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

10 Fall Experiences You Just Can’t Have in the City

The best parts of fall are simply unavailable in the city; no hills rolling with color, no apple orchards or pumpkin patches, and certainly no historic cider mills. Luckily, Connecticut has all of these and more, and it’s just a brief drive away. This short list is packed with everything from pumpkin picking to hot cider and corn mazes.

Featuring: Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum | B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill | Belltown Hill Orchards | Berkshire Balloons | Black Hog Brewing Company | Campbell Falls State Park Reserve | Chester Charter, Inc. | Connecticut Science Center | Dinosaur State Park | Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm | Empower Adventure Park at Nomads | Giuffrida Park | Haley Farm State Park | Hidden Valley Preserve | HighFlyer Zipline at Foxwoods Resort Casino | Hogan's Cider Mill | Lyman Orchards | New England Cider Company | RiverQuest | Rogers Orchards Sunnymount Farm | Rose's Berry Farm | Silverman's Farm | Skydive Danielson | Spoke + Spy Ciderworks | Talcott Mountain State Park | The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village | The Pickin Patch at Woodford Farm | These Guys Brewing Company | Thimble Island Brewing Company | Thomas Hooker Brewing Company | Town of Woodbury | Treat Farm | Two Roads Brewing Company | Yankee Cider Barn at Staehly Farms

6 Winter Wonderland Destinations in Connecticut

When Connecticut is covered in sparkling snow, some folks can’t wait to bundle up and head outdoors. But what if you’re the hibernating type? Here are six destinations sure to coax you out of your home—both frosty activities worth pulling on boots for as well as toasty comforts that will erase winter from your mind.

Featuring: Allegra Farm & Horse-Drawn Carriage & Sleigh Rides | Arethusa al tavolo | Ascot's at The Norwich Inn | Bar Bouchée | City of Middletown | City of Norwich | Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret | Downtown Storrs | Earthplace, The Nature Discovery & Environmental Learning Center | Hammonasset Beach State Park | Harp & Dragon Pub | Housatonic Trading Company | Inn at Middletown | Interlaken Inn, Resort & Conference Center | La Plage | Litchfield Distillery | Madison Beach Hotel | Mayflower Inn & Spa | MoCA Westport | Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort | R.J. Julia Booksellers | RiverQuest | RoseGarden Ice Arena | Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Terrain Garden Cafe | The Inn at Longshore | The Inn at Woodstock Hill | The Spa at Norwich Inn | These Guys Brewing Company | Town of Litchfield | Town of Madison | Town of Westport | Town of Woodstock | Tschudin Chocolates & Confections | Uncas Leap | White Memorial Foundation

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

Find Fall Faster with Connecticut's Top Fall Foliage Drives

Ready for some leaf peeping? Head no farther than Connecticut, where you'll find New England’s longest fall foliage season. Running from north to south steadily over about 6 weeks, the foliage coverage varies, but there’s always somewhere to see the colors change. Thanks to our friends at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, here are a few suggested driving “loops” to get you out and about during prime leaf peeping season. Be sure to program your mapping app, or set your gps, for an amazing drive through the wonders of fall in Connecticut.

Featuring: Abbey's Lantern Hill Inn | Antiques Marketplace | Arrigoni Winery | Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum | Bishop's Orchards Farm Market & Winery | Boardman House Inn | Candlelight Farms Inn | City of New London | Copper Beech Inn | Creamery Brook Bison | Devil's Hopyard State Park | Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm | Enders State Forest | Gelston House | Guilford Art Center | Hank's Dairy Bar | Hartford Flavor Company | Hickory Hill Orchards | Hopkins Inn | Hopkins Vineyard | Hotel Zero Degrees Norwalk | Inn at Middletown | Kent Victorian Lodging & Vacation Rental | Leffingwell House Museum | Lost Acres Vineyard | Maple Bank Farm | Matterhorn Mini Golf | Mystic Sweets & Ice Cream Shoppe | Old Riverton Inn | Olde Mistick Village | On the Waterfront | RiverQuest | Riverwind Inn Bed & Breakfast | Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Steamboat Inn | Stew Leonard's Norwalk | Sweet Claude's Ice Cream Parlor | Sweet Wind Farm Sugarhouse & Farm Stand | Talcott Mountain State Park | The Crossings Restaurant & Brew Pub | The Inn at Woodstock Hill | The Simsbury Inn | These Guys Brewing Company | Town of Chester | Town of Falls Village (Canaan) | Town of Litchfield | UConn Dairy Bar | Watercure Farm Distillery | West Street Grill | White Silo Farm & Winery | Woodbury Antiques Trail

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

Fireworks Are Back — Make the Most of Fireworks in 2021

Finally, after a year without this classic summer favorite, firework shows are happening again in Connecticut! And now that they’re back, why not make your firework outing an even bigger celebration? We’ve gathered a list of ways to enjoy your time before and after a few of Connecticut’s most popular fireworks shows. To find even more fireworks, check out the complete list here.

Featuring: 33 Golden | Acapulcos | America's Best Value Inn | Baco's Pizza | Bear's Smokehouse (Hartford) | Bicycle Tour Company | Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar | Brass City Raceway & Axe Throwing | Captain Scott's Lobster Dock | Centro Restorante & Bar | Circle Hotel Fairfield | City of Bristol | City of Hartford | City of New London | City of Norwich | City of Waterbury | Club Getaway | Colony Grill - Fairfield | Courtyard Waterbury Downtown | Cross Sound Ferry | Custom House Maritime Museum | D. Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course | Domenick & Pia Downtown Pizzeria | DoubleTree by Hilton - Bristol | Easy Pickin's Orchard | Epicure Brewing | Fairfield Social | Fascia's Chocolates | Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn | Figaro Restaurant | Firefly Hollow Brewing Company | Flipside Burgers & Bar | H.C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center | Hampton Inn Springfield/Enfield | Harp & Dragon Pub | Hartford Flavor Company | Hartford Yard Goats | Hog River Brewing Company | Holiday Inn Norwich | Hopkins Inn | Illiano's Grill - Norwich | Inn at Fairfield Beach | Inn at Ocean Avenue | J. Timothy's Taverne | Jennings Beach | Kent Falls Brewing Company | Kent Falls State Park | Lake Compounce Campground | Lake Compounce Theme Park | Lake Mohegan | Lakeside Watersports | Lee's Riding Stable | Litchfield Saltwater Grille | Louie's Pizza | Lyman Allyn Art Museum | Main Street Diner | Mambo Bar & Restaurant | Michael's Dairy | Milkcraft - Fairfield | Mohegan Park & Memorial Rose Garden | Mystic Whaler Cruises | New England Carousel Museum | Ocean Beach Park | Odin's Keep Axe House | Olde Tymes Restaurant | Pagliacci's Restaurant | Parkville Market | Penfield Beach | Pie Hops | Pine & Iron Axe Throwing - Hartford | Powder Hollow Brewery | Reelin | Residence Inn by Marriott - Hartford | Rickards Beach | Riverfront Recapture | Rock Climb Fairfield | Sarapes Mexican Restaurant | Scantic River State Park | Sea Unicorns | Seven Villages Restaurant | Slater Memorial Museum | Sweetie's Bakery & Café | The Art of Yum | The Chelsea | The Goodwin Hotel | The Place 2 Be | The Spa at Norwich Inn | These Guys Brewing Company | Toto Restaurant | Town of Enfield | Town of Fairfield | Town of Litchfield | Town of Warren | Tox Brewing Company | Trumbull Kitchen | Via Al Paraiso | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Wall to Wall: The New London Mural Walk | West Hartford Center | West Street Grill | Western Hills Golf Course