In Greater New Haven, we don’t live in the past, but we’re close enough to it to visit. This is among the few places on the Eastern seaboard where you can still reach back to the earliest days of American history—a century before the Revolution.

The first stop for history buffs is the  New Haven Museum. Travel through time as the region developed from a colonial village into an industrial powerhouse with contributions by household names including Eli Whitney, Oliver Winchester and Charles Goodyear. The region lays claim to many “firsts”, including the corkscrew, lollipop, hamburger sandwich and Frisbee.

Beyond New Haven, architecture fans can enjoy Allis-Bushnell House and Museum (Madison), Andrews Homestead (Meriden), Pardee-Morris House (New Haven), Thomas Darling House (Woodbridge) and Reynolds-Beers House (North Branford). While gallivanting about, be sure to stop by the oldest house in Connecticut, Henry Whitfield State Museum (Guilford). The home offers self-guided tours and special holiday events.