Take Your Time, Connecticut — Play Tourist in Your Own Backyard!

Research shows that 7.2 million vacation days go unused in Connecticut every year. Now, with a new nationwide study touting the health benefits of taking more of your hard-earned Paid Time Off (PTO) days, we’ve got a few suggestions on how you can “take your time” — while playing tourist right here at home. 

Featuring: American Museum of Tort Law | Antiques on the Farmington | Argia Mystic Cruises | Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry | Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum | Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library | Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden | Book Barn | Boothe Memorial Park & Museum | Breck Marshall at Mystic Seaport | Bruce Museum | Butler-McCook House & Garden | Cathedral Pines Farm | Collinsville Canoe & Kayak | Connecticut River Museum | Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo | Cross Sound Ferry Lighthouse Cruise | Custom House Maritime Museum | Deacon John Graves House (c.1685) | Dinosaur State Park | Florence Griswold Museum | G Spa at Foxwoods | General David Humphreys House (c.1698) | Gillette Castle State Park | Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden | Greenwich Historical Society | Harriet Beecher Stowe Center | Hempsted Houses | Henry Whitfield State Museum | Hill-Stead Museum | Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum | Hollister House Garden | Kent Falls State Park | Leffingwell House Museum | Lighthouse Point Park | Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum (c.1864) | Lyme Art Association | Mandara Spa at Mohegan Sun | Mayflower Inn & Spa | Mohawk Mountain Ski Area | Mount Southington Ski Area | Mystic Seaport Museum | Mystic Whaler Cruises | Nathan Hale Homestead | New Britain Museum of American Art | New England Science & Sailing | Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society | Ogden House & Gardens | Osborne Homestead Museum | Paddle Mystic-Mystic River Adventure Company | Phelps-Hatheway House | Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort | Project Oceanology | Quinebaug River Trail | Roseland Cottage Museum | S&P Oyster Co. | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Schooner Brilliant at Mystic Seaport | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Ski Sundown | Sleeping Giant State Park | Stamford Museum & Nature Center | Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods | The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum | The Glass House | The Glass House | The Mark Twain House & Museum | The Spa at Norwich Inn | The Spa at Norwich Inn | The Vanilla Bean Café | Town of Essex | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Water's Edge Resort & Spa | Webb Deane Stevens Museum | Westbrook Outlets | White Flower Farm | White Memorial Foundation | Winding Trails Cross Country Ski Center | Winvian Farm | Yale Center for British Art

5 Connecticut Small Towns to Explore with Kids

CTvisit.com is proud to partner with some of Connecticut’s most popular bloggers for ideas, insights and inspirations from the people who are lucky enough to call Connecticut home. This CT Ambassadors article is from our friends at Mommy Poppins Connecticut. 

Cities like New York and Boston can be fun, but just a short drive to Connecticut and you'll find 169 inviting towns that dot the countryside, hills, and coastline. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, wonderful museums with fun family programing, or just strolling charming town centers, browsing the shops and enjoying great food, you can find it all in these small towns in Connecticut.

Featuring: Abigail's Grille & Wine Bar | Connecticut River Museum | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | Flamig Farm | Griswold Inn | Kent Falls State Park | Lobster Shack | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | Mystic Seaport Museum | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Stony Creek Brewery | Stratton Brook State Park | Town of Branford | Town of Essex | Town of Kent | Town of Mystic | Town of Simsbury

Great Drives Along the Connecticut Coast

Everyone knows that busy I-95 and U.S. Route 1 follow the Connecticut shoreline from Greenwich east out to Stonington, but there are a lot of lesser known routes that’ll give you the flavor of the coast and sometimes take you right down to the water. Here are several recommendations to get you started.

Featuring: Book Barn | Central Regional Tourism District - River Valley/Greater Hartford | Eugene O'Neill Theater Center | Harkness Memorial State Park | Inn at Harbor Hill Marina | Lenny's Indian Head | Lighthouse Point Park | Ocean Beach Park | Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood | Rocky Neck State Park | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Sound View Beach | Tarry Lodge - Westport | The Guilford House | The Inn at Longshore | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | Town of Old Saybrook

5 Ways to Get Out on the Water

With hundreds of miles of shoreline on Long Island Sound, more than 1,500 lakes and ponds, and rivers of every size and description, Connecticut is an excellent playground for those who like to have fun on the water. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Featuring: Branford River Paddlesports, Kayaks and Tours | Clarke Outdoors | Farmington River Tubing | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Town of Lyme | Town of New Milford | Volsunga IV Thimble Island Cruise

Explore the Natural Wonders of Connecticut

When it comes to nature, Connecticut is probably best known for its beautiful but modest rolling green hills, meandering streams and lovely shoreline. But there are individual natural highlights as well, each worth a visit on its own. Get out and explore them!

Featuring: Dinosaur State Park | Kent Falls State Park | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Sleeping Giant State Park | Town of Branford | Town of Cornwall | Volsunga IV Thimble Island Cruise

How to Experience the Best of New England—in Connecticut

Did you know that it’s possible to experience all the best that the New England region has to offer right here in Connecticut? Halfway between New York and Boston, Connecticut is a great place to start your visit, offering easy-to-reach unique and memorable attractions and activities, any time of year. Here are a few of our favorite classic New England experiences.

Featuring: Abbott's Lobster in the Rough | Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum | Argia Mystic Cruises | Captain Scott's Lobster Dock | Connecticut Wine Country | Mattabesett Blue Trail | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Seaport Museum | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Sea View Snack Bar | Stowe's Seafood | Town of Goshen | Town of Mystic | Town of New Milford | Town of Westport | West Cornwall Covered Bridge

Go Off the Beaten Path in These Connecticut Villages

Some of Connecticut’s smaller, less well-known towns have been described as “sleepy” or “undiscovered gems.” But the people who live there, and the people who visit, know differently. These towns might be overshadowed by a larger town or city, or maybe they are not easily reached by the interstate, but they have a personality that makes visiting them worth going “off the beaten path” for. And at a time when we are all trying to keep a safe distance from one another, discovering some of the state's lesser-known destinations is a great way to do so.

Featuring: 85 Main | Antiques Marketplace | Antiques on the Farmington | Branford River Paddlesports, Kayaks and Tours | By The Sea Day Spa | Collinsville Canoe & Kayak | Crown & Hammer Restaurant & Pub | Deary Brothers/Mikes Stand | Homestead Inn | Housatonic River Brewing | Lovers Leap State Park | Mansion at Bald Hill | Old Riverton Inn | Rory's Restaurant | Salt Cave of Darien | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Stanton House Inn | Stony Creek Brewery | Thimble Island Brewing Company | Town of Branford | Town of Canton | Town of Darien | Town of New Milford | Town of Putnam

30 Things to Do in Central Connecticut this Summer

When the sun is shining and the ocean’s calling, you'll know it’s summer in Connecticut. As the days get longer, more fun activities emerge — and you can be sure businesses are working hard to keep you safe. Whether you’re soaking up sun or stars, there’s so much to see and do, from active adventure and family fun to relaxation and romantic escapes. Here’s your guide to the summer season in Central Connecticut

Featuring: Abby's Place | Alling Memorial Golf Course | Arrigoni Winery | Ashley's Ice Cream (Madison) | Bartaco - West Hartford | Bear's Smokehouse (New Haven) | Becky Thatcher Riverboat | Berkshire Balloons | Bill's Seafood Restaurant | Black Hall Outfitters - Westbrook | Blackie's Hot Dogs | Blackledge Country Club | Branford River Paddlesports, Kayaks and Tours | Brownstone Adventure Sports Park | Bushnell Park | By The Sea Day Spa | Central Rock Gym | Chamard Vineyards | City of Hartford | City of New Haven | Clinton Town Beach | Collinsville Canoe & Kayak | Connecticut River Cruise & Charter | Connecticut River Museum | Connecticut Science Center | Connecticut Valley Brewing Company | Cove Landing Marine | Delamar Spa West Hartford | Devil's Hopyard State Park | East Hartford Golf Club | Edwin C. Ahlberg Antiques | Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens | Enders State Forest | Farmington Miniature Golf & Ice Cream Parlor | Flying Connie Fishing Charters | Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Gay City State Park | Gillette Castle State Park | Gillette Ridge Golf Club | Giuffrida Park | Glenwood Drive-In | Gouveia Vineyards | GrandView Camp Resort and Cottages | Grass Roots Ice Cream | Greater Middletown Military Museum | Hammonasset Beach State Park | Hill-Stead Museum | Honeycone Cream Company | Islander Sport Fishing Charters | Johnny Ad's | Lighthouse Point Park | Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at Riverfront | Liv's Shack - Old Saybrook | Lobster Landing | Lobster Shack | Lost Acres Vineyard | Lyman Orchards Golf Club | Madison Beach Hotel | Main Street Creamery & Cafe | Milkcraft - West Hartford | New England Air Museum | New England Motorcycle Museum | Nightjack Sportsfishing | Nomads Adventure Quest | North Coast Charters | North Ridge Golf Club | Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine | Old Saybrook Town Beach | Onrust | PEZ Visitor Center | Pagliacci's Restaurant | Paradise Hills Vineyard & Winery | Pardee Rose Gardens | Pine & Iron Axe Throwing - Hartford | Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort | River - A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar | River Highlands State Park | RiverQuest | Riverdale Farm Campsite | Rockledge Golf Club | Ron-A-Roll Indoor Roller Skating Center | Rosedale Farms & Vineyards | Safari Golf | Sally's Apizza | Scoopy Doos | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Sea Sprite | Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill | Shore Line Trolley Museum | Shoreline Segway | Sleeping Giant State Park | Southington Community Cultural Arts | Spectrum Art Gallery | Stony Creek Brewery | Stowe's Seafood | Sunset Bar & Grill | Talcott Mountain State Park | The Blue Oar | The Place | The Sculpture Mile | Tosca | Town of Avon | Town of Cheshire | Town of Chester | Town of Essex | Town of Farmington | Town of Glastonbury | Town of Lyme | Town of Madison | Town of Old Saybrook | Town of Southington | Town of West Hartford | Tradition Golf Club at Wallingford | Vintage Hi Fi Museum | Vintage Radio & Communications Museum of Connecticut | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Wadsworth Falls State Park | Water's Edge Resort & Spa | West Beach | West Haven Veteran's Museum and Learning Center | Wolf's Den Family Campground

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