This past week I had the opportunity to fly back home to a frigid Connecticut to help pack up my childhood home. My brother and his family currently live in the house, but are soon moving to Detroit, to be closer to my sister-in-law’s family. I am so happy I was able to make it back and visit before they left and do all of my Connecticut childhood favorite things! So if you find yourself in the frozen tundra of a Connecticut winter, here are few things to check off your list as well.
1. Ski or Snowboard. Growing up in Wallingford we had a local small mountain called Powder Ridge about 10 minutes away. It’s great for kids learning to ski/snowboard and any beginners. We had a blast taking my nephew for our last hurrah down the mountain. So much fun that when we were walking to our car at the end, a random person said to us, “You guys sounded like you were having a blast out there!” Whoopsie, I guess the entire park heard us singing and yelling our way down.
2. Take a walk in the woods. We grew up spending most of our time outside. As my brother and I walked through the same fields and trails I was amazed at how much faster it took us to walk. It really gave me perspective on just how big the world seems for little kids. My memories of walking miles and miles were really less than a mile.
3. Hit the beach. It may have been freezing but the ocean still looks the same. So big and powerful. As kids, we spent many days camping, picnicking and just hanging out at Hammonasset State Park, a mere 25 minutes from my house. We even rode our bikes the entire way a few times, as kids!
4. Eat seafood. Lenny and Joes is right by the beach and my favorites are the fried clams and fried scallops. It’s not like the fried seafood you get farther out from the beach that is chewy and tough to bite into. This melts in your mouth. Soooo good!
5. Catch some hockey! In the town I grew up in, there are three high schools, two public and one private. My cousin is playing hockey for the boys high school team at Sheehan High School. She is their starting goalie! Click here for an article about her in the local paper. I was excited to be able to catch a game while I was in town. With 3 pairs of pants, leg warmers, two sweaters, hat, jacket, scarf, gloves, and boots that ice rink was just as cold as I remember it!
6. Reminisce. Oh man, did I do a lot of that. We drove by my grandparents old house that I have such amazing memories of. Crafting and baking inside, and hiking, gardening and picking flowers outside. I also wanted to visit my grandparents grave to get some rubbings of their gravestones. Luckily, my brother brought a blow torch because one was covered with 2 inches of ice! We chipped away for an hour and finally were at a point to start rubbing. Exhausting!
I found some old pictures, this was one of my favorites:
On our way back from the beach we stopped at the top of a local hill where there is now a winery. What a great spot to run around and the lighting was perfect for a “town and country” picture of my sister-in-law and her dog.
Also had the chance to see a great friend that now has a baby!
Not many people have the last hurrah in their childhood home and I am so happy I had the opportunity to visit with lots of family, explore some of my favorite spots, survive the cold weather, and say my goodbyes. I’m not sure when or if I will ever make it to Connecticut again, but this last trip was enough to hold me over forever.
So long CT!