|
Mystic
and New London Connecticut: Seafaring a Cut Above
South
Central Connecticut: Castles and Submarines
There
Are More Places To Visit In The Connecticut
Why
Vacation in Connecticut
Why Vacation in
Connecticut? by Luigi Chan
As a
New England vacation travel writer I've always considered Connecticut an
overlooked state when people choose destinations and attractions for a
New England vacation. As you'll discover here a Connecticut vacation
offers excitement... or peace and quiet, depending on your mood.
Let's
take a quick look at seven reasons why you should consider a Connecticut
vacation for your next New England trip.
 
Maple
Tree in Autumn, Litchfield Hills, Connecticut, USA
Buy at
AllPosters.com
THE
MUSEUMS OF CONNECTICUT
With
more than 14 diverse theme museums in Connecticut, there's bound to be
something to suit your taste. Here's a quick rundown...
Bridgeport
is home to The Barnum Museum and Discover Museum, and at Danbury you'll
find the Military Museum of Southern New England and the Danbury Railway
Museum. Keeping with a train theme Thomaston hosts the Railroad Museum of
New England and Naugatuck Railroad.
In
Bristol you can find The New England Carousel Museum and period time
pieces at the American Clock and Watch Museum. Just a little south in
Waterbury is Time Expo, and a chance to celebrate the heritage of the
Litchfield region at the Mattatuck Museum. At the Connecticut Antique
Machinery Museum in Kent experience machinery that once drove commerce in
the area.
Windsor
Locks is not just home to Bradley International Airport but also to the
New England Air Museum and south in East Haven experience another form of
transportation at the Shore Line Trolley Museum.
And
rounding out our must-see list is Mystic's Museum of America and the Sea,
and the fabulous Mashantucket Pequot Museum in nearby Mashantucket.
THE
CONNECTICUT WINE TRAIL
Wineries
in Connecticut? Yes, in fact there's 16 of them scattered throughout the
state, and they make a perfect basis for a Connecticut Vacation. The
climate in Connecticut is mild compared to the rest of New England and
wines produced include: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, and Riesling. While
Connecticut wines have only been produced since 1978, many farms where
the grapes are grown are hundreds of years old. The wine tasting room
will usually be open but call ahead for a tour time. You'll find these
wineries not geared for large bus loads, but on the plus much more
intermit than wineries in Northern California.
|
The wine trail is split into
two major regions and it's suggested your tour is split up over three
to four days. But because the trail takes you near so many other
destinations and attractions in Connecticut let yourself be distracted
and enjoy the jaunt through scenic and historic New England towns.
FOXWOODS
AND MOHEGAN SUN
Combined
Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun make the largest casino complex in the world.
Foxwoods in owned and run by Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and Mohegan Sun
by Mohegan Tribe on lands they own in Uncasville. These are
sophisticated high-style experiences with shopping complexes, hotels,
high profile entertainment acts, and top-rated restaurants. They are
both close to each other and located in the eastern region of
Connecticut, and close to museums, scenic drives, and the Connecticut
vacation attractions in Mystic.
|
Forest
of Eastern Hemlock Trees in East Haddam, Connecticut, USA
Buy
at AllPosters.com
|
HISTORIC
HOMES OF CONNECTICUT
Perhaps
the most famous home to see on your Connecticut vacation is Mark Twain's
in Hartford, which is now a museum as well full of many artifacts he
accumulated in the 17 years he lived there. Also in Hartford is Harriet
Beecher Stowe home of Uncle Tom's Cabin fame. Another famous woman's home
is the academy run by Prudence Crandall in Canterbury - it's the site of
the first academy for black women in New England. Your trip to
Connecticut should include the town of Litchfield where you can view
museum quality preserved colonial homes, and the Litchfield History
Museum and Tapping Reeve House and Law School.
|
Mark
Twain's House, Hartford, CT
Buy at
AllPosters.com
|
Connecticut includes many historic
homes that played an important role in the Underground Railroad and the
African-American journey from slavery to freedom.
ESSEX
STEAM TRAIN AND THE CONNECTICUT RIVER
The
historic 1892 Essex station is your kick-off point for a unique
combined 21/2 hour vintage Steam Train and Riverboat Cruise along the
Connecticut River. In the summer it's cooling, and in the fall stunning
with the turning of the leaves. The Connecticut River Museum is also in
Essex and vividly brings to life the river's history as told through
paintings, artifacts, and interactive exhibits.
THE
TOWN OF MYSTIC
Mystic
Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium are magnets for visitors to
Connecticut. The seaport is billed as The Museum of America and the Sea
and depicts an authentic 19th century seafaring village, tall ships to
tour, and a Preservation Yard where master shipbuilding skills are
still practiced. The Mystic Aquarium includes a delightful array of
indoor and outdoor exhibits, including Beluga whales, and a stunning
display and model of the Titanic.
|
THE
ANTIQUE RUNS
Connecticut
is famous for its concentration of antique shops, and draws thousands of
treasure hunters each year who take a Connecticut vacation just to stock
up on bargains and specimens to collect and decorate their homes. The
village of Woodbury is known as the "Antiques Capital of
Connecticut" and has over 45 dealers, but the fact is you're never
too far from that special purchase no matter where you are in the state.
Just sometimes its nice to take the time to follow your nose along a
scenic New England road and see where it takes you... you can bet if it's
in Connecticut, it'll take you close to an antique shop.
top
|
|
There Are More Places To Visit In The
Connecticut by Sam Tonzenger
Connecticut,
one of the smallest states in the nation, is not well recognized as a
tourist location. However, if you do your homework you might find that it
is a pleasant place to spend your holiday. It is a place worth the visit.
In the past, you may have traveled in Florida, Arizona, or Colorado, but
now you wish to find more regions to visit in your country. Maybe this is
the time to have a agreeable vacation exploring the Connecticut tourist
areas; you'll particularly enjoy the seaside or the gold coast in
Connecticut.
|
The Connecticut
Seaside
Thirteen
miles due east of New Haven there are more places to visit in the
Connecticut tourist area known as Guilford. This area is perhaps the
earliest Connecticut colonial community, dating back to 1639. Here, you
explore many historic homes and a couple of these homes are accessible
to holidaymakers.
Twenty
miles outside of New Haven is Madison. Here, Connecticut showcases
numerous historical structures, many of them grand homes. An
agricultural district surrounds Madison and visitors to the area will
enjoy the characteristic architectural style as it was in the 1700s.
While traveling around Madison, you might want to stop at the
Connecticut tourism department and locate Hammonasset State Park, which
is located within the peninsula on Long Island Sound. This State Park
has the only public recreational seaside beach for water activities in
this area.
|
Close-Up
of Concession Sign at a Carnival, New London,
Connecticut,
USA
Buy
at AllPosters.com
|
New
Haven Connecticut
The
New Haven area has had its share of Economic difficulties. However, the
financial climate has improved during the last few years. Traveling
throughout Connecticut you should take time to discover the State. New
Haven has its entertainment, with its theaters and performing art
centers. If you only wish to sight see and take photographs, Connecticut
offers you plenty with its museums, and of course world renowned Yale, one
of the nations prestigious universities. You can take your entire
household on this vacation. You and your household will get much pleasure
from seeing how the upper class lives in their gated communities on Long
Island Sound. Connecticut's exclusive coastline is situated in the
southwestern corner of that State, and holds the treasure of fantastic
mansions, exquisite marinas, and multimillion-dollar condominiums. This
favorite spot for Connecticut tourism is one of the wealthiest regions in
the United States.
Fairfield
County is
known as the Connecticut Gold Coast. However, as you travel inland
you'll notice that the wooded areas begin to become more dense, and the
land gradually has an upward incline. In place of the yachts, you begin
to see horses grazing in their paddocks on many large estates. As you
tour inland visit Connecticut's outstanding restaurants, and take a
stroll along the quaint streets. Do a little gift shopping at the
exclusive bounties and make some time to be with your family on the seaside.
There are quaint villages along the north shore known are Connecticut
tourism locations.
top
|
