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Connecticut is well known to people across the United States and around the world as a beautiful and distinctly American region rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. For visitors and vacationers, the state presents four distinct seasonal personalities: lush summers to explore beaches or to bicycle along shady country lanes; brilliant autumns to drive lazily through mountains blanketed with gold-and-red fall foliage; crystal-sharp winters to ski perfect mountain slopes or poke through antique shops lining a peaceful village green; and verdant spring – the time to explore the museums and shopping of the cities or to get a head start on some cool day hikes in the mountains and countryside.
Connecticut, only two hours or less from New York City by car, has exceedingly pretty villages with their central commons and steepled churches; cultural hot spots like art museums, Yale University in New Haven, and the home of Mark Twain in Hartford; and lots of antique shops in the rolling Litchfield Hills of the northwest. And the number of attractions and entertainments for children is staggering, from amusement parks to zoos.
As visitors from all over the world have discovered, Connecticut offers every pleasure a visitor could desire. Below we are spotlighting just a few of the numerous attractions in Connecticut. |
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| (above) The State Capitol Building, and (below) Riverfest Celebration on the Connecticut River, both located in Hartford. |
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Blackrock Harbor (Fayerweather Island) Light House
Located in Bridgeport, the light station was first established in 1808 with the present lighthouse built in 1823, and discontinued from service in 1933. The height of the tower is 47 feet. The lighthouse grounds are accessible from a parking area at the end of Barnum Boulevard at Seaside Park in Bridgeport. There is a mildly strenuous walk across a breakwater to the lighthouse. The tower itself is not open to the public, but the grounds are.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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The Bushnell -- Connecticut's Premier Performing Arts Center
Located across from the State Capitol Building in Bushnell Park in Hartford, the Bushnell is Hartford's premier theatre destination. Many traveling productions of popular Broadway shows stop in Hartford. Some shows that have played the Bushnell include: Mamma Mia, Wicked, Golda's Balcony and The Lion King. Also at the Bushnell is the Connecticut Forum. The Connecticut forum brings togather well known people in panel disussions. Past themes have been: The Simpsons, Noble Prize winners, and more.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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West Cornwall Covered Bridge
The West Cornwall Covered Bridge in Litchfield County is the state's most photogenic bridge. This historic, red-painted bridge was designed by Ithiel Town and built in 1841. It's been in continuous service since 1864 -- you can still drive across the bridge, which spans the Housatonic River for a distance of 242-feet. To reach the West Cornwall Covered Bridge, follow Route 7 to the intersection with Route 128 in West Cornwall.
Turn onto Route 128 East, and you'll drive right across the covered bridge.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Essex Steam Train and Riverboat
The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat ride is a fun-filled trip for adults and children of all ages! They have two coal-fired locomotives available to pull their collection of lovingly restored railroad cars. You will be swept away by the hiss of steam, the blast of the whistle, and the clickety-clack of the tracks. From the exciting "All Aboard" to the engineer checking the locomotive before the run, you will experience an authentic journey back to the days of steam. The Essex Steam Train is operated by the Valley Railroad Company. As a tourist excursion, the ride takes you through some of the most beautiful country in the state. You will find forests and streams, beautiful vistas and nostalgic towns, and some gorgeous views of the Connecticut River.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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World-Class Casinos
Connecticut is home to not one but two of the largest Casinos in the world. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are the most well known operations within the state of Connecticut and they are grand-scale facilities known of worldwide. Foxwoods is the largest resort casino in the world, with currently over 340,000 square feet of gaming space in a complex that covers 4.7 million square feet. Mohegan Sun, created in 1996 by the Mohehan Tribe of Connecticut is one of the world's most amazing destinations with some of New England's finest dining, hotel accommodations, shopping, live entertainment and sporting events. Both are large-scale casino operations that are dedicated to providing all that is needed or wanted by the professional or amateur gambler.
Foxwoods is located off of Exit 92 on I-95 in Ledyard.
Mohegan Sun is located off Exit 79A on I-395
in Uncasville.
For more information, please visit Foxwoods official website.
For more information, please visit the Mohegan Sun official website. |
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Gillette Castle State Park
Gillette castle is located on a bluff overlooking the Connecticut River. The three-story structure was the home of director, actor, and playwright, William Gillette (the original Sherlock Holmes), who completed the castle in 1919. The castle is one of Connecticut's leading attractions, drawing more than 300,000 people yearly. The castle was purchased in 1944 by the state and since then, it has been maintained as a state park. Gillette Castle is open daily for tours. The rooms open to the public include nine bedrooms, seven baths, a kitchen and pantry, a third-floor suite, a library, and a study.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Goodspeed Opera House
Goodspeed Musicals was formed in 1959 to restore the 19th century Goodspeed Opera House and reactivate it as a professional theatre in 1963. Goodspeed has achieved international acclaim as the home of musical theatre. Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre and the development of new works to add to the repertoire, Goodspeed pioneered the practice of rethinking, restoring and revitalizing America’s musical theatre heritage.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Hammonasset Beach State Park
A visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park, is more than just another day at the beach. Connecticut's largest shoreline park offers over 2 miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf. Hammonasset also offers over 550 grassy campsites perfect for the nature enthusiast.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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The XL Center
Formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center, the XL Center is home to the American Hockey League Hartford Wolfpack and both the University of Connecticut Men and Women's basketball programs. In addition to the resident teams, the Civic Center entertains millions of visitors annually with a variety of concerts, family shows, ice-skating spectaculars, consumer events and trade shows.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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The Harriet Beecher Stowe Visitor Center
Her words changed the world with “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” the groundbreaking anti-slavery novel (1852). Tours of Stowe’s Victorian Gothic-Revival home (1871), the Katharine Seymour Day House (1884), and the Victorian grounds and gardens are available daily. The Stowe Visitor Center showcases changing exhibitions, and the research library is available by appointment. Visit the museum shop for distinctive gifts and books. Take the Stowe House Tour and discover the fascinating life and inspiring work of the most famous woman of the 19th century.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Iwo Jima Memorial
Located Ella Grasso Boulevard on the New Britain and Newington town line, the monument takes its inspiration from the famous, historic photograph by Joe Rosenthal of the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on February 23, 1945. Sculpted by Joseph Petrovics, the Iwo Jima Memorial was dedicated on the 50th anniversary of that historic flag raising, February 23, 1995. On Veteran's Day in 1996, this local landmark was officially designated as the National Iwo Jima Memorial Monument. The eternal flame burns 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, as a reminder of the sacrifices made by all those who defended freedom during the second World War.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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The Mark Twain House and Museum
Open year–round for guided tours, The Mark Twain House in Hartford attracts more than 60,000 visitors a year. Because of the international notoriety of Twain, The Mark Twain House attracts visitors from every state in the nation as well as from more than 70 countries around the world. In addition to opening the historic house for tours, the organization also runs dozens of special programs about Twain's writing, his family life, and the literary elite who lived in Connecticut during Twain's time, including his Nook Farm neighbor, Harriet Beecher Stowe.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Historic Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport -- The Museum of America and the Sea -- is the nation's leading maritime museum. Explore American maritime history firsthand as you climb aboard historic tall ships, stroll through a re-created 19th-century coastal village or watch a working preservation shipyard in action. Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport is open every day except December 24 and 25. More than 300,000 people visit Mystic Seaport annually.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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US Navy Submarine Force Museum Home of the USS Nautilus (SSN571)
Visit the Submarine Force Museum and peer into the lives of the men who sail the ocean depths in their "sharks of steel." The Submarine Force Museum, located on the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut, maintains the world's finest collection of submarine artifacts. It is the only submarine museum operated by the United States Navy, and as such is the primary repository for artifacts, documents and photographs relating to U.S. Submarine Force history.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Old State House
This 1796 National Historic Landmark is one of the nation's oldest state houses. Tour the magnificently-restored historic rooms, experience the interactive audio tour, visit the immersive Education Center, see the exciting new exhibition, shop in the Museum Store, attend a program, and so much more! Open Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Old State House is located at 800 Main Street, downtown Hartford.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Old Newgate Prison and Copper Mine
The tunnels left behind by miners burrowing deep underground in search of copper ore became Connecticut's first prison in 1773. Considered costly to run and inhumane, the prison was closed in 1827. Attempts to revive mining failed. Visitors enter the prison yard through 12' tall walls. The brick guardhouse still stands and houses exhibits, but only ruins remain of the other prison buildings. A modern stairway provides access underground where air temperature is always in the 50's. The visitor center contains a gift shop.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Old Saybrook, and the Connecticut Shore
Where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound. Old Saybrook is one of the oldest towns in the state, incorporated on July 8, 1854. They have a long history dating back to 1635 when the town began as an independent colony known as the Saybrook Plantation. Old Saybrook and the other Connecticut shoreline towns offer beautiful shores, vistas, marinas and an eclectic collection of shops and restaurants.
For more information, please visit their official website.
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St. Paul Travelers' Tower
The Travelers Insurance Company was founded by James Goodwin Batterson in 1863 as the first casualty insurance company in North America. At 34 stories in height, the tower reaches 527 feet above street level and has a flashing red beacon during the daytime as an aid to air navigation. At night, the tower is lit by white light. The Travelers Tower was once the tallest structure in New England and is still a dominant architectural feature in Hartford. In recent years, the tower has been a nesting site for Peregrine Falcons, an endangered species. The Travelers Tower observation deck is open to the public, and the tower affords sweeping views of the surrounding area.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Hartford art patron Daniel Wadsworth (1771-1848) founded the Wadsworth Atheneum to share the wonders of art with the public. The Wadsworth has a rich tradition of firsts, leading the way in art collecting and embracing new art movements. It was the first American museum to acquire works by Caravaggio, Frederic Church, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Piet Mondrian, Balthus, Joseph Cornell, and many others. The Wadsworth Atheneum, America's oldest public art museum, continues to thrive and grow.
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Yale University
Located in New Haven, Yale University comprises three major academic components: Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the professional schools. In addition, Yale encompasses a wide array of centers and programs, libraries, museums, and administrative support offices. Approximately 11,250 students attend Yale. Yale’s buildings, towers, lawns, courtyards, walkways, gates, and arches comprise what one architecture critic has called “the most beautiful urban campus in America.”
For more information, please visit their official website. |
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Other Attractions:
Some of the other attractions located in Connecticut include: (please click on each name to go to their respective websites)
The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration
The Connecticut Trash Museum
Dinosaur State Park
New England Air Museum
Lyman Orchards
The PT Barnum Museum
Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum
Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
The Arena at Harbor Yard |
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| For more information about Connecticut Attractions, please visit the State of Connecticut official tourism website at: http://www.ctvisit.com |
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