40 Things to do in Connecticut this October

1. Take a scenic hike. Catch fall foliage during its peak timeframes on one of Connecticut’s many hiking trails.

2. Camp with your pet. Enjoy the beauty of nature with your four-legged friend by your side at a pet-friendly campground, such as Strawberry Park Resort or Wolf's Den Family Campground. And find cute spots for fall fun with your pup here.

3. Soar through the trees. Get a birds-eye view of the leaves in full foliage form during zipline tours at the Adventure Park in Storrs or HighFlyer Zipline at Foxwoods in Mashantucket.

4. Pedal around. Grab a bike and get out on any of Connecticut’s biking trails to take in the foliage or plan your own scenic biking trip to see a few of the state’s covered bridges.

5. Chase some waterfalls. Eat from a picnic basket as you take in the sights and sounds of Connecticut waterfalls, such as the ones at Burr Falls in Torrington or Mount Carmel Spring Falls in Hamden.

6. Walk with llamas. Make a new friend while staying active by going on a llama walk at Country Quilt Llama Farm in Cornwall or Rowanwood Farm in Newtown. You're sure to see some great foliage along the way!

7. Get adventurous. Seek a little thrill and find ways to view foliage from above. And find more adrenaline pumping activities here.

8. Travel the Barns Trail. Explore the agricultural roots of Connecticut history and road trip through the Barns Trail. You may even see some great foliage on your journey!

9. Visit scarecrows. Check out the beautiful little meadow at the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School, the nation’s first law school, which comes alive from October 15 to 31 with a display of scarecrows. Stroll through Old Wethersfield and admire the scarecrow creations at the annual Scarecrows Along Main Street event. Or, stroll the Annual Scarecrows on the Green in Branford.

10. See the screen — from your car. Enjoy an old-fashioned movie night and view films of all types at drive-in theaters like the Southington Drive-In or the Mansfield Drive-in in Mansfield, where you'll also find a flea market that features various vendors and even a snack bar.

11. Explore history. No matter the season, Connecticut offers ample opportunities to experience the state's rich history up close. Spend a day touring the Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield, the Roseland Cottage Museum in Woodstock, the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, or any of the many museums throughout Connecticut.

12. Go house hunting. With so much history in Connecticut, you'll find stunning landscapes, architecture, and centuries of beauty to explore. Take a road trip and discover these historic homes and gardens throughout the state.

13. Embrace art. Enjoy the crisp air and pair it with a little art! Explore outdoor art exhibits like the New London Mural Walk, or the Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at Riverfront in Hartford.

14. Celebrate cinema. See screenings of upcoming LGBTQ+ films presented by Out Film CT.

15. Go on a coffee tour. When the fall menus are out, there's no better time to hit the coffee shops. Grab a pumpkin spice latte or maple cappuccino and cozy up at these top coffee destinations across the state.

16. Sample hard cider. Plan a visit to one of Connecticut’s hard cider destinations like Yankee Cider Barn at Staehly Farms in East Haddam, New England Cider Company in Wallingford,  and Bishop's Orchards Farm Market & Winery in Guilford.

17. Follow the wine trail. If you haven’t already, grab your passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries and take in the scenic views at any of these Instagrammable vineyards and wineries.

18. Treat your sweet tooth. In fall, there's nothing better than farm fresh pies, apple cider doughnuts, and other tasty treats! Find these goodies at places like Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Rogers Orchards Shuttle Meadow Farm in Southington, Belltown Hill Orchards in South Glastonbury, and Beardsley's Cider Mill & Orchard in Shelton.

19. Celebrate Oktoberfest. Everyone's talking about craft beer these days and the cool places you can find it! Sip and celebrate fall brews at these events. And find more at these destination breweries in Connecticut. 

20. Go pumpkin picking. Stop by any one of Connecticut’s farms and find yourself a perfect pumpkin to display or eat! Or snap the perfect pumpkin picture at these Insta-worthy pumpkin patches.

21. See some wild animals. Come face to face with zebras, elk, bison, and more at the Action Wildlife Foundation in Goshen or Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. Take a wagon ride to see where the buffalo roams at Creamery Brook Bison in Brooklyn. Want an even more unique experience? Attend the Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Glow Wild event and discover larger-than-life illuminated wildlife lantern displays!

22. Learn about the past. Head to the Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange or the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford for a museum trip the kids will love!

23. Get lost in a corn maze. Test your skills at one of the fun and challenging corn mazes around the state including the Peanuts themed maze at Lyman Orchards.

24. Challenge your mind. Test your problem-solving skills at fun escape rooms like Mission Escape Games in West Hartford, Mind Factory Escape Games in Bridgeport, Escape New Haven, or Mystified Escape Rooms in Mystic.

25. Get into the Halloween spirit. Find some spooks in these festive Halloween towns or go ghost hunting at these truly terrifying haunted attractions.

26. Enjoy not-so-scary Halloween fun. Have little ones who aren't quite ready for big frights? Take 'em to these kid-friendly Halloween events filled with festive fun.

27. Get glowing. Journey through a wonderland of illuminated larger-than-life lanterns inspired by the wildlife world at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo's Glow Wild Lantern Festival.

28. Treat yourself to the spa. Visit any of Connecticut’s spas for a fall treatment to help ease your way into the new season.

29. Find some small-town charm. Stroll, shop, or dine in one of the state’s picturesque towns.

30. Go for a scenic train ride. Take in Connecticut’s beautiful scenery by train aboard the Essex Steam Train.

31. Visit the beach. It doesn’t have to be sunny for you to put your feet in the sand! Soak in the calming sound of the crashing waves on one of Connecticut’s beaches.

32. Do some yoga. Realign your mind, body and spirit before the major holidays at the Salt Cave of Darien or Charym Yoga Studio.

33. Go antique shopping. Look for hidden treasures at great spots like Antiques Marketplace in Putnam, Old Saybrook Antiques Center, Antique & Artisan Gallery in Stamford, and Edwin C. Ahlberg Antiques in Guilford.

34. Visit a nature center. Stroll beautiful trails, view galleries, learn about the environment and see some animals when you visit the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton or the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret.

35. Stay in a B&B. Hopkins Inn,  and the Inn at Woodstock Hill are all charming inns that give you a breathtaking view of the season’s foliage at its peak.

36. Snap some fall photos. Take a romantic road trip to these stunning fall photo locations and capture a few shots of you and your significant other beneath the foliage!

37. Gaze at the stars. Cozy up with your special someone and spend a night under the stars (literally!) at these star-gazing observatories.

38. Go on an ultimate foliage tour. Set aside a weekend for exploring Connecticut in its autumn glory. Follow these foliage drives or visit these knockout views and make some spontaneous pit stops (and romantic memories) along the way!

39. Spend a day or weekend in Washington and enjoy wine flights, cheese spreads, and beautiful views of Lake Waramaug at Hopkins Vineyard. Or, at Spring Hill Vineyards, experience a private tasting, tours of the refurbished vintage Airstream, and a picnic on the beautiful property.

40. Go luxe for fall dates. Amp up your romance game with lavish experiential dates including a chauffeured fall foliage drive in a vintage car with a gourmet picnic, yacht excursions, and immersive farm and chocolate experiences.