Connecticut is a little state with big heart.

There are many well-known wonders to be found here but what about the less recognizable finds hiding in plain sight?

Theres adventure around every corner if youre willing to find it!

Lets explore Connecticuts hidden gems!

*Gentle music playing* This episode is for the Romantics and by this, we don't mean we're checking out the hottest date night spots around the state.

We are talking about those who are looking to romanticize their life, who like to take in the beauty of everyday experiences and find the joy around every corner of this incredible state we call home.

We are here at Lavender Pond Farm in Killingworth, Connecticut.

This nearly 25 acre farm is a glorious, relaxing oasis for everyone who comes.

Let's check out the beauty here at Lavender Pond Farm.

We traversed the grounds briefly before bumping into Denise Salafia an owner and creator of Lavender Pond Farm, who gave us some great insider info.

So the inspiration behind the farm is a children's storybook called “Miss Rumfius” and it's about a little girl who tells her grandfather she's going to do all these amazing things.

And he says to her, “Well, that's nice, dear, but what are you going to do to make the world a more beautiful place?” And she grows up and travels and does all kinds of amazing things.

And as an older woman, she comes back to her hometown and she goes for walks and scatters lupine seeds and the flowers grow.

And it' just it's a really lovely story.

I would read that story to my mom when she was in hospice, and talk to her about everything that she had done throughout her life to make the world a more beautiful place.

And so when we moved to this property, it wasn't zoned for farming, and we wanted to get it back into farming.

And all of our friends were giving us all kinds of ideas.

And I was out here and just had my Miss Rumphius moment and realized that this was my opportunity to do something, to make the world a more beautiful place and give back.

Afterwards, Denise brought us over to her son, Jackson, who would serve as our tour guide on their signature purple train the Lavender Pond Farm Express.

I'm going to you guys... You can sit anywhere you want.

All right.

Well, thank you again so much.

Bye.

Denise said that this ride was the best way to see all the farm has to offer.

To which we say, all aboard.

The train ride is about 20 minutes long, very informative, and takes visitors through the lavender field by the pond, past the fairy garden and under a big covered bridge.

This is fun for visitors of any age.

After a quick stop into what may be the most beautifully scented gift shop in the state, it was time to head to our next destination.

Up next, here we are in Chester, specifically the vibrant downtown where you can find locally owned businesses around every corner foodie finds, arts, culture, you name it.

Specifically for this episode, Chester is home to one of the state's only romance bookstores, so of course we had to check it out.

Founded in 2024 by Sarah Borgnis -Tobin and Elizabeth Tucker, Montgomery & Taggert has seriously changed the local book scene in a big, lovely way.

They offer books exclusively from the romance genre, but also have some really unique merch and gift items.

We caught up with Elizabeth to learn more.

We're in Montgomery and Taggart, Connecticut's first romance bookshop.

The romance genre has been around for hundreds of years now.

It was invented by Jane Austen.

But only in about the last decade or so have we really started talking about it.

And the, I'll say, women, because it is primarily women who read romance, who read romance have started sort of coming out of the woodwork, with the exception of Booktok and Bookstagram, it has less of a stigma, and we're starting to look around and realize that kind of everybody reads romance.

We just didn't know it before.

A hill that I will di on and set fire to on my way out is that romance must have a happily ever after if it does not have a happily ever after.

It is not a romance.

After leaving the bookshop, we explored more of Chester's charming streets.

You can feel the celebration of arts, culture and history around every corner and when in Chester, I highly recommend stopping into Honeycone Craft ice cream.

If you ask me.

Some of the best flavors in the state are found here.

Our last stop of the day is less sweet and more salty for our last hidden gem.

Here we are at Hole in the Wall Beach and Niantic.

There are two aspects that make this spot really unique.

One is the actual hole in the wall which guests have to pass through in order to reach the boardwalk and the beach.

And secondly, this is an extremely accessible spot.

The entire boardwalk i completely paved with concrete, so anything with wheels ha a great chance of success here.

There's a fee to park if you want to use the beach, and you're not part of this community.

But the boardwalk is completely free to anyone regardless of whether or not you live in the state.

The tunnel is actually underneath or through a set of train tracks.

So when you're here on the beach or on the boardwalk, you can actually see and hear the train passing at times, which makes it that much more romantic.

If you ask me.

There is so much incredible shorelin to be found here in Connecticut, but Hole in the Wall has a special place in my heart, and I think it will find its way into yours too if you come visit.

Thanks for watching.

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