Steph_Haas

My husband and I are going to a family reunion in Ludlow Vermont at the end of July and have several legs of this trip and need suggestions for all of them, so here goes:

Part 1 (Hartford CT to Ludlow VT): We are flying into Bradley International Airport on Saturday (arrive at 4:00) and are planning on getting a rental car at the airport and driving up into Vermont somewhere to stay the night on Saturday night (check in at the reunion is on Sunday morning). We were trying to find something off of Hwy 91 or 103 so that we don't go too far off of the main path. We would Priceline (or something) a hotel for the night and would wake up to drive into Ludlow for the reunion (be there around noon). Any suggestions for a nice town to stay in where we can have a nice (but inexpensive) dinner and a leisurely breakfast before heading up to Ludlow?

Part 2 (Hartford CT): The reunion ends on Thursday morning, so we are going to leave Ludlow and drive back to Hartford with the rental car to do some exploring in Hartford. Again we will Priceline a hotel but are looking for interesting places to go/food to eat/sights to see. We are going to stay Thursday night in Hartford and take a Greyhound bus to Boston the next late morning/afternoon. Since we have to return the car to the airport we found a bus that goes from the airport straight down into the Greyhound/Amtrack station in Hartford, so we were giong to take the bus to the station then take the bus. Any hints/suggestions about transportation that we haven't thought of? Anything interesting to do in Hartford? We're going to go to the Mark Twain House and maybe the Elizabeth Park rose gardens, but again, looking for food/activity suggestions.

Part 3 (Boston MA): We will get to Boston between noon and 3ish and check into a hotel (again, Pricelined). Any suggestions on areas to stay? We will be taking public transportation around and walking, as I hear that Boston is a very walkable city. We would love to do all the touristy stuff, the Freedom Trail, and everything else there. Again, any suggestions for the food/other activities? We will be staying Friday and Saturday night and flying home around 2:00.

Things to know about us: Mid 20's, beer and wine fans, I'm a vegetarian, my husband will eat anything. We like art, history, movies, culture, local things that aren't so touristy (even though we love touristy things too), bookstores, coffee shops, farms, cheese, organic and local eating/drinking, and such. We are on a pretty tight budget so things that are low cost/free are even better. Any and all suggestions welcome! Thanks everyone!

emalloy

Hartford:

Hartford has a lovely art museum, the Atheneum and a few miles away in Farmington is the Hillstead museum and in New Britain is the museum of American Art, all worth a visit. Next to the Mark Twain house is Harriet Beecher Stow's house which you can tour also.

For better dining try any of the Max's. For casual, younger try City Steam or Tap 'n Wood.

I'm not sure about the bus situation, but Bolt bus or Megabus might go to Boston. I've never tried it but you also might get a very inexpensive ride to one of the casinos and then another very inexpensive one to Boston, as long as you don't spend any money at the casion.

tchoiniere

I agree with emalloy's suggestions. Its Wood n Tap though.You should also look at Trumbull Kitchen and Black Eyed Sallys.

suze

I'd spend the first night in Brattleboro VT. It's a very cool town with bookstores, local restaurants, theater, counter-culture vibe alive and well.

butibeentoOklahoma

Sounds like a fun vacation! I'd suggest Northampton, Mass for your "Part 1" hotel/dinner location. It's a very funky little town, great bookstores and offbeat shops, walkable, several lodging options, and a decent brewery in town for dinner. Also good live music, if that's your thing. It's less than an hour from Hartford, and then another 1.5 hours to Ludlow.

As for the Part 2 "Hartford" time - the Wadsworth and Mark Twain house should be must-do's if you're into art and history. It appears you aren't spending long in Hartford, but Elizabeth Park is gorgeous for a picnic lunch if you can spare the time on Thursday or Friday (plus it's free!) The roses peak around May, but there will still be plenty other flowers to enjoy. As for dinner, Wood 'N Tap is very casual pub food, chain-style spot. I second Trumbull Kitchen (might see some ESPN personalities there) although it's a little pricey. Black Eyed Sally's would be my hands-down recommendation for your budget, though. If you end up staying downtown in Hartford, JoJo's coffee shop is excellent and within walking distance to anything downtown. There's also a great farmer's market at Billings Forge in Hartford on Thursdays, which is walkable to another cool coffee shop, La Paloma Sabanera. If you're in that area, pop in to the state capital. Gorgeous building with some cool elements inside, and again, free.

Public transportation isn't the best in Hartford, so yeah, you'll probably have to drop your car at the airport, take the bus to the station downtown, and then catch Bolt or Mega to Boston.

If you end up going the casino route, you won't be able to fit in much else in Hartford - you'll probably end up driving/staying at the casino area on Thursday, then heading to Boston Friday.

Have a blast on your trip - good luck!