Looking for a way to spend a day near New Haven, Connecticut? Below are some ideas for a great day trip from New Haven. You’ll find info on Silver Sands State Park, the Pez Factory, and suggestions on where to eat and drink.

How Much Time Do You Need NEAR NEW HAVEN

Everything listed below can be accomplished in one day!

HIKES NEAR NEW HAVEN

Silver Sands State Park
Silver Sands State Park is located on the Long Island Sound in the city of Milford, Connecticut. It’s known for its beaches, boardwalk trail, and diverse wildlife – there’s a bird sanctuary here.

There are a couple different options for walking here, but my two favorites are the boardwalk trail and the walk out to Charles Island. If you’d like to walk to Charles Island and do the boardwalk trail, plan to spend about 2.5 – 3 hours here – longer if you visit during the warmer months and you’d like to swim or sunbathe on the beach.

– The boardwalk trail is nearly a mile long and goes over dunes and through marshlands. It’s a great (and new!) boardwalk that lets you stretch your legs while taking in nice waterfront views.
– Charles Island is a small island that you can walk to during low tide via a sandbar. Tides come in quickly, so make sure to check the tide schedule so you don’t get stuck on the island! Note, you cannot walk to Charles Island during the birds nesting season, from May to August. If you plan on doing this hike, I’d recommend sneakers or hiking boots if you have them. There are a lot of rocks here and ankle support is helpful.

Sleeping Giant Tower Trail
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 600 ft
Time: 1.5 hours
Hike up to a cool tower with nice views of the surrounding area. You can even see a bit of New Haven from the top. If you want a more challenging hike, you can choose one of the other trails leading up to the tower. If you follow the blue trail up, you’ll be able to do a bit of scrambling.

For both parks, if you have an out-of-state license plate, you will need to pay a fee. Those with Connecticut license plates do not need to pay a fee.

DRINK

No Worries Brewing Co
This laid-back brewery has a small, sandy outdoor beach-like area as well as a spacious indoor area with tons of games. Grab an outdoor highboy with an umbrella or picnic table or head inside if it’s colder out. Depending on what you like, you can choose from hoppy, dark, light, or sour. You can also try one of their more fun options – Like Whoa is one of their more popular brews and is coffee flavored. If you’re gluten-free, they have two standout drinks, as well as wine. The RSVP is a hard tea. It’s not too sweet and has a honey-lemon flavor. If you’re looking for a sweeter gluten-free drink, the La Dee Da seltzer is a good choice. It comes in either red berry and mango. They don’t offer food, but will sometimes partner with food trucks.

Twelve Percent Beer Project
Twelve Percent Beer Project is a craft brewery located near New Haven, Connecticut. They have a ton of different beers on tap and both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor area isn’t what you typically imagine for a brewery – it’s a light and airy minimalist style with some greenery. The bartenders are super friendly and knowledgeable and let us sample beers before deciding what to order. Highly, highly recommend this little hidden gem. Last time we visited there was a food truck outside, and you were also able to bring your own food in.

PLACES NEAR NEW HAVEN

Visit the Pez Visitor Center
Did you grow up eating Pez candy? Then you have to visit the Pez Visitor Center. Located just outside New Haven, this museum slash factory is definitely worth a stop. Did you know Pez was initially created as a candy to help adults stop smoking? The dispensers are designed to mimic the action of igniting a lighter for a cigarette.

For only $5 per person, this is one of the best valued exhibits. With your admission ticket, you’ll receive a $2 credit towards anything in the gift shop (a Pez dispenser is $2.50). You can also play a scavenger hunt game where you must find certain Pez dispensers throughout the museum. If you find them all, you can win a – you guessed it – Pez dispenser! So for $5, I left with two full-sized Pez dispensers!

It’ll take about an hour to walk through the space. There is one large room filled with fun facts about Pez and the company’s history as well as a small upstairs area with some additional exhibits. You can see the conveyor belts and equipment used to make Pez and watch videos about Pez’s rise to popularity. Don’t forget about the gift shop area. All along the side wall, you’ll see different Pez dispensers for purchase. I highly recommend getting one since it’s basically free.

NOT DONE TRAVELING?

Check out our guides of nearby areas:
Ultimate Guide to New York City
5 Short and Sweet Hikes in Western Connecticut
Perfect Fall Day in New Jersey