You know those green signs around Monroe that point you to the Webb Mountain Discovery Zone? Have you ever thought of following them? If you do, then you will discover an outdoor learning center featuring easy to walk trails with 28 interpretive signs, a self-directed scavenger hunt and a butterfly garden. The Discovery Zone focuses on how people and animals have used the land, in the past and present. But I can’t truly tell you what you will find, because the best part of the Discovery Zone is what you will discover. The truth is: no two strolls through the Discovery Zone are ever exactly…
Connecticut is full of many wonderful attractions, but one element we're lacking is a truly great city. The place that arguably comes closest to filling this void is New Haven. It has culture, art, a venerable university, and a diverse population of about 130,000. All of which are worth a trip, but one of the most important aspects of an outing to a bigger city in search of what you can’t find at home is ... shopping. And in that regard, the Elm City delivers. Here you can stroll through walkable neighborhoods and find numerous independent shops, conveniently grouped together, along with a …
For those who love the great outdoors, Connecticut offers a wide variety of natural wonders: from its beautiful beaches along the Long Island Sound to its rolling green hills that line the landscape of the northwest corner. And there is no shortage of state parks, forests and open spaces to hike. Perhaps one of the most well known areas in the state for hiking is Sleeping Giant State Park. Tucked into the corner of Hamden, and directly across the street from Quinnipiac University, the park offers hikers of all ages and abilities some 30 miles of trails, of varying difficulty and terrain, to …
On a crisp sunny day, a 45-minute ride through lush countryside will take you to a little gem of a museum just north of Kent. The Connecticut Museum of Mining and Mineral Science is adjacent to the Sloan Stanley Museum on Route 7, part of a larger campus that features early farm equipment and antique machinery, including three locomotives. Down to the left of the visitor’s information center, the Hubbard Hall of Mining occupies a large building with a variety of mineral, mining, and industrial exhibits and intriguing interactive displays. One of the biggest hits with youngsters is the “Jaws…
Connecticut may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of wine, but there is a long tradition of vinification here, extending back to Colonial days. (Those are grape vines on the State Seal, after all.) In the southeastern corner of the state, proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound results in a long, consistent growing season, ideal for producing European grapes such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. These wineries, six in New London County and one in Middlesex County, are all beneficiaries of that maritime microclimate, but each offers its own distinct …
In its railroad heyday from 1850-1950, Willimantic hosted 50 trains a day on three businessman special lines that traveled between New York and Boston on 6-hour trips, a decent time even today. All three lines – one Central Vermont and two New Haven – junctioned at Bridge Street off of Main Street by the Willimantic River. For the last 20 years, a group of avid railroaders who started from scratch have been nurturing a life-size museum on 45 acres near there that boasts a 60-foot-long, 19th century, hand-operated turntable, attached to a gorgeous roundhouse and an array of rolling stock on …
Even on a rainy Saturday, it’s worth cruising up the Connecticut River on a RiverQuest boat out of Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam and seeing some osprey, egrets, eagles and sprawling, rich folk houses. The sprawling houses aren’t as rare as the birds, of course, but you may enjoy the contrast of natural and flashy anyway. Capts. Mark and Mindy, who run the boat but also point out the attractions, natural and manmade, simply make the trip. “There goes a bass boat. He’s obviously chasing a very fast bass,” Capt. Mark says of the airborne racer passing us. We are slow to go by the yacht club…
Looking for a fun way to cool off during these hot, hazy days of summer? Maybe a tubing trip down the Farmington River is just what you need. Of course, you can always make a go of it with your own tube or kayak, but for safety and convenience, head to Satan’s Kingdom State Recreation Area, on Route 44 in New Hartford. Upon arrival, you park your car in their dirt parking lot, put on your old sneakers or water shoes and head over to a small trailer. After you sign a waiver form and pay the fee, an attendant will give you a specially designed river tube and life jacket. And away you go! With …
Niantic, a waterfront village of the town of East Lyme, is lazy in the best sense of the word. While many once-quiet beach communities have been taken over by tackiness and slick commercialism, Niantic remains a relaxing throw-back. Most attractions are concentrated in a walkable stretch of Main Street (Route 156); others are just a few minutes’ drive away. And it manages, remarkably, to appeal to pretty much everyone: stroll around for a few minutes and you’ll see groups of teenagers, families with small kids, couples, and people enjoying their solitude. Niantic beaches, like T-shirts, come …
With school out for the summer and the season's first heat wave in the rearview mirror, there's no better time to take advantage of all the outdoors have to offer. One activity the whole family can take part in, day or night, far away or right at home, as an expert or novice, and for little to no money is camping. And according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), camping has loads of benefits for kids. Outdoor play, the NWF reports, increases cognitive focus, encourages the use of imagination, makes for healthier children, leading to longer lifespans and healthier adult lives, and …
Nestled in the northwestern part of the state lies a unique family-owned nursery that has been in operation for more than 50 years. White Flower Farm is just over three miles from the center of Litchfield, in Morris, and offers myriad perennials, annuals, shrubs, bulbs, as well as advice and gardening tools. Although the nursery operates mainly as a mail-order company, it is open to the public and boasts roughly 5 acres of display gardens and a retail store on the property. What began as a country home in the 1930s for two writers, William Harris and Jane Grant, evolved into a gardening …
Are you searching for a family activity that will be fun for all ages? Then look no further than Bristol, home to the nation’s oldest family amusement park. Lake Compounce has something for everyone: For thrill-seekers, there are more than 50 rides and attractions, including longtime favorites like the Boulder Dash (voted one of the World’s Best Wooden Roller Coasters) and Zoomerang roller coasters, and Thunder n’ Lightning, which rapidly swings riders to heights of more than 90 feet. New this year is Rev-O-Lution, an adrenaline-pumping ride, spinning and rocking a full 360 degrees, high …
Woodbury is the quintessential New England town, with it's white-steepled churches, flag-lined Main Street and restored colonial homes. This beautiful town is a destination spot for antique lovers from all over the country. Although this town may look like a sleepy village, the people hanging their shingles here are anything but old fashioned. From vintage porcelain to 20th Century modern, the shops that line Main Street boast experts of in a range of specialties. The Shops One day is not enough to see all the shops that Woodbury has to offer. So before you go, check out a map and the …
Driving through the rolling hills of Litchfield County, there's a certain sense of history that isn't obvious in the more populated suburbs. Route 7 winds its way up the fertile Housatonic River valley, leaving behind the faster paced towns of Fairfield County and opening up to some pastoral views north of New Milford. Hiking and History One of the first pieces of Kent's history that travelers encounter is located a few miles south of the town center. Bulls Bridge is home to one of only three 19th century covered bridges remaining in Connecticut. The charming wooden bridge was originally …
With more than 60 square miles, Newtown is the state's fifth largest town. And nestled within this vast area is the village of Sandy Hook, a small hamlet sitting on the Pootatuck River. Sandy Hook's colorful past includes a fire hose factory, an opera house and a biker destination. Now, this village boasts unique shops, a few restaurants and a network of trails with beautiful views. Walking and Hiking Al's Trail spans more than 10 miles and runs right through Sandy Hook. This trail was created by Newtown residents brought together by a vision. Al Goodrich and others were inspired to create "a…
