Places in Downtown Hartford
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art – Founded in 1842, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continually-operating public art museum in the United States. It’s a great art museum with Van Gogh's, Monet's, and great revolutionary era art. They have more than just paintings and sculptures though including a collection of Colt guns, a recreated colonial era house, and a Coney Island art exhibit which is pretty unique. And FYI, students get in free.
Connecticut State Capitol– Take a tour of the Connecticut Capital Building.
Mark Twain House – The 1874 Mark Twain House in Hartford was the author’s residence for 17 years and is where he penned some of his most famous works including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Twain’s Gilded Age mansion is a must see for its exotic Louis Comfort Tiffany designed interiors.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center – The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark that was once the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Connecticut Science Center -A really cool museum for family overlooking the Connecticut river. Explore the solar system, dig for dinosaur bones, see yourself in 360 degress, build a race cart, get up-close and personal with native Connecticut creatures in the marine touch tank or watch science come alive in the state-of-the-art 3D movie theater.
Old State House – Built in 1796, the original seat of the state legislature is now a historical landmark & museum.
Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts – An off broadway performing arts center. I have seen Book of Mormon here and it is a stunning playhouse and theater.
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art – Founded in 1842, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continually-operating public art museum in the United States. It’s a great art museum with Van Gogh's, Monet's, and great revolutionary era art. They have more than just paintings and sculptures though including a collection of Colt guns, a recreated colonial era house, and a Coney Island art exhibit which is pretty unique. And FYI, students get in free.
Connecticut State Capitol– Take a tour of the Connecticut Capital Building.
Mark Twain House – The 1874 Mark Twain House in Hartford was the author’s residence for 17 years and is where he penned some of his most famous works including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Twain’s Gilded Age mansion is a must see for its exotic Louis Comfort Tiffany designed interiors.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center – The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark that was once the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Connecticut Science Center -A really cool museum for family overlooking the Connecticut river. Explore the solar system, dig for dinosaur bones, see yourself in 360 degress, build a race cart, get up-close and personal with native Connecticut creatures in the marine touch tank or watch science come alive in the state-of-the-art 3D movie theater.
Old State House – Built in 1796, the original seat of the state legislature is now a historical landmark & museum.
Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts – An off broadway performing arts center. I have seen Book of Mormon here and it is a stunning playhouse and theater.
Outside Hartford
Mystic - Mystic Seaport is a recreation of an historical seaport village and a major nautical museum in the United States.
From CTVisit.com: "Mystic is filled with family attractions and lets kids of all ages have fun. Mystic Aquarium, is the place to discover whales, penguins, sea lions and other marine animals. The aquarium features a multimillion-dollar Titanic - 12,450 Feet Below exhibit that takes guests on a journey to new depths of discovery through the eyes of the team that found Titanic.
The nation's leading maritime museum, Mystic Seaport, brings visitors back to the 19th century with guided tours of waterfront tall ships, Civil War reenactments, one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country and a planetarium. Visitors can climb aboard the Seaport’s beautifully restored Charles W. Morgan whaleship, which was built and launched in 1841. The Morgan is now America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat after being relaunched on July 21, 2013."
Casinos – From CTVisiit.com: "Whether its Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut’s casinos represent two of the largest casino destinations in the world – from gaming and 24/7 top entertainers, boutique shopping, fine dining, signature spas and golf facilities."
West Hartford – Is a beautiful small town downtown area just west of Hartford. It has a nice main street and an amazing new shopping area called Blue Black Square, if you want a more trendy area to walk, shop, eat, and explore be sure to check it out.
Pepe’s Pizza – GO HERE!!! Considered by virtually every major publication to be the best pizza in the world this is New Haven pizza at its finest. Fortunately for you they have locations all over the state including two only 10 min from Hartford (West Hartford and Manchester). Eat here or you haven’t been to Connecticut. I’ll leave you with this quote from The Daily Meal to convince you. "There are only three pizza places on the planet: Sally's, Pepe, and Modern, all in New Haven,” confided director Gorman Bechard, who is working on a pizza documentary Pizza, A Love Story. “People have dragged me to pizza joints all over the country and all it does is leave me with a horrible sadness and a feeling of pity for these poor people who really have no clue as to what amazing pizza is."
College Campuses
UConn- In Storrs CT about 25 min east of Hartford. A breathtaking country campus were you will find rolling hills, stone buildings, and more national championship trophies then you know what to do with. A new downtown was just built but the real reason to come is the architecture, scenery, and to see the Basketball Capital of the World.
Yale - If you go to New Haven go to Yale. Buildings and art that predate America, it really is a sight to see.
Mystic - Mystic Seaport is a recreation of an historical seaport village and a major nautical museum in the United States.
From CTVisit.com: "Mystic is filled with family attractions and lets kids of all ages have fun. Mystic Aquarium, is the place to discover whales, penguins, sea lions and other marine animals. The aquarium features a multimillion-dollar Titanic - 12,450 Feet Below exhibit that takes guests on a journey to new depths of discovery through the eyes of the team that found Titanic.
The nation's leading maritime museum, Mystic Seaport, brings visitors back to the 19th century with guided tours of waterfront tall ships, Civil War reenactments, one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country and a planetarium. Visitors can climb aboard the Seaport’s beautifully restored Charles W. Morgan whaleship, which was built and launched in 1841. The Morgan is now America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat after being relaunched on July 21, 2013."
Casinos – From CTVisiit.com: "Whether its Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut’s casinos represent two of the largest casino destinations in the world – from gaming and 24/7 top entertainers, boutique shopping, fine dining, signature spas and golf facilities."
West Hartford – Is a beautiful small town downtown area just west of Hartford. It has a nice main street and an amazing new shopping area called Blue Black Square, if you want a more trendy area to walk, shop, eat, and explore be sure to check it out.
Pepe’s Pizza – GO HERE!!! Considered by virtually every major publication to be the best pizza in the world this is New Haven pizza at its finest. Fortunately for you they have locations all over the state including two only 10 min from Hartford (West Hartford and Manchester). Eat here or you haven’t been to Connecticut. I’ll leave you with this quote from The Daily Meal to convince you. "There are only three pizza places on the planet: Sally's, Pepe, and Modern, all in New Haven,” confided director Gorman Bechard, who is working on a pizza documentary Pizza, A Love Story. “People have dragged me to pizza joints all over the country and all it does is leave me with a horrible sadness and a feeling of pity for these poor people who really have no clue as to what amazing pizza is."
College Campuses
UConn- In Storrs CT about 25 min east of Hartford. A breathtaking country campus were you will find rolling hills, stone buildings, and more national championship trophies then you know what to do with. A new downtown was just built but the real reason to come is the architecture, scenery, and to see the Basketball Capital of the World.
Yale - If you go to New Haven go to Yale. Buildings and art that predate America, it really is a sight to see.