valeriesgallery

I will be in Hartford for several days in April and May. (different times) Do you have suggestions for day trips in the area? Are there specific things to notice?

jogehanna

The Mark Twain House and Harriet Beecher Stowe house are both there. The Hartford Antheneum is a very good museum. Interestingly enough, the Boston Globe Sunday travel section did a piece on CT travel that you should find interesting.

valeriesgallery

Thank you!! Do you know how the weather is this week?

Shandy1977

A day trip into NYC would be possible if you get an early start. I'd say the drive would be around 2.5 to 3 hours... maybe stay over one night at a good mid-week rate. A day trip to Boston would work, too. I also think the casinos (Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods) are not too far away and a lot of fun. I find Mohegan Sun much more entertaining, while Foxwoods is better for serious gamblers.

Ackislander

The Wadsworth Atheneum is one of the finest museums in the United States, with a world class collection and an adventurous director.

walkinaround

i would head to the litchfield hills - towns of litchfield, washington, and some others that i don't remember. short drive from hartford and a very nice area.

steviegene

Litchfield County.
See Litchfield, Washington, Warren, New Preston, Roxbury and Bridgewater. There are some cute shops and antique stores in Litchfield, Washington Depot and New Preston, and a drive around nearby Lake Waramug is beautiful. If you are into hiking, walk up to the "pinnacle" which overlooks the lake.

Great places for dinner or lunch:
Mayflower Inn, Washington - internationally known 5 star inn.
GW Tavern, Washington Depot - very cozy, with welcoming bar, real fireplace and excellent comfort-type food
Oliva's, New Preston - intimate atmosphere with eclectic cuisine.
Doc's, New Preston - BYOB romantic Italian restaurant on the lake. Great Brushetta
Hopkin's Inn - Overlooks the lake. German cuisine,

zootsi

Hartford is not really a tourist destination, but the Aheneum is quite impressive. As others have mentioned the Litchfield area is very pleasant, and surprisingly unspoiled.

stellablue

Other great museums in the area are the Hill-Stead museum in Farmington - lovely gardens and a great impressionist collection (a must-see in my opinion), and the Museum of American Art in New Britain. For arts and theater check out Hartford Stage, the Bushnell, and Theaterworks. U of Hartford and Trinity have some good music and lecture programs too. UCONN in Storrs has a many arts and theater options too.

If you are into outdoors, try a hike up to the Heublein tower on Talcott Mountain in Simsbury, or a walk at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington.

For sports, a New Britain Rock Cats game (minor league baseball) is a lot of fun.

For a tourist thing you could go to Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge MA (about 45 minutes away), or the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield (25 minutes away from Htfd)

emcash

It depends on your likes. The casinos are about 50 minutes away. Clinton outlets also about 50 minutes away polo, barneys, off 5th...). The norwich spa and inn is also about 50 minutes away.

As stated, the Wadsworth and the Hill-Stead are wonderful museums. Oh, and don't forget to sample some of the area's best restaurants--as good as many you will find in larger cities-- Peppercorns (hartford), Grants (west hartford) , Bricco (west hartford), Max Downtown (Hartford), Max Oyster bar (west Hartford) and others. Have fun!

valeriesgallery

For my first visit, this really (very great, and very cute) collegue of mine and I went to Yale. We just walked around the campus, walked to the water, and then hung out in the bookstore. I have 2 more trips. After looking at the map, I definitely want to go to Mystic, Connecticut (in honor of Mystic Pizza, the movie!!!) Thank you for the suggestions! I've printed them and will take them each time I go there! Muchas Gracias!!

cthoops

If you do go to Mystic, be sure to stop at Abbott's in Noank for a lobster roll. They open for the season next weekend, but will be weekends-only until Memorial Day weekend. Mr. cthoops and I have been eagerly awaiting the beginning of their season!

valeriesgallery

cthoops!!!! Hello and thank you for the suggestion!! I will be there on Thursday, so I'll probably miss out on your suggestion, this time, but feel free to suggest another, and if I get there later, I'll be sure to let you know!!

valeriesgallery

so far, all I did was Mystic Connecticut. We drove there, walked around and drove back. The people who were driving were more interested in drinking wine at Bennigan's than spending a nice day in Mystic.
Lovely area, yes!!