Step Back in Time in These Connecticut Towns and Cities

Connecticut is home to towns and cities rich with history. From the Native Americans to the earliest European settlers, the revolutionary war era to the industrial revolution, so much of our past is so well preserved, it’s worth planning a visit just to travel back in time. Once you’re there, you’ll walk in the footsteps of forefathers and enjoy a modern taste of these vibrant, welcoming destinations. You can find a wealth of historic information on any of these towns and many more from our friends at ConnecticutHistory.org.

Featuring: Ancient Burying Ground of Hartford | Argia Mystic Cruises | B&B at Bartlett Farm | Black Rock Fort and Fort Nathan Hale | Butler-McCook House & Garden | Chester Bulkley House B&B | City of Hartford | City of New Haven | City of Norwich | Connecticut Audubon Society Birdcraft Museum & Sanctuary | Connecticut Freedom Trail | Connecticut's Old State House | Fairfield Museum & History Center | Guilford Walking Tours | Harriet Beecher Stowe Center | Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre | Henry Whitfield State Museum | Historic Mystic Harbor Tours | Hyland House Museum (1713) | Indian Burial Grounds | Keeler Tavern Museum (c.1713) | Leffingwell House Museum | Marriott Hartford Downtown | Mount Crescent House B&B | Mystic River Historical Society | Mystic Seaport Museum | New Haven Museum | Norwich Heritage & Regional Visitors’ Center | Ogden House & Gardens | S&P Oyster Co. | Spa at Delamar Southport | Steamboat Inn | Taste of New Haven Tours | The Dudley Farm Museum | The Mark Twain House & Museum | The Study at Yale | The West Lane Inn | Thomas Griswold House | Town of Fairfield | Town of Guilford | Town of Mystic | Town of Ridgefield | Town of Wethersfield | Uncas Leap | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Webb Deane Stevens Museum | Weir Farm National Historic Site | Wethersfield Historical Society | Yale University Visitor Center

Connecticut’s Favorite Towns for Arts and Culture

The state of Connecticut is filled with picturesque towns. That’s why so many artists, musicians, photographers and authors are drawn to them. And that’s exactly what makes them a great place to visit. Here are a few towns where you can explore galleries, studios, gardens, theaters and more, as well as great places to stay, eat and shop!

Featuring: B&B at Bartlett Farm | Carriage Barn Arts Center | Connecticut Art Trail | Connecticut River Artisans | Cooley Gallery | Cooper & Smith Gallery | Copper Beech Inn | Essex Art Association Gallery | Florence Griswold Museum | Grace Farms | Guilford Art Center | Guilford Walking Tours | Ivoryton Playhouse | Lyme Academy of Fine Arts | Lyme Art Association | Old Lyme Arts District | Old Lyme Inn | Ridgefield Guild of Artists | Ridgefield Playhouse | Ridgefield Theater Barn | Roger Sherman Inn | Silvermine Arts Center | Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds | The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum | The Bird Nest Salon & Gallery | The Glass House | The West Lane Inn | Town of Essex | Town of Guilford | Town of New Canaan | Town of Old Lyme | Town of Ridgefield | Weir Farm National Historic Site

“Grand” Touring: Connecticut Has Something for Every Generation

Nothing strengthens bonds and builds long-lasting memories better than spending time with grandparents. But in today’s hectic world, it seems like it’s getting harder to find the time to get every generation in one place. Fortunately, one of the hottest trends out there these days is “multigenerational travel” — planning a trip with any combination of grandparents, parents, kids and grandkids. Luckily, in Connecticut, you don’t have to travel far to find many attractions and experiences that will interest and entertain travelers of all ages.

Featuring: B&B at Bartlett Farm | Black Hall Outfitters - Old Lyme | Blue Venture Fishing Charters | Bluefin Sportfishing Charters | Clarke Outdoors | Escape 101 | Escape New Haven | Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park | Hammonasset Beach State Park Campground | Housatonic Anglers | Keeler Tavern Museum (c.1713) | Lake Compounce Campground | Lock Museum of America | Mashamoquet Brook State Park Campgrounds | Mystified Escape Rooms | Odetah Camping Resort | SoundWaters | Team vs Time - Premier Room Escape | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | Town of Washington | Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in Connecticut

6 Connecticut Towns and 30 Ways to Enjoy Them

Six small towns... five reasons to visit each in summer. The math seems simple: that’s 30 reasons to plan a Connecticut getaway. But these suggested things to see, eat and do only hint at what awaits. There’s always something happening in these vibrant communities—something for you to discover. And no calculator can compute the joys of making a small town “your” place.

Featuring: Antiques Marketplace | Argia Mystic Cruises | B&B at Bartlett Farm | Bradley Playhouse | Bruce Museum | Connecticut River Valley Inn | Deary Brothers/Mikes Stand | Delamar Greenwich Harbor | Guilford Art Center | Henry Whitfield State Museum | Macedonia Brook State Park | Mansion at Bald Hill | Max Fish | Meli-Melo | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Seaport Museum | Red 36 | Rooftop 120 | Rose's Berry Farm | Shoreline Segway | Starbuck Inn | Steamboat Inn | The Place | The Shops at Somerset Square | Town of Glastonbury | Town of Greenwich | Town of Guilford | Town of Kent | Town of Mystic | Town of Putnam | West Cornwall Covered Bridge | l'escale

You Deserve a Spring Break!

There are so many reasons to get excited for the start of the spring! It’s time to get outside and take advantage of all of the wonderful things that come along with warmer weather, such as longer days, budding flowers and all that sunshine. Get a head start on making this season a memorable one by exploring some of the new offerings and fun events happening across the state this month, from outdoor festivals and foodie events to new attractions and openings. Grab a friend or family member and get started on your 2022 spring break!

Featuring: Action Wildlife Foundation | Adventure Park at Storrs | Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum | B&B at Bartlett Farm | City of Bridgeport | City of Middletown | Connecticut Bed & Breakfast/Bicycle Trail | Delamar Greenwich Harbor | Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden | Halfinger Farms | Hollister House Garden | Hubbard Park & Castle Craig | Lake Compounce Campground | Lake Compounce Theme Park | Quassy Amusement & Waterpark | Rocky Neck State Park | Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods | Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park | Town of Fairfield | Town of North Haven | UConn Dairy Bar | University of Connecticut Animal Barns Self-Guided Tours | Westbrook Outlets | White Flower Farm | White Memorial Conservation Center Museum | Wicked Tulips Flower Farm | Wooster Square | l'escale

Immersive Travel in Connecticut

Ever heard the expression, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”? Today, travelers are adapting this mentality more and more. They consciously look to visit destinations where they can immerse themselves in local cultures and ways of life. Immersive travel experiences offer a range of possibilities for the traveler—focusing less on fitting specific places and attractions into an itinerary, and more on experiencing the special traits that make a destination unique.

Connecticut has lots of unique characteristics and authentic experiences for visitors to immerse in. From attending staple events to meeting local artisans to working and learning on farms—here are a few ideas to inspire your immersive travel trip to Connecticut!

Featuring: B&B at Bartlett Farm | Bashan Lake Mansion | Bridgeport Islanders | City of Hartford | City of New Haven | City of New London | City of Norwalk | City of Stamford | Cold Spring Farm | Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library | Connecticut Sun | Fitstyle Walking Tours | Greenwich Historical Society | Griswold Inn | Guilford Art Center | Hartford Athletic | Hartford Wolfpack | Hartford Yard Goats | Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre | Lavender Pond Farm | Lime Rock Park | Milford Walking Tour | Silas W. Robbins House | The Blake Hotel | The Wine Press | Town of Greenwich | Town of Mystic | Town of New Milford | Town of Southington | Town of Westport | Wall to Wall: The New London Mural Walk | Winvian Farm

31 Things to Do in Central Connecticut this Winter

Temperatures are dropping, snow is falling — it’s winter in Connecticut. While the air is cooling down, seasonal fun is heating up — and you can be sure businesses are working hard to keep you safe. From active adventure and family fun to relaxation and romantic escapes, here’s your guide to the winter season in Central Connecticut.

Featuring: Abigail's Grille & Wine Bar | Antiques on the Farmington | B&B at Bartlett Farm | BAR | Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar | Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum | Barnes Museum (c.1836) | Bear's Smokehouse (Hartford) | Beech Tree Cottages | Bella's Café | Broken Arrow Nursery | By The Sea Day Spa | Carbone's Kitchen | Cava Restaurant | Central Rock Gym | Chester Bulkley House B&B | City Climb Gym | City Gallery | City Steam Brewery Cafe | City of Hartford | City of Meriden | City of New Haven | Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library | Connecticut Science Center | Copper Beech Inn | Delamar Spa West Hartford | Dinosaur State Park | Dzen Tree Farm | East Rock Brewing Company | Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens | Escape New Haven | Essex Clipper Dinner Train | Farmington Canal Linear Park | Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven | Giuffrida Park | Griswold Inn | Guilford Art Center | Hill-Stead Museum | Hops on the Hill Brewery | Hurst Farm Country Store & Greenhouses | Hydeville Sugar Shack | IT Adventure Ropes Course | Joseph's Tree Farm | Kehler Liddell Gallery | Key to the Past Antique Center | La Luna Ristorante | Lake Cottage | Lessard Lanes Family Entertainment Center | Louis' Lunch | Lutz Children's Museum | Madison Beach Hotel | Middletown Roller Skating Rink | Miller Tree Farm | Millwright's Restaurant | Millwright's Restaurant | Mission Escape Games | Modern Apizza | Mount Southington Ski Area | New Britain Museum of American Art | New England Air Museum | New England Air Museum | New Haven Museum | No Worries Brewery | Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society | Nomads Adventure Quest | On Track Karting | PEZ Visitor Center | Painting with a Twist | Penwood State Park | Pond House Cafe | Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort | Prime Climb Mountain Fun | Rockland Preserve | Ron-A-Roll Indoor Roller Skating Center | Rose's Berry Farm | Sally's Apizza | Saoco Restaurant | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Scranton Seahorse Inn | Sleeping Giant State Park | Soarin' Indoors | Stone Age Rock Gym | Stony Creek Brewery | Taste of New Haven Tours | The Antiques Depot | The Blake Hotel | The Children's Museum | The Place 2 Be | The Sculpture Mile | The Shops at Yale | The Vault Virtual Reality | Town of Avon | Town of Chester | Town of Essex | Town of Farmington | Town of Glastonbury | Town of Plainville | Town of West Hartford | Town of Wethersfield | Union League Café | Vintage Radio & Communications Museum of Connecticut | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Walker Loden (Madison) | Walker Loden (Madison) | Water's Edge Resort & Spa | West Rock Ridge State Park | Wharton Brook State Park | Winding Trails Cross Country Ski Center | Yale Center for British Art

Coastal Central Connecticut

Coastal Central Connecticut takes you everywhere from the Thimble Islands to elegant seaside resorts, walkable beach towns and more. Below, discover a few of Central Connecticut's coastal towns and ways to enjoy them.

Featuring: Ashley's Ice Cream (Branford) | Ashley's Ice Cream (Madison) | Audubon Guilford Salt Meadow Sanctuary | B&B at Bartlett Farm | Bear's Smokehouse (New Haven) | Bishop's Orchards Farm Market & Winery | Black Rock Fort and Fort Nathan Hale | Black Seal Seafood Grille | Blazing Fresh Donuts | Branford Point Beach | Branford River Paddlesports, Kayaks and Tours | Carlson's Landing | Chaffinch Island Park | City Point Kitchen | City of New Haven | Connecticut River Museum | Connecticut Shoreline Bike/Boat Tour | East Wharf Beach | Essex Art Association Gallery | Essex Clipper Dinner Train | Essex Paint & Sip | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven | Goodspeed Opera House Tour | Griswold Inn | Guilford Lobster Pound | Hammonasset Beach State Park | Harvey's Beach | Henry Whitfield State Museum | Ivoryton Playhouse | Jacob's Beach | Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Museum | La Luna Ristorante | Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale Restaurant (Madison) | Lenny's Indian Head | Lighthouse Point Park | Liv's Shack - Old Saybrook | M&J Beach Grille & Seafood | Nightjack Sportsfishing | Old Saybrook Town Beach | Pine & Iron Axe Throwing - New Haven | R.J. Julia Booksellers | Real Escape | Saybrook Point Miniature Golf | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Scotch Plains Tavern | Scranton Seahorse Inn | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill | Shoreline Segway | Stony Creek Beach | Stony Creek Brewery | Taste of New Haven Tours | The Antiques Depot | The Blake Hotel | The Cottage | The Essex Public Market & Food Hall | The Homestead Madison | The Place | The Sculpture Mile | The Village Chocolatier | The Wharf Restaurant | Thimble Island Brewing Company | Thimble Islands Bed & Breakfast | Town of Branford | Town of Essex | Town of Guilford | Town of Madison | Town of Old Saybrook | Victorian on the Village Green | Volsunga IV Thimble Island Cruise | Yale Center for British Art | Yale University Art Gallery

10 Reasons to Make Connecticut Your First Stop in New England

Connecticut is located halfway between Boston and New York City.  That’s what makes it such an easy place to visit. But what really makes Connecticut an amazing destination is how much you can do in this compact state — all year round! From hiking to sailing, cross-country skiing to designer outlet shopping, riding a roller coaster to being a high roller at the casino, there is so much to do in Connecticut, you won’t know what to experience first.

Featuring: B&B at Bartlett Farm | Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library | Blue Back Square | Bradley International Airport | Brownstone Adventure Sports Park | Candlelight Farms Inn | Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | Connecticut Science Center | Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo | Cross Sound Ferry Lighthouse Cruise | Dinosaur State Park | Downeast Lighthouse Cruises | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | Foxwoods Resort Casino | Griswold Inn | Hard Rock Cafe at Foxwoods | Homestead Inn | Hopkins Inn | Inn at Stonington | Institute for American Indian Studies | Keeler Tavern Museum (c.1713) | Lake Compounce Theme Park | Lake of Isles Golf Course | Lighthouse Point Park | Mandara Spa at Mohegan Sun | Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center | Mohegan Sun | Mohegan Sun's Sky Tower and Earth Tower | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Seaport Museum | New London Historic Waterfront District | Old Lighthouse Museum | Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale | Putnam Memorial State Park | R/V "Spirit of the Sound" | Riverwind Inn Bed & Breakfast | Scoot & Paddle | Sheffield Island Lighthouse and Harbor Tour | Silas W. Robbins House | Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods | Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods | The Fitch House B&B | The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk | The Shops at Yale | The West Lane Inn | Webb Deane Stevens Museum | Westbrook Outlets | Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun | Yale Center for British Art | Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History | Yale University Art Gallery | Yale University Visitor Center