Instagrammable CT: On the Water at Connecticut's State Parks

Grab your gear and make a splash by spending some time on the water at one of Connecticut’s state parks. And thanks to the new Passport to Parks Program, Connecticut residents can access state parks for free this year. These destinations aren’t just great for on-the-water activities, but they also offer spectacular views—perfect for your Instagram feed.

Featuring: Harkness Memorial State Park | Lake Waramaug State Park | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Rocky Neck State Park | Silver Sands State Park | Squantz Pond State Park

Connecticut’s Great Lakes

Connecticut’s coastline isn’t our only waterfront claim to fame. Across the state, there are over 3,000 beautiful lakes, ponds and reservoirs that offer all kinds of water activities. See where you can take a swim, go out on the boat, fish, kayak, picnic, hike, camp and so much more. And don't miss all the great restaurants, hotels and B&Bs nearby.

Featuring: Bantam Lake | Bashan Lake Mansion | Burr Pond State Park | Camp David | Candlewood Lake Town Park | Club Getaway | Gay City State Park | Hopkins Inn | Indianfield Campgrounds | Interlaken Inn, Resort & Conference Center | Kettletown State Park | Lake Cottage | Lake McDonough | Lake Waramaug State Park | Lake Waramaug State Park Campground | Lake Williams Campground | Lake Wintergreen | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Odetah Camping Resort | Oxoboxo Lake Cottage | Squantz Pond State Park | Stratton Brook State Park | Town of Bolton | Town of Griswold | Wangumbaug Lake | Wilderness Lake Campground & RV Resort

Outdoor Activities for Solitary Enjoyment

As we all stay home to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we are all the more appreciative of the ways we can still take in the outdoors, provided we follow the necessary guidelines.

Connecticut has many beautiful outdoor spaces for solitary recreation. From golfing to fishing to self-guided art walks, the state is filled with creative ways to get fresh air while practicing social distance.

Featuring: Air Line State Park Trail | Bigelow Hollow State Park | Black Hall Outfitters - Old Lyme | Black Hall Outfitters - Westbrook | Blackledge Country Club | Blue Fox Run Golf Course | Branford River Paddlesports, Kayaks and Tours | Collinsville Canoe & Kayak | Connecticut National Golf Club | Fairview Farm Golf Course | Horse Guard State Park | Indian River Kayak | Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at Riverfront | Lyman Orchards Golf Club | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Millers Pond State Park | Paddle Mystic-Mystic River Adventure Company | Sea Kayak Connecticut | Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds | Sunnybrook State Park | Town of Old Saybrook | Wall to Wall: The New London Mural Walk

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

Favorite Park Closed? Here Are Others to Try

If you are looking to spend a day outside, only to find your favorite state park is closed, here are some other outdoor locations and local businesses to help you get outside and discover new outdoor destinations in Connecticut.

Featuring: Adventure Park at Storrs | Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum | Audubon Guilford Salt Meadow Sanctuary | Bigelow Hollow State Park | Black Hall Outfitters - Old Lyme | Black Hall Outfitters - Westbrook | Black Rock State Park | Bluff Point Coastal Reserve | Burr Pond State Park | Chatfield Hollow State Park | City of Milford | City of Norwalk | Collinsville Canoe & Kayak | Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield | Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center | Devil's Hopyard State Park | Empower Adventure Park at Nomads | Gardner Lake State Park | Hammonasset Beach State Park | Harkness Memorial State Park | Hidden Valley Preserve | Hopeville Pond State Park | Lake Waramaug State Park | Lovers Leap State Park | Lucius Pond Ordway/Devil's Den Preserve | Mansfield Hollow State Park | McLean Game Refuge | Millers Pond State Park | Mount Tom State Park | Paddle Mystic-Mystic River Adventure Company | Paugussett State Forest | Penwood State Park | Quinnipiac River Linear Trail | Rocky Neck State Park | Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area | Scantic River State Park | Scoot & Paddle | Sea Kayak Connecticut | Sherwood Island State Park | Silver Sands State Park | Sleeping Giant State Park | Southford Falls State Park | Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge | Talcott Mountain State Park | Topsmead State Forest | Town of Kent | Wadsworth Falls State Park | Webb Mountain Discovery Zone

Getting Outdoors in Mystic Country

Some of the greatest memories are made off the beaten path. Whether you’re a Connecticut native looking for something different or are visiting from the big city, unique outdoor adventures are plentiful in Mystic Country. From Putnam to Mystic and out to Niantic, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy a breath of fresh air while doing something you have never done before.

Featuring: Barn Island Wildlife Management Area | Bluff Point Coastal Reserve | Haley Farm State Park | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Old Furnace State Park | Pachaug State Forest | The Last Green Valley | Town of Ledyard | West Thompson Lake Federal Park

Family Fun for All Four Seasons

No matter the season, Connecticut is your one-stop spot for family fun. Here you can enjoy the distinct seasons and take in spring flower festivals, make a summer splash at the beach or a water park, admire the fall foliage or find downhill thrills at a winter ski resort. Whether you've got young kids or a teen that's hard to please, Connecticut offers adventures, year-round.

Featuring: Action Wildlife Foundation | Adventure Park at Storrs | Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum | Andrews Homestead (1760) | Angevine Farm | Ashford Dairy Bar | BAR | Bigelow Hollow State Park | Blue Jay Orchards | Bohemian Pizza | Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream | Campbell Falls State Park Reserve | Capital Ice Cream | Cheney Homestead (c.1785) | City of Milford | City of New Britain | City of New Haven | City of Stamford | Colony Grill | Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield | Connecticut Science Center | Connecticut Trolley Museum | Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo | Crystal Lake | Devil's Hopyard State Park | Domenic's & Vinnie's - Southington | Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens | Escape New Haven | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | EverWonder Children's Museum | Flamig Farm | Fort Stamford | Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven | Giuffrida Park | Goodwin Park | Hidden Valley Preserve | HighFlyer Zipline at Foxwoods Resort Casino | Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum | Hollister House Garden | IT Adventure Ropes Course | Johnny Appleseed's Farm | Lutz Children's Museum | Lyman Orchards | Mansfield Hollow State Park | MindBreak Escape Rooms | Modern Apizza | Mohawk Mountain Ski Area | Mount Tom State Park | Mystic Aquarium | Mystified Escape Rooms | Nathan Hale Homestead | New England Air Museum | Niantic Children's Museum | Pachaug State Forest | Panic Room | Pizza Pete's | Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort | Quassy Amusement & Waterpark | Ray of Light Farm | Rogers Orchards Sunnymount Farm | Roseland Cottage Museum | Sally's Apizza | Sea Swirl of Mystic | Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours | Sky Zone - Norwalk | Sugar Factory American Brasserie | Tankerhoosen Valley - Vernon's Green Valley | The Children's Museum | The Dudley Farm Museum | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | The Mark Twain House & Museum | Thorncrest Farm, LLC & Milk House Chocolates | Town of West Hartford | Tulmeadow Farm Store and Ice Cream Shop | University of Connecticut Animal Barns Self-Guided Tours | We-Li-Kit Farm | White Memorial Conservation Center Museum | Whittle's Willow Spring Farm | Wickham Park

36 Things to Do in Connecticut this August

Looking for something to do in Connecticut in August? Whether you want something active or relaxing, cultural or nature-oriented, artistic or trendy, Connecticut's got you covered. Here are some highlights.

Featuring: Adventure Park at Storrs | Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum | Andrews Homestead (1760) | Athenian Diner | Bigelow Hollow State Park | Black Hall Outfitters - Old Lyme | Black Hall Outfitters - Westbrook | Blackledge Country Club | Brownstone Adventure Sports Park | City of Norwalk | City of Stamford | Cockaponset State Forest | Connecticut's Old State House | Daniel Benton Homestead (c.1720) | Elm Street Diner | Fairview Farm Golf Course | Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Gillette Ridge Golf Club | Goodspeed Musicals - The Goodspeed | HighFlyer Zipline at Foxwoods Resort Casino | Housatonic Museum of Art | IT Adventure Ropes Course | Lighthouse Point Park | Macedonia Brook State Park | Main Stream Canoes & Kayaks | Mansfield Drive-In Theatre & Marketplace | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Mattabesett Blue Trail | Matterhorn Mini Golf | Mystic Diner | Nathan Hale Homestead | New Hartford Diner | Pleasant Valley Drive-In | Safari Golf | Salt of the Earth Therapeutic Spa | Saybrook Point Miniature Golf | Scoot & Paddle | Shenipsit State Forest | Sonny's Place | Southington Drive-In | Stonington Vineyards | Sunset Meadow Vineyards | The Place 2 Be | The Sloppy Waffle | Town of Avon | Town of Chester | Town of Glastonbury | Town of Haddam | Town of Hamden | Town of Lebanon | Town of Middlefield | Town of Naugatuck | Town of Old Lyme | Town of Old Saybrook | Town of Stonington | Town of Windsor | Town of Wolcott | Town of Woodbury | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Yale Center for British Art

Connecticut's on TV — in Full Color!

It’s time to experience all the fall colors of Connecticut. If you're looking to check out the great Connecticut attractions you saw featured in our new television campaign, Full Color Connecticut, we've gathered all four commercials here and added a clickable list of each attraction featured within them. Find your favorite shades and experience them in full color this fall

Featuring: Adventure Park at Storrs | Backyard Adventure UTV Tours | Berkshire Balloons | Chamard Vineyards | Delamar Southport | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | Foxwoods Resort Casino | Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven | Goodspeed Musicals - The Goodspeed | Guided Flyfishing Trips-Housatonic River Outfitters | Hidden Valley Preserve | Lee's Riding Stable | Lyman Orchards | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Mohegan Sun | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Seaport Museum | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Silverman's Farm | Talcott Mountain State Park | Taylor Brooke Brewery | The Glass House | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | Town of Brooklyn

Full Color Connecticut - Full Color Fun

Featuring: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven | Lee's Riding Stable | Lyman Orchards | Mansfield Hollow State Park | Mystic Aquarium | Silverman's Farm | Town of Brooklyn