It’s possible that just being in Connecticut will make you smarter. The New England haven, while small, is rich in history and academia. When your mind needs a break, drive aimlessly through the scenic hills, go antiquing in one of many charming villages, or indulge in another kind of vintage on the Connecticut Wine Trail.

Visitors come to Virginia for the history at sites such as Colonial Williamsburg and stay for the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay and Blue Ridge Mountains.