Although the third smallest state, Connecticut fits a lot into a relatively compact space, from New England villages like Guilford and Litchfield – with their glorious fall foliage – in the northwest to the seaside towns of its southern coast. Less flashy than its New England cousins, Connecticut is also home to several towns and cities rich in maritime, literary and national history. Among the must-visits are New Haven, with Yale University and its museums, and Hartford, where you will find both the nation’s oldest public art museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and Mark Twain’s house. Meanwhile for a glimpse of life in an authentic 19th century seafaring village look no further than Mystic Seaport.