5 cute Connecticut towns for a perfect autumn day

Gone are the days of summer, here are the chilly evening breezes of fall.

The season officially began Sept. 22, though peak foliage will cover most of the state in mid-October.

Take a drive to one of these Connecticut towns for days of applepicking, waterfall-hiking, leafpeeping, train-riding fall adventures.

Monroe

Monroe is a charming small town in Fairfield County. Fall activities abound here with the nearby Beardsely’s Cider Mill and Orchard

where people can pick their own apples and get hard or sweet cider. Great Hollow Lake is a great spot for a walk among the trees, with abundant orange and red foliage.

When to visit for peak foliage: Oct. 24-30

Litchfield

Litchfield is full of unique activities and attractions that set it apart. For one thing, there’s the 50-year-old Dutch Epicure Shop that specializes in fresh European breads and pastries and sells Dutch goods and groceries. Get up close to nature at the Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy where you can see more than 60 species of waterfowl and then go for a stroll across a covered bridge in nearby West Cornwall.

When to visit for peak foliage: through Oct. 15

Essex

Downtown Essex is a picturesque New England town with fun restaurants and unique ways to see the fall leaves. Essex has a steam train and river boat that make for a creative way to see fall foliage, with river charters and dinner train excursions. Essex is also home to the Connecticut River Museum, which is housed in a three-story restored steamboat warehouse.

When to visit for peak foliage: Oct. 24-30

Mystic

Mystic is a coastal village in Northern Connecticut with plenty of fall foliage accompanied by crisp sea breezes. The town is almost 400 years old and has plenty of historic architecture, museums and tours. There’s the Mystic Seaport Museum, which features a recreation of a New England fishing village from the 19th century (boats and all). At the Mystic Aquarium, you can see the only beluga whales in New England. Olde Mistick Village is an outdoor shopping mall next to the aquarium with stores that sell hand-made soaps, Christmas ornaments and local honeys, mustards and spreads. For those who like to be spooked, a ghost tour will show you around town or opt for a boat tour and take in the scenery.

When to visit for peak foliage: Oct. 24-30

Kent

Kent was founded in 1739, 37 years before the U.S. was officially established, and it has plenty of old-school charm mixed with modern comforts for picturesque fall adventures. There’s Kent

Falls Brewing, a small-batch brewery that makes beer from hops grown on the same farm where the brewery is located. House of Books is a bookstore with major “Harry Potter” vibes complete with red exterior and vintage wood sign. Kent Falls State Park offers stunning foliage and waterfalls fit for refreshing fall hikes.

When to visit for peak foliage: Oct. 9-15

Contributed photo The Bunnell Farm in Litchfield. Today Rick and Helen Bunnell’s farm hosts a fall corn maze, raises and sells Fresh Turkey, offers hayrides and grows pumpkins and corn.

Kindra Clineff / Contributed photo Downtown Essex in the fall.