Though Connecticut is the third smallest state in the U.S., it is home to many Cultural Care au pairs! Read more to learn why au pairs love living in this amazing state.
REASONS AU PAIRS LOVE CONNECTICUT (CT):
Connecticut is located close to big cities like New York City and Boston but you still get to live in nice quiet suburban areas and it is close to the water which is lovely. —Johanne Høj, au pair from Denmark
Connecticut is a family state and there are tons of au pairs. You will NEVER be alone—it doesn't matter where you live. You do not have to drive far to get to the next au pair. I don't even know all the au pairs in my town. Me and my friends are a group of 10 people and there are many more living in this town. —Kathrin Poechlinger, au pair from Austria
Fall in Connecticut is also called "Indian summer". With all the pretty brown, yellow, orange and red colors it's the prettiest fall I've ever seen. It's not like a normal fall because it seemed like all the colors were heightened. You know like you use a filter on your photo, increase the saturation and all the colors appear more intensive, but there's no way you can use a filter on reality. —Jessi Küsters, au pair from Germany
It was very easy to get on a bus and meet my friends in Stamford to drink a coffee or just go to my favorite mall. I also loved the little shops and restaurants in my town and the amazing library! —Silvia Loiacono, au pair from Italy
There are many restaurants from different cultures such as Brazil, Perú, Germany, Mexico, Italia, and Colombia too! I loved CT and I still miss everything about it. —Jessica Ardila, au pair from Colombia
I lived close to the ocean and also close to the center of the city. It was close to Manhattan and easy connections. There’s a lot to do, gym cinemas, nice food, malls etc. I never got bored! —Sara Håkansson, au pair from Sweden
I love the classic simple suburban life in CT. My host kid is in pre-school so everyday when I pick her up I get to chat with the other moms, and I realize how perfect this area is to have children and a family. I love the simplicity of this state so much. —Nina Klopf au pair from Austria
There are lots of places to take classes. In the Canton area there are lots. First there is St. Joseph University in West Hartford, second the University of Hartford is close by and third there is the Northern Connecticut Community College (NCCC) in Winsted where I used to take my classes. It's also about 30 minutes away. —Jessi Küsters, au pair from Germany
You have everything you need: beaches, small towns with beautiful parks and soccer games but also a big city nearby to experience the night life with clubs to dance. If I had to choose again I'd probably choose Connecticut again! —Ana Miramontes, au pair from Mexico
All the lighthouses along the shoreline are so beautiful and typical for New England. —Anna Andersson, au pair from Sweden
It's close to NYC but you can still escape the stress and hectic when you drive back home to Connecticut. It is also not that far from Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, the state right next to Connecticut. You have two famous universities nearby: Harvard University in Boston, MA and Yale University in New Haven, CT. I always dreamed of visiting these two universities. —Kathrin Poechlinger, au pair from Austria
Every season has something special. In spring you can see the trees and grass turning green. Summer is all about sun and fun at the beach, which is probably my favorite time. Summer nights are spent outside with happy people and live music. In fall the leaves turn into beautiful colors and you go apple picking and pick your own pumpkins for Halloween. Evenings are spent in front of fireplaces with friends, family and pumpkin spiced everything, from latte to pie. In winter you go sliding, skiing and iceskating. —Melanie Brandner, au pair from Austria
Also, schools are very good and there are a lot of interesting thing to study. —Lady Crespo, au pair from Colombia
I love how friendly the people are! —Maria Sanchez, au pair from Mexico
The most important of all it was my host family—a family forever! —Monica Osuna, au pair from Mexico
Beautiful East Haddam Bridge over the Connecticut River (Patrick Franzis, Flickr / Creative Commons)
Lighthouse Point Park in New Have (m01229, Flickr / Creative Commons)
Sunrise at Compo Beach (Michael Levine-Clark, Flickr / Creative Commons)
Most beautiful things to see in CT:
Saugatuck Reservoir
The sunsets in wintertime and the beautiful colors in the fall; Westport beach
Yale University
The Patriots winning the NFL :)
The amount of animals that you can see around (deers, squirrels, bunnies, and more)
Fall—it’s just magical; the Long Island Sound;
Snow—wow, it is like fantasy movie
Compo Beach
Elizabeth Park
Tod's Point Beach in the summer
Greenwich Point Park
Best places to get coffee or a meal in CT:
Little Pub in Ridgefield
Starbucks (where they know my order by now already)
The Village Café & Bistro in Canton
A little café in Stamford
Little student coffee shops in New Haven
Bar Taco
Stew Leonard's in Danbury
Yuan for sushi
Great things to do with your host kids in CT:
Stratton Brook State Park
Lasertagging or bowling at Blue Fox Rock'n & Bowl
The YMCA; Connecticut Science Center in Downtown Hartford
Ice skating at the hockey rink in Simybury
Great events in CT that you won't want to miss:
Country festival in Ridgefield
Bull-riding at the Jonny Utah’s bar
Night parade in Stamford
Brownstone Water Park in Portland
St. Patrick's Day parade; apple picking at a farm in Shelton
BBQ picnic at Compo Beach in Westport
Perfect way to spend a day in CT
Connecticut offers endless opportunities for fun, relaxation, and connection. Here’s how some of our au pairs love to spend their days:
Lisa Siemers, au pair from Germany
"Start the morning by meeting friends for waffles or pancakes at Redding Ridge. We laugh and chat for hours before heading to one of the nearby lakes. There’s nothing better than lying in the sun and swimming during summer. After dinner, we grab frozen yogurt from Peach Wave and take it to the concert on the green. Listening to live music as the sun sets makes for a perfect evening."Svenja Kluge, au pair from Germany
"My ideal day includes a mix of little joys: sunbathing and swimming at the Connecticut shore, jamming with my musician friends, and cuddling with my 'host dog,' Shadow. I love seeing my host kids smile when they enjoy the dinner I’ve cooked. And sharing a margarita with my host dad in the evening? A lovely way to end the day."Silvia Loiacono, au pair from Italy
"I enjoy a laid-back day of shopping at the mall with friends, relaxing at the beach, indulging in Japanese food, and capping it off with a great movie."Melanie Brandner, au pair from Austria
"Start with a coffee from Starbucks, then head out on a road trip to explore a mountain or city I haven’t visited yet. Adventure and discovery are my favorite parts of being here!"Johanna Bardenhewrt, au pair from Germany
"Breakfast sets the tone for the day, followed by a trip to the beach or Lake Mohegan. For dinner, I’ll enjoy Thai food or host a bonfire with friends where we relax and share beers under the stars."Anna Andersson, au pair from Sweden
"My ideal day includes a visit to Stew Leonard's, some mall shopping, coffee from Starbucks, and a peaceful afternoon by the lake."
No matter how you spend your time, Connecticut is the perfect backdrop for an incredible au pair experience. From its scenic lakes and vibrant cultural activities to cozy evenings with friends and host families, it’s no wonder so many au pairs fall in love with this beautiful state.