Drawing a Crowd—The Connecticut Craft Beer Revolution

The Connecticut craft brew industry is booming. Small start-ups are gaining traction with fans and current establishments are expanding their lineups—and their tasting spaces. Even brewers who’ve been around awhile are putting out new and inviting releases. Some offer food, and many are family- and dog-friendly as well. We asked a few craft beer fans what breweries were particularly worthy of checking out right now. 

Featuring: Brewery Legitimus | Brewport | City Steam Brewery Cafe | City of Waterbury | Fox Farm Brewery | Kent Falls Brewing Company | Kinsmen Brewing Company | New England Brewing Company | Relic Brewing Company | The Connecticut Beer Trail | These Guys Brewing Company | Thimble Island Brewing Company | Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt | Town of East Haven | Town of Hamden | Town of West Hartford | Two Roads Brewing Company

Locals Love: Hartford

Connecticut’s capital city is located in the center of the state, where I-84 and I-91 meet. But it’s certainly not a city you’ll want to drive by. It’s home to America’s oldest continuously operating art museum and America’s #1 favorite minor league ballpark (two years in a row!) We asked some locals in the mayor’s office for their favorite Hartford haunts and were not disappointed.

Featuring: Agave Grill | Arch Street Tavern | Bradley International Airport | Carbone's Ristorante | Casona | City Steam Brewery Cafe | City of Hartford | Connecticut Convention Center | Connecticut Science Center | Connecticut's Old State House | Dunn's River Jamaican Restaurant | Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens | Harriet Beecher Stowe Center | Hartford Flavor Company | Hartford Stage | Hartford Yard Goats | Hog River Brewing Company | Ichiban Restaurant | Infinity Music Hall (Hartford) | J Restaurant & Bar | Marriott Hartford Downtown | Pine & Iron Axe Throwing - Hartford | Polish National Home | Sea Tea Comedy Theater | The Goodwin Hotel | The Mark Twain House & Museum | The Polytechnic On20 Club | The Russell | TheaterWorks | Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

Date Spots in Connecticut for Valentine’s Day & Beyond

Coming up with a date idea is no easy feat – whether you’re planning a first date, third date, a big anniversary or something special for Valentine’s Day. To ease the stress, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite Connecticut date spots, broken down by what kind of date you’re planning.

Featuring: Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar | Brignole Vineyards | City Steam Brewery Cafe | Firehouse 12 | Foxwoods Resort Casino | Gouveia Vineyards | GrayBarns Inn | Griswold Inn | Haight-Brown Vineyard | Infinity Music Hall & Bistro (Norfolk) | Inn at Harbor Hill Marina | Interlaken Inn, Resort & Conference Center | Manor House Inn | Maugle Sierra Vineyards & Winery | Mohegan Sun | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Water's Edge Resort & Spa

Best Date Spots in Connecticut

Coming up with a date idea is no easy feat – whether you’re planning a first date, third date, a big anniversary or something special for that special someone. To ease the stress, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite Connecticut date spots, broken down by what kind of date you’re planning.

Featuring: Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar | Chamard Vineyards | City Steam Brewery Cafe | Firehouse 12 | Foxwoods Resort Casino | Gouveia Vineyards | Griswold Inn | Haight-Brown Vineyard | Little Barn | Maugle Sierra Vineyards & Winery | Miya's Sushi | Mohegan Sun | Old Riverton Inn | Stanton House Inn | Water's Edge Resort & Spa | Willimantic Brewing Company

Destination Breweries in Connecticut

Destination breweries are growing in popularity for beer aficionados and casual beer drinkers alike. From playful interior design to tasting decks with a view, breweries large and small are letting their personality show through. And in Connecticut, our compact size makes it easy to explore one or more of these hot spots in a single trip. We spoke with Will Siss, Connecticut Beer author and self-described “beer snob,” to get to the bottom of Connecticut’s growing appeal.

Featuring: Bear Hands Brewery | Beer'd Brewing Company - The Mill (Stonington) | Brewport | City Steam Brewery Cafe | Cottrell Brewing Company | Evening Sky Brewing Company | Firefly Hollow Brewing Company | Half Full Brewery | J. Timothy's Taverne | New England Brewing Company | Outer Light Brewing Company | Overshores Brewing Company | Relic Brewing Company | Stony Creek Brewery | Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company | The Beer Garden at Shippan Landing | Thimble Island Brewing Company | Thomas Hooker Brewing Company | Two Roads Brewing Company | Velvet Libations | Willimantic Brewing Company

Take Me Out to the Ballgame in Connecticut

Nothing says "spring is here!" quite like the start of baseball season. And depending on where you go in Connecticut, you may find locals rooting for major league teams from New York or Boston. However, you will also find professional and minor league teams drawing fans to local ballparks all over the state—not just for the sports, but for family-friendly events that include music, food, giveaways and fireworks. Tickets are reasonable, the fun is contagious. And now that the capital city Hartford has its own team and a brand new ballpark, there’s never been a better time to enjoy America’s favorite pastime by cheering on Connecticut teams!

Featuring: 23.Sportcafe | Bear's Smokehouse (Hartford) | Chelsea Piers Connecticut | City Steam Brewery Cafe | East Side Restaurant | First and Last Tavern (Hartford) | Great Brook Sports | Hank's Dairy Bar | Hartford Yard Goats | Junior's | Mortensen Dairy Ice Cream Shops | New Britain Bees | Olympia Diner | R&B Sports World | Safari Golf | Sea Unicorns | Sonny's Place | SportsCenter of Connecticut | The Only Game in Town | These Guys Brewing Company | Vaughan's Public House

Ways to Dine Out While Staying In

During this trying time, many Connecticut restaurants that have shifted their offerings to accommodate safety – and have gone the extra mile to support the community and make in-home eating enjoyable.

Many restaurants in the state are now offering takeout or delivery, but we wanted to highlight a few that are offering particularly notable experiences. As the state’s situation quickly evolves, each restaurant’s offering may evolve just as quickly, so be sure to check with each spot before placing your order.

Featuring: Arethusa al tavolo | Bear's Smokehouse (Hartford) | Brewery Legitimus | Brignole Vineyards | Chamard Vineyards | Charter Oak Brewing Company | City Steam Brewery Cafe | City of Middletown | Connecticut Valley Brewing Company | Elicit Brewing Co. | Geronimo Bar & Grill | Half Full Brewery | Hog River Brewing Company | Kinsmen Brewing Company | Maugle Sierra Vineyards & Winery | Priam Vineyards | Sayulita | Terrain Garden Cafe | The White Hart | These Guys Brewing Company | Town of Essex | Town of Fairfield | Town of Manchester | Town of Middlefield | Town of Mystic | Town of Old Saybrook | Town of Ridgefield | Town of West Hartford | Town of Westport | Two Roads Brewing Company | Urban Lodge Brewing | l'escale

Mother's Day: More Important Than Ever

This year as we prepare to celebrate Mom, we recognize that festivities will be different – but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the day special. We’ve put together some suggestions for showing Mom how much she’s loved. From gift ideas, to takeout feasts, to ways to celebrate, you’ll find there are still many fantastic ways to enjoy Mother’s Day in Connecticut.

Featuring: Adventure Park at Storrs | Arethusa Farm | Arethusa al tavolo | Bee & Thistle Inn & Spa | Bigelow Hollow State Park | Brewery Legitimus | Bridgewater Chocolate Factory Retail Store - Brookfield | Brignole Vineyards | Cafe Aura | Chamard Vineyards | Charter Oak Brewing Company | City Steam Brewery Cafe | City of Bridgeport | City of Hartford | City of Milford | City of New Haven | City of Norwalk | City of Norwich | Connecticut Valley Brewing Company | Delamar Spa West Hartford | Divine Treasures | East Rock Park | Elicit Brewing Co. | Fascia's Chocolates | Griswold Inn | Half Full Brewery | HighFlyer Zipline at Foxwoods Resort Casino | Hog River Brewing Company | Horse Guard State Park | Kinsmen Brewing Company | Lyman Orchards | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Maugle Sierra Vineyards & Winery | McLean Game Refuge | Montana Nights Axe Throwing | Munson's Chocolates | Mystic Knotwork | Nipmuck State Forest | On Track Karting | Pine & Iron Axe Throwing - Hartford | Pine & Iron Axe Throwing - New Haven | Priam Vineyards | River - A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar | Spa at Delamar Greenwich Harbor | Spa at Delamar Southport | Spa at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Sunnybrook State Park | Supercharged Powered by Mohegan Sun - Indoor Karting & Trampoline Park | The Spa at Norwich Inn | The White Hart | These Guys Brewing Company | Tiffany Juliet House | Town of Bloomfield | Town of Canton | Town of Chester | Town of East Granby | Town of East Hampton | Town of East Windsor | Town of Farmington | Town of Litchfield | Town of Mystic | Town of Newtown | Town of Simsbury | Town of South Windsor | Town of Southington | Town of Stonington | Town of Wallingford | Town of West Hartford | Town of Westport | Town of Willington | Town of Woodbury | Town of Woodstock | Urban Lodge Brewing | Water's Edge Resort & Spa | Willoughby's Coffee & Tea (New Haven) | l'escale

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