The best camping near Weir Farm National Historic Site

For the aspiring artist in your life, consider a stop at Weir Farm in Connecticut. This 60-acre park sits on lush, green farmland, contains distinctive stone walls. It's also the home of painter Julian Alden Weir, an American impressionist painter. The old farm takes you back in time more than a century to show you how to think and feel like an artist.

Walk on the grounds to see Weir Pond, a beautiful example of landscape art. The gardens and barns on the property are also meticulously kept. Tours of the house and the visitor's center are open from May to October, whereas the grounds of the park are open all year. Explore rolling hills and fields of rural Connecticut, far away from the huge metroplex of New York to the south.

Inside the home, see Weir's studio and some original works of art. This used to be his summer home away from his busy life in New York City. He and his wife turned this home-away-from-home into an artist's retreat where painters, sculptors, and weavers could find their inspiration again. Much in the same way, several artists-in-residence take up Weir's mantle at the Weir Farm Art Center. Artists have been coming here for more than 120 years to find their one true place in the art world.

If you're lucky, you might get to see a workshop on how to make an impressionist painting. Feel free to bring a canvas, a set of paints and find your own inspiration at the park.

Nearby campsites give you an opportunity to explore this area's idyllic setting. Summer and early fall months, from May to October, are best for a visit. Meanwhile, fall time offers the splendor of foliage tours and drives in early October.