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

Go It Alone: Great Ideas for Traveling Solo

Have you ever traveled by yourself? Maybe you’re the lone wolf type, or maybe you just need a little me time. More and more people are traveling on their own rather than waiting for others to make plans. If you’re one of them, we’ve got a few great ideas around Connecticut to make the experience of going it alone both fun and fulfilling.

Featuring: Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | Connecticut Women's Heritage Trail | Florence Griswold Museum | Harriet Beecher Stowe Center | Hill-Stead Museum | Lavender Pond Farm | Mayflower Inn & Spa | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Spa at Delamar Southport | Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods | The Spa at Norwich Inn | The Spa at Water's Edge | Westbrook Outlets | White Flower Farm | Wickham Park

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

Let’s Go Holiday Shopping!

Whether you start after Thanksgiving dinner or take a weekend to get something for everyone on your list, there are so many great places to shop 'til you drop in Connecticut. From high-end malls to open-air shopping districts, outlet centers featuring designer names to small town main streets filled with charming local boutiques, here's a list of shopping hot spots around the state.

Featuring: Blue Back Square | Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | Danbury Fair | Enfield Square Mall | Meriden Square Mall | SoNo Collection | Stamford Town Center | Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods | The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk | The Shoppes at Buckland Hills | The Shops at Farmington Valley | The Shops at Somerset Square | Westbrook Outlets | Westfarms

Great Ways to Use Your Vacation Days

No time to take time off? If you’re one of the 41% of Americans who didn’t take a single vacation day in 2016, you’re not alone. Half of working Americans don't use all their paid-time off. No doubt, you’re busy. But if your job pays you for days off, why not use them — and use them well? Take a short jaunt to Connecticut for these physically and mentally refreshing ways to make the most of your days off. 

Featuring: Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum | Bruce Museum | Connecticut River Museum | Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo | Downtown Essex | Lyme Art Association | Mystic Seaport Museum | New Britain Museum of American Art | Stamford Museum & Nature Center | Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds | Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods | The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum | The Glass House | The Mark Twain House & Museum | The Spa at Norwich Inn | The Vanilla Bean Café | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Westbrook Outlets | White Flower Farm | Yale Center for British Art

Special & Safe: Thanksgiving 2020

'Tis the season to cherish what we're grateful for — even if it looks a little different this year. To keep your family and community safe, we recommend reviewing the state's holiday guidance and considering these low-risk celebration ideas . The holiday may be smaller and quieter in 2020, but we certainly can still make it memorable. We've gathered a few Thanksgiving ideas for you and your closest kin, so you can still make the day special!

From unique take-home feasts and dine-out dinners to farm fresh shopping, Christmas tree chopping and more, the Thanksgiving fun doesn’t just make your day great — it helps support beloved Connecticut businesses who have been hit hard by the pandemic. And when you do, you can even use our hashtag #SupportCTBusinesses to help keep our restaurants, attractions and hotels top of mind.

Featuring: Abigail's Grille & Wine Bar | Allen Hill Farm | Angevine Farm | Avon Old Farms Hotel | Bear's Smokehouse (Hartford) | Bear's Smokehouse (New Haven) | Bear's Smokehouse (South Windsor) | Bear's Smokehouse (Windsor) | Bishop's Orchards Farm Market & Winery | Captain Daniel Packer Inne | Castle Hill Farm | City of Danbury | City of Hartford | City of Norwalk | City of Stamford | City of Waterbury | Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard | David Burke Prime Steakhouse | Dzen Tree Farm | Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm | Fairfield Museum & History Center | Fairview Tree Farm | Fire at the Ridge | Flora | Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Griswold Inn | Hamilton Park | Hickory Ridge Tree Farm | Holmberg Orchards & Winery | Hopkins Inn | J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks | Judy's Bar + Kitchen | Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at Riverfront | Maple Bank Farm | Maple Hollow Christmas Tree Farm | March Farm | Market Grille | Match | Max Amore | Max Downtown | Max a Mia Ristorante | Mill on the River | Miller Tree Farm | Millwright's Restaurant | Olde Mistick Village | On the Rocks Restaurant | Pequot Library | Silverman's Farm | Staehly Tree Farm & Winery | The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk | The Shops at Yale | The Spa at Norwich Inn | The Waters Edge at Giovanni's | The Wharf Restaurant | Town of Branford | Town of Deep River | Town of Enfield | Town of Greenwich | Town of Manchester | Town of Morris | Town of Newington | Town of Newtown | Town of Stratford | Town of Washington | Town of Wethersfield | Town of Woodbury | Wall to Wall: The New London Mural Walk | Westbrook Outlets | Whittle's Willow Spring Farm | Winterberry Farm | l'escale

Planning the Ultimate Girls’ Night Out in Central Connecticut

Sex and the City famously taught us that our girlfriends are our real soulmates. So why not take the girls for a night (or day) on the town? From party spots for the ultimate night on the town to a luxurious day at the spa, we’ve got a few cool ideas for your next girls-only celebration throughout Hartford, Middlesex and New Haven counties.

Featuring: By The Sea Day Spa | Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | Fired Up | Front Street District | Muse Paintbar (West Hartford) | R.J. Julia Booksellers | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Sea Tea Comedy Theater | Team vs Time - Premier Room Escape | The Shops at Yale | The Spa at Water's Edge | Town of Chester | Town of Madison | West Hartford Center | Westbrook Outlets

Great Ways to Use Your Vacation Days in Central Connecticut

Have PTO you haven't used? Believe it or not, half of working Americans don't use all their paid-time off. Don't let paid days go to waste. Instead, discover great ways to get away from the office in Hartford, Middlesex and New Haven counties.

Featuring: Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | Connecticut River Museum | Delamar Spa West Hartford | Devil's Hopyard State Park | Enders State Forest | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | New Britain Museum of American Art | Spectrum Art Gallery | The Mark Twain House & Museum | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Westbrook Outlets | Yale Center for British Art

Christmas Celebrations in Central Connecticut

From light shows to tree farms, the Christmas season in Hartford, Middlesex and New Haven counties is packed with safety-friendly holiday activities, celebrations and every kind of tradition. We’ve pulled together a few of the annual events and happenings to look out for. But new items are being added to our This Weekend and Events pages every single week so be sure to check back often!

Featuring: Broken Arrow Nursery | Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | Connecticut Trolley Museum | Dzen Tree Farm | Goodwin Park | Hubbard Park & Castle Craig | Joseph's Tree Farm | Miller Tree Farm | Rose's Berry Farm | The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk | The Shops at Yale | Visit Collinsville | Westbrook Outlets | Wickham Park | Wood Memorial Library & Museum

Great Places for Workcations in Connecticut

These days, we’re merging work and play more than ever before. If you’re looking to get away without using all your vacation days, Connecticut is a great place for a “workcation.” At these hotels, you can work remotely from your room, designated lounge spaces, or even your own private study – all while knowing the family has plenty to see and do nearby. The best part? When the workday ends, you can join in the fun!

Featuring: Artspace | Backyard Adventure UTV Tours | Ballo Italian at Mohegan Sun | Bear's Smokehouse (New Haven) | Bill's Seafood Restaurant | Black Hall Outfitters - Westbrook | Calf Pasture & Shady Beach | Carlo's Bakery Mohegan Sun | City Climb Gym | College Street Music Hall | Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm | Escape New Haven | Firehouse 12 | Haywire Burger Bar | Hotel Zero Degrees Norwalk | Infinity Music Hall & Bistro (Norfolk) | Interlaken Inn, Resort & Conference Center | Johnny Rockets - Mohegan Sun | Joy Ride Charters of Connecticut | Kent Falls State Park | Mandara Spa at Mohegan Sun | Modern Apizza | Mohegan Sun | Mohegan Sun Arena | Mohegan Sun Golf Club | Mohegan Sun's Sky Tower and Earth Tower | Mount Riga State Park | O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant | Oak & Almond | Olives and Oil - New Haven | Panic Room | Pedego SoNo Electric Bikes | Pine & Iron Axe Throwing - New Haven | Seaview Bistro | Sharon Playhouse | Sheffield Island Lighthouse and Harbor Tour | Sky Zone - Norwalk | SoNo Collection | Stepping Stones Museum for Children | Sunset Bar & Grill | Supercharged Powered by Mohegan Sun - Indoor Karting & Trampoline Park | Taste of New Haven Tours | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | The Study at Yale | The White Hart | Town of Falls Village (Canaan) | Water's Edge Resort & Spa | Westbrook Outlets

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