New Haven is known best as the home of a famed Ivy League School. But you don’t have to get into Yale to enjoy the East Coast flavor of this mid-sized Connecticut city. History is alive and well here, but it’s not all hidden behind the exclusive ivy-covered walls.

New Haven was one of the first planned cities in the U.S. The square at town’s center, known as The Green, has sat unchanged for almost 300 years. The Green hosts events on a regular basis and is a great place to relax and take in the history infused atmosphere.

New Haven has a disproportionate number of gourmet-style pizza restaurants. There are also plenty of upscale eateries and restaurants with an international flavor. Downtown is the place to find Thai, Chinese, and Italian food, as well as nose-in-the-air upscale restaurants and cutting edge kitchens.

The party takes place in the pubs, wine bars, and clubs located in near downtown. The crowd of revelers is quite large, especially on the weekends. The epicenter of the merrymaking is on Crown Street, one of downtown’s main drags.

Yale has one of the oldest campuses in the country. There is a lot to see. The Sterling Memorial Library has a collection of ancient manuscripts and artifacts. There is also an art gallery and a theater on campus. The Peabody Museum of Natural History is a good visit, as one would probably expect. Simply wandering the grounds of one of America’s oldest Universities is an experience in and of itself.

New Haven’s downtown area is pedestrian friendly. Likewise, bicycling is easy. There are even several shops that rent bikes for the day or the week.

New Haven is a classic East Coast city. Its age and the prestige of its University make for an attractive atmosphere.

Gourmet Restaurants in New Haven, CT