Petra & Henry
Things To Do
Devil's Hopyard State Park
Less than 10 minutes from the wedding venue, Devil's Hopyard is a perfect autumn walk/hike location. There's a covered bridge, a gorgeous waterfall, and many spooky and magical legends associated with it (ask Petra and Henry to tell you more).
Gillette Castle State Park
This is a gorgeous area to hike, see a super weird 19th century castle, and get an amazing view of the Connecticut River. Petra had many birthday parties running around the woods pretending to be fantasy characters here. Henry attended one of those parties. It is about 15 minutes away from the wedding venue.
Downtown Chester Connecticut
Walking around downtown Chester is one of our favorite past times. It is right down the hill from the Elementary School where Henry and Petra met. The downtown is completely walkable, has restaurants and cafes, and many little shops. Be sure to stop by Chester Gallery, which Henry's grandparents Sosse and Jack Baker started and ran for decades. Check our Simon's Marketplace or The Villager for breakfast. Chester is just across the river from East Haddam.
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
One of our favorite museums in the world. This is an incredible place to visit and learn about the indigenous history of the Mashantucket Peaquot people. There is a massive life size diorama of a village that you can explore, an ice age passageway, and more. It is closed on Sunday, but open Thurs-Sat. It is about a 30 minute drive from East Haddam.
RJ Julia Booksellers
About 40 minutes from the venue, Madison CT is another gorgeous new england town to explore and shop. It's close to several beaches with walking trails, it has many restraunts cafes and shops, but most importantly it is home to the beloved bookstore R.J. Julia Booksellers that Petra worked at for several years (and that both Elfströms and Nevins have shopped at for decades).
Mystic Aquarium
Like Mystic Seaport, this location is about 45-50 minutes away from East Haddam, CT, but is worth the drive. See sea lions, beluga whales, seals, and all sorts of amazing aquatic life.
Mystic Seaport Museum
An outdoor walking museum of the historic seaport of Mystic, CT. There's food, activities, many small museums, and a gorgeous walk along the harbor where you can see historic ships and replicas. One of Petra and Henry's favorite places to go. It's a 50-60 minute drive from East Haddam, CT.