haven has a great ghost tour. The Ghosts of New Haven tour lasts for 90 minutes and focuses on the spooky history of New Haven. Knowledgeable guides will lead you through the Grove Street Cemetary and New Haven Green.

The tour focuses on the spooky history of New Haven as well as stories of the paranormal.

If Ghost Tours aren’t your thing, you might enjoy A Taste of New Haven. This food tour will provide much of the same history as the ghost tour, but you also get to sample some fantastic food along the way.

 

Fall Foliage in New Haven

Fall Foliage in New England is legendary, and it is simply stunning in New Haven. There are plenty of ways to take it all in. You can drive along the Connecticut coastline, hike at Sleeping Giant State Park, or take a stroll through any of New Haven’s gorgeous parks.

To see tons of fall color, drive to the top of East Rock Park for a bird’s eye view of the city and the fall foliage. The view takes in all of the New Haven area as well as Long Island Sound. On a clear day, you can see Long Island from the top of East Rock Park.

Sleeping Giant State Park is a must-do in the fall if you love to hike. A mile-and-a-half trail leads to the peak of Sleeping Giant and a stone lookout (sometimes called the castle.) This park in nearby Hamden is a favorite in the fall, so go early to ensure parking.

 

Yale Walking Tour

Yale offers free 1-hour tours of campus Monday-Saturday at noon. The tour is a great way to learn about the history of Yale while enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. The walking tours, led by Yale students, focus on facts about Yale and the architecture of the campus.

You must make a reservation ahead of time for the walking tours.

Another great way to see New Haven in the Fall is on a self-guided Yale walking tour. It’s an excellent way to explore at your own pace and focus on the things you want to see.

 

Yale Museums

 

If you have another hour to spend at Yale, you can visit one of 2 free Yale museums. The Yale Center for British Art and The Yale University Art Gallery are worth visiting. The Yale Center for British Art is renowned for its collection of British art, which is the largest and most comprehensive outside of Great Britain.

The Yale University Art Gallery is the oldest college art museum in the United States.

Both museums are perfect for art lovers, with a wide range of art from different cultures and periods.

Eat the Best Pizza in the US

New Haven Pizza has a bit of a cult following. If you are looking at the singed crust and thinking that pizza looks burnt, I get it, but that is part of what makes New Haven pizza special.

Thin, but chewy dough is baked in a gas stove (many are 100 years old) and topped with simple and delicious ingredients. The pizza in the picture is the Fresh Tomato Pie from Pepe’s Pizza and is only available in summer and early fall when the tomatoes are  ripe.

I could write an entire post about New Haven Pizza… and I did! Check it out here.

So don’t miss out on Fall in New Haven

Whether you’re looking for some cozy fall fun or want to explore the city, New Haven is the perfect place to be this autumn. You can enjoy the beautiful fall colors while exploring all the city offers. There are so many amazing New Haven fall activities.