If you’re dead set on avoiding crowds at the same destinations year after year, there’s good news for you.
Travel experts covering New England’s must-visit destinations didn’t include Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, or any of the household names we’ve all dreamed of visiting.
Instead, they tossed us a curveball, and we at Travel Off Path believe they hit this one out of the park!
The truth is more and more travelers are venturing beyond the norms in hopes to find their own slice of paradise, whatever that may mean to them.
In this case, an underrated coastal city more known for its prestigious university and coal-fired Italian classics is being hyped as one of the top East Coast destinations this fall, and it’s packed with surprises.
New Haven, CT: New England’s Underrated Coastal Getaway
New Haven may not be a proper beach town, but who doesn’t love fiery sunsets, calm waves, picturesque lighthouses?
And that’s not even factoring in the autumn foliage ready to transform tree lines from the coast to city hilltops.
New Haven lies on the Long Island Sound, a sheltered body of water separate from the vast Atlantic. Best of all it’s easily accessible from all points of the city.
Home to quaint coves, a towering lighthouse from the 1800s, and serene marshlands, and sweeping sunsets, the coastal aspect of New Haven is perhaps its most underrated appeal.
Though, there are few stays worthy of going out of your way to book a waterfront room, dining is a different category.
Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill has prime real estate along the Sound as does Il Gabbiano, in walking distance to the Long Wharf Park, one of the best spots to take in the views.
America’s Unsung Foodie Destination
At first glance, you might not think of Barstool Sports as the best food critic, but founder Dave Portnoy (a.k.a. “El Presidente”) has become one of the most notable names in the pizza industry, and he claims there’s no better place than Connecticut for pizza.
New Haven is the heart of the state’s thriving pizza scene, whipping up charred apizza pies that will have you forgetting all about nearby New York City’s floppy slices.
New Haven-style consists of thin crust baked in coal-fired ovens, resulting in a masterpiece of smoky char and bold flavor with simple ingredients.
Famed eateries such as Sally’s Apizza, Modern Apizza, and Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana are all destinations unto themselves, though travel experts at Parade recommend BAR.
So much so that it’s not uncommon to hear of fellow East Coasters hopping aboard a train or braving traffic just to grab a bite and head back home — it’s that good.
A Vibrant College Town With Free Attractions
If you’re overstuffed with pizza and forced to stay the night, there’s plenty of ways to walk off your gut bomb without spending a penny.
If you’re aware of New Haven, it’s even more famous for world-renowned Yale University than it is its delicious pizza.
But you don’t have to weasel your way into being one of Yale’s 4.5% acceptance rate to enjoy the European-esque buildings dating back to early 1700s.
There are a few free attractions to enjoy one of America’s prettiest college campuses (especially during fall) — and you don’t have to whip out your wallet.
Yale offers the following free museums:
Best Ways To Get Here
New Haven is easy to reach, but it all depends where you’re coming from. For example, you can hop aboard a train from New York City for as little as $11 and be here in about 90 minutes, according to Wanderu.
This goes for numerous Northeast cities at varying fares as it’s directly linked to Washington DC, Boston, and Philadelphia too.
While Connecticut is a popular road trip stop to fuel up in what’s often considered a pass-through state, you might be surprised to know you can fly directly into New Haven (HVN) via America’s newest budget airlines Avelo and Breeze, or Hartford (BDL) just an hour or so away with more domestic options.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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