A 'Gilmore Girls' Fangirl's Guide To Washington, Connecticut

Brit + Co's "Gilmore Girls" Guide To Washington, Connecticut

Once you get to Washington, there are tons of locations you can visit and activities you can partake in to make you feel like you're in Stars Hollow. It's fairly simple to get to Washington — you can drive right into town if you're taking a car, but there are also two train stations that are around a 20-minute taxi drive from town.

There are actually five villages within Washington — Washington Green, Washington Depot, New Preston, Marbledale, and Woodville — with different aspects of the Gilmore Girls experience. You can go pumpkin and apple picking and explore Hopkins Vineyard's Annual Wine & Cheese Market. If you're into outdoor activities, go for a hike on one of the trails or go for a bike ride. Whatever you choose to do, you won't be disappointed with the scenery — U.S. News named Washington one of the best small towns to see fall foliage!

Where To Stay In Washington, Connecticut

We're pretty sure that if you're taking a Gilmore Girls trip to Washington, Connecticut, that you'll want to stay in the Mayflower Inn & Spa. Sherman-Palladino says that her stay in the inn, and in town, inspired the concept of the show and the environment she wanted to create, so this is a surefire way to get in the Gilmore Girls spirit.

If you want something more akin to Lorelai and Rory's home, you can check out some AirBnb's around town like this sunny Colonial homefor a more homey and private experience. This house offers lake access, an indoor fireplace, and a private patio for the whole family.

Hopkins Inn is another great option that will let you kick up your feet and relax. It sits right on the north shore of Lake Waramaug, and it has been hosting guests since 1847. During warmer months, you can check out the Hopkins Inn beach but when temps drop during the fall, the grounds are a great place to check out the fall foliage.

What To Do In Washington, Connecticut

Along with town sites like the Henry David Thoreau Bridge or Hidden Valley Preserve that look beautiful during the fall, you can also do some shopping for unique accessories at stores like J. Seitz & Co. that Lorelai would love, and colorful stationery at D.K. Schulman Design that would get Rory's stamp of approval.

If you want to really feel like you're in the middle of Stars Hollow, take a walk around the Washington Green Historic District to see the town's colonial architecture, the First Congregational Church Meetinghouse, and the Gunn Historical Museum for a dose of history. Similar to Stars Hollow's town square, the Green is the center for a lot of the events in Washington. You can check out festivals and fairs, or bring a picnic lunch like the characters do in "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" (although you won't have to bid on anyone to win their company).

It wouldn't be a Gilmore Girls trip without a visit to the local bookstore, and the Hickory Stick Bookshop is one of the best places in Washington, Connecticut, to check out both books and stationery. The store has been around for 60 years, and it even has a “Rory Reads Book List.”

Gilmore Girls combines a local diner and hardware store into Luke's (since he turned his father's hardware store into the diner), but in Washington, you can visit both! Check out the Washington Supply Company before eating at Marty’s Café or The Po Café (more on those later), and get your family together for a mini town hall meeting at the Bryan Memorial Town Hall.

For a glimpse at a real-life Doose's Market, visit Washington Food Market, which is the only full-service grocery store in town. It's been in the same location for more than 100 years and is a family-run business, which we love. Keep your eyes peeled for Dean stocking the shelves while you get some Gilmore-approved food.

Where To Eat And Drink In Washington, Connecticut

We're pretty sure that the most important thing you could consume on a Gilmore Girls weekend is coffee. Good thing there are multiple options! Grab a cup of your favorite caffeinated beverage at The Smithy, Marty’s Café, or The Po Café (or grab a cup from all three). If you decide not to order breakfast, stop into The Pantry for a pastry.

Just like Lorelai and Rory often stop into Luke's, get your fill of burgers, desserts, and pastries from restaurants like the G.W. Tavern, which will hold you over until you can make some Gilmore Girls recipes of your own.

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