Explore Connecticut

Connecticut measures only 110 miles from east to west and 70 miles from north to south, but the state is packed with amazing things to see and do.

In Hartford, that includes perennial gems like the Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe homes, the Wadsworth Atheneum and the CT Science Center, and more active jaunts like a visit to Launch Trampoline Park, or a walk in Elizabeth Park’s rose gardens. Meanwhile, the new Hartford Athletics professional soccer team that opened its season playing at Rentschler Field in East Hartford moved to the state capital in July, following $13 million in renovations to the city-owned Dillon Stadium.

These are just a few examples of the state’s attractions. Together, they help to drive Connecticut’s tourism sector, which pumps approximately $14.7 billion into the economy annually and supports an estimated 82,688 jobs. Visitors come to the state from across the continent and around the world, taking in its gorgeous natural scenery, historic landmarks, and cultural offerings ranging from theater, opera, ballet and concerts to nationally ranked museums and art galleries.

The state’s Office of Tourism website (www.ctvisit.com) tells a huge part of the story. It details some of the diverse things that visitors and residents alike can enjoy in Connecticut, offering ideas for active adventures like biking, hiking, kayaking and whitewater rafting; culinary adventures; rest and relaxation (think a picnic by a waterfall or a stroll through a vineyard); and family fun, whether it’s touring the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine or coming face-to-snout with beluga whales.

The southeastern part of the state is a huge draw for tourists, anchored by the casinos at Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun, along with Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium.

Foxwoods, owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, is one of the largest resort casinos in North America, featuring six casinos, posh hotels, world-renowned spas, upscale and fast-service restaurants, and a huge retail outlet segment. There are numerous activities for children and adults alike, including target games, golf, and gas-powered go-karts. One of Connecticut’s largest employers, Foxwoods has hosted more than 330 million visitors since 1992 and contributed more than $4 billion in slot revenue payments to the state over the past 25 years.

Mohegan Sun, located just minutes away, is a feast for the senses, with its distinctive Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall themed décor. Boasting a 180,000-square-foot Casino of the Earth, a 119,000-square-foot Casino of the Sky, and more than 160 table games, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest gaming complexes in the world. Guests can enjoy luxury hotel accommodations, shopping and world-class cuisine, a family entertainment facility, a planetarium, two wellness spas, and spacious meeting facilities. Its three entertainment venues attract some of today’s most famous performers and play host to major sporting events, including Mohegan Sun’s own WNBA team, the Connecticut Sun, and lacrosse team, the New England Black Wolves.

At Mystic Seaport, America’s leading maritime museum, visitors can explore the history of the country’s seafaring past. The 19-acre site includes a working shipyard, a recreated New England coastal village, and more than 500 historic water craft. The museum complex, staffed by historians, craftspeople, storytellers and musicians – many of them wearing costumes of the era – draws more than 284,000 visitors each year from all over the world.

Mystic Aquarium offers fun of a different sort – the chance to see a variety of aquatic creatures up close and personal. It is one of just three U.S. aquariums to house Stellar sea lions and the only facility with Beluga whales in New England. Other attractions include exhibits of the endangered African penguin, seals and fish, a shark and ray touch pool, a 4D theater, and a live sea lion show.

Greater New Haven is another popular tourist destination. Part of the famed Yale University, the Yale Peabody Museum is “one of the oldest and largest university-based natural history museums, with more than 13 million objects … representing more than 4 billion years of geological, biological, and human history,” according to the museum’s website. There, visitors can see huge dinosaur skeletons, rare insect and plant specimens, Babylonian and other anthropological artifacts, minerals and meteorites, and more. New Haven is also home to the Yale University Art Gallery, the Yale Center for British Art, and the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

The region, situated near the coast, is just one of the many Connecticut locales offering visitors a myriad of water-based activities, from swimming on the state’s sandy beaches and camping in state parks to taking theme-based cruises on Long Island Sound. Fresh seafood is abundant, and live musical performances, indoors and out, abound.

The northern border of the state has its own unique attractions. Located in East Granby, Old New-Gate is the oldest surviving state prison in the nation. The prison was first a copper mine in 1707, and it has a rich history that includes housing Tories during revolutionary times, and at other times a WWI tank and a caged bear. Museum assistant Morgan Bengel said the prisoners lived in the mines but did no mining because it was feared that putting mining tools in the hands of prisoners was a bad idea.

The 45-acre site includes a prison yard, guard house, and four standing ruins. Recently renovated, it has become a popular tourist draw, and is also used for square dancing and outdoor performances by the local theater guild.

Other attractions unique to Connecticut include the 100-year-old castle in East Haddam built for eccentric actor William Gillette, the Florence Griswold Center in Old Lyme where American Impressionism got its start, and Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, host to original tracks from 60 million years ago.

Many of Connecticut’s attractions are pet-friendly, including hotels and bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and shopping venues, like Evergreen Square in South Windsor. The Cascades at Lake Mohegan in Fairfield is listed as one of the top 10 dog-friendly trails in the world.

Outdoor activity opportunities can be found throughout the state. Ziplines, water sports, and mountain biking are enjoyed at venues such as Powder Ridge in Middlefield, Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park in Portland, and Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown.

Those looking for a special-interest adventure that allows them to explore many parts of Connecticut may enjoy following one of the specialty trails described on the Office of Tourism web site. There are trails for those who love wine, signature cocktails, pizza, or burgers and brews. Other trails are geared to lovers of antiques, art, barns, bed and breakfasts, bicycling, chocolate, chowder, and even dinosaurs.

The Connecticut Beer Trail connects the state with countless places to enjoy craft beers, from Broad Brook Brewing Company in the heart of the tobacco valley to Stony Creek Brewery in Branford (with a second location just opened at Foxwoods last fall), and Two Roads Brewing Company in Stafford, which recently opened a $15 million addition called Area 2 to create experimental brews.

History buffs will enjoy the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, the largest native American museum in the world. Other indigenous sites include the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, CT, featuring an Algonkian village and a just-added escape room that teaches survival skills from the 1500s.

A newly discovered native American fort along the Norwalk River is being excavated, and artifacts including pottery, Dutch-made glass beads, and arrow points will likely be added to exhibits at the University of Connecticut.

An intact palisade from the 1630s was recently unearthed on the property of the historic Webb-Deane-Stevens house in Old Wethersfield. “This is the earliest archaeological evidence of English settlement in Connecticut,” senior archaeologist Sarah Sportman said, dubbing the site the Plymouth Colony of the state.

Full steam ahead

Although Connecticut’s tourism industry is a huge economic driver, neighboring states spend nearly twice as much on funding and advertising their arts, culture, and entertainment attractions. Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin) would like to change that. The Blue-Ribbon Panel on Tourism he launched last fall has submitted several recommendations to boost the sector.

One idea is to market the state nationally by promoting attractions that are unique to Connecticut. Another suggestion includes putting www.CTVisit.com on state license plates.

The panel has also recommended the use of extra funding mechanisms to support tourism, updating Connecticut’s tourism branding, and improving transportation infrastructure so that people can get around more easily. Other recommendations include creating a five-year strategic tourism plan, funding five new regional marketing organizations, and easing state Department of Transportation restrictions on attractions’ wayfinding signage.

Aresimowicz has said that tourism “should not be simply viewed as a cost but as an investment in our economy that creates jobs and helps pay for the programs and services vital to all our residents.”