CONNECTICUT
The most southern of the New England states, Connecticut is easily accessible from both New York and Boston and offers a charming New England feel with a cosmopolitan style. From rafting down the Farmington River and kayaking through the Thimble Islands to following the Connecticut Wine Trail and enjoying coastal cuisine, Connecticut provides endless options for unforgettable holidays.
Celebrate your Holiday by the Connecticut ShorelinE (CENTRAL/EASTERN)
The shoreline brings all vacation necessities straight to you. Beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts, a variety of boutique shops, rentals and fantastic seafood make these quaint towns a must-see holiday destination. The shoreline and its many amenities include places like Milford, Guilford, Essex, Mystic and more.
Nearby: Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium (read more below), Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, Ocean Beach Park, Olde Mistick Village; Water’s Edge Resort & Spa, Tanger Outlets, Gillette Castle, Rocky Neck State Park
Discover, invent and forecast at the Connecticut Science CenteR (CENTRAL)
This world-class destination provides an educational and cutting-edge resource for families from around the globe, with interactive exhibits like the WFSB Weather Studio where visitors can learn how to predict their own forecast and even “present” their findings live on camera.
Nearby: The Mark Twain House, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, State Capitol, New England Air Museum and Dinosaur State Park
Cash in at Connecticut’s CasinoS (EASTERN)
Whether it’s Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Resort Casino or MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Connecticut’s casinos represent two of the largest casino destinations in the world – from gambling and 24/7 top entertainers to signature spas and golf facilities.
Nearby: Spa at Norwich Inn, Mystic Seaport, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Lake of Isles Golf Course and Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa
Splish, splash and scream around the state (Central/Western)
Lake Compounce in Bristol is one of the top family theme parks in New England. The park features more than 50 rides and attractions including the Splash Harbor Water Park, Zoomer’s Gas n’Go antique car ride and Boulder Dash, voted the number one wooden roller coaster in the world.
Nearby: New England Carousel Museum, CoCo Key Water Resort, Farmington River Tubing, Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park and New England Air Museum
Sip, swirl and relax along the Connecticut Wine Trail (statewide)
The Connecticut Wine Trail is a group of 15 charming vineyards divided into western and eastern sections. Connecticut-produced wines have won hundreds of awards and medals and include varieties such Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Immerse yourself in an artist’s world at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme (EAsTERN/CENTRAL)
Old Lyme was the home of American Impressionism at the turn of the 20th century, largely thanks to Florence Griswold, “keeper of the artist colony.” Florence opened her home to a group of artists in the early 1900s and today the inspirational grounds and gardens are open to all.
Nearby: Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Goodspeed Opera House, Clinton Crossings Premium Outlets and Chamard Vineyards
Reflect at Philip Johnson’s Glass House (WESTERN)
Connecticut, specifically the town of New Canaan, is one of the largest centers of Modern design residential design in the United States and the famous Glass House is one of the most significant structures of the 20th century from American architect Philip Johnson. An object of fascination for decades, the rectangular house was built in 1949 out of quarter-inch-thick glass and without interior walls. Absent of curtains or blinds, the property’s trees and landscaping are the house’s only source of privacy.
Nearby: Silvermine Guild Arts Center, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, Sherwood Island State Park and Westport Country Playhouse
Marvel at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford (CENTRAL)
The 1874 Mark Twain House in Hartford was the author’s residence for 17 years where he penned some of his most famous works including “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” Twain’s Gilded Age mansion is a must see for its exotic Louis Comfort Tiffany designed interiors.
Nearby: Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hill-Stead Museum, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, Dinosaur State Park and New Britain Museum of American Art
Have a whale of a time in Mystic (EASTERN)
Mystic is filled with family attractions and lets kids of all ages have fun. Mystic Aquarium is the place to discover whales, penguins, sea lions and other marine animals while Mystic Seaport brings visitors back to the 19th century with guided tours of waterfront tall ships and antique vessels.
See also: Mystic Seaport, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum, Ocean Beach Park and Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art
Stroll through the Yale University in New Haven
Art lovers will be enthralled while touring Yale’s Art Gallery (including paintings by Manet, Picasso, Monet and van Gogh) and exploring the city of New Haven, known as one of the most groundbreaking cities for architecture and design in the U.S.
See also: Yale Center for British Art, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and Thimble Island Cruises
For more information on travel adventures in Connecticut:
