WEST HARTFORD

Noah Webster House (227 South Main St.)
This is the Colonial birthplace of the author of the first American dictionary. Tours are available. 860-521-5362

Sarah Whitman Hooker House(1237 New Britain Ave.)
The Sarah Whitman Hooker House has been authentically restored to depict three periods of early Connecticut architecture. 860-785-9549

The Children's Museum (950 Trout Brook Dr.)
This is a fabulous hands-on science environment for children. The campus includes a planetarium and nursery school. 860-231-2824

The University of Hartford (200 Bloomfield Ave.)
The University of Hartford is home to Division One basketball and soccer teams, the Museum of American Political Life, and diverse performances and lectures at the Lincoln Theater. 860-768-4100

West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square (Farmington Ave., Raymond Rd.,
South Main St. and LaSalle Rd.)
Enjoy top-notch restaurants and one-of-a-kind boutiques and specialty shops in this pedestrian-friendly town center.

Westfarms Mall (1500 New Britain Ave.)
Westfarms is the region’s premier shopping destination, featuring upscale retail names such as Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Nordstrom, as well as 160 other fine shops, restaurants, and department stores.
860-561-3024

Park Road
Park Road is a vintage neighborhood, where long-time family-owned businesses line pedestrian-friendly, brick-paved sidewalks. Visit the Playhouse on Park. Enjoy shopping the way it used to be before malls, chains, and outlets. And grab a burger at A.C. Petersen’s — one of West Hartford’s oldest family restaurants.

AVON

Farmington Valley Arts Center (25 Arts Center Ln.)
An exceptional arts-education resource for all ages, with regular classes and workshops taught by professional artists. In addition, they have a wonderful Gallery Shop and annual Christmas sale. 860-678-1867

The Pickin’ Patch (189 Nod Rd.)
Family-operated since 1666, the Pickin’ Patch offers acres of pick-your-own products, as well as a farm store for your convenience. 860-677-9552

The Governor’s Horse Guard (280 Arch Rd.)
The First Company Governor’s Horse Guard was founded in 1788 by Hartford veterans of the Revolutionary War and has been called into national service during various wars and conflicts over the years. Today, more than 60 men and women are members. Operating from a 139-acre facility off Route 176, troop drills open to the public are held every Thursday, and the group appears at a wide variety of parades and event, as well as being a prominent part of the Governor’s inaugural ceremonies every four years.
860-673-3525

CANTON

Collinsville Historic District (Rte. 179 at Collinsville Center)
Spend a delightful afternoon exploring an intact 19th-century mill village that has been sensitively adapted to our era. The old Collins Axe Factory (860-693-0615; antiquesonthefarmington.com) is home to over 50 antiques shops and studios. Up the street a bit, LaSalle Market (104 Main St., lasallemarket.com; 860-693-8010) is known for its hearty breakfasts, legendary sandwiches, and informal dinners. The Canton Historical Museum (11 Front St., 860-693-2793; cantonmuseum.org), with its interesting collection of local artifacts, and historic buildings like Collinsville Savings and Canton Town Hall line the streets. Bring your bike to enjoy the six-mile stretch of the Farmington River Greenway that goes through the village.

EAST HADDAM

Goodspeed Opera House (6 Main St.)
Built in 1876, the Goodspeed Opera House opened in October of 1877, originally staging comedy and high drama performances. However, during WWI it was used as a militia base, later becoming a general store and finally a Connecticut Highway department storage depot before Goodspeed Musicals purchased it in 1959. After a total refurbishment, the theatre was dedicated in June of 1963. Today, the opera house is renowned worldwide for its musical theatre during the April-to-December season. The beautiful old theatre building on the banks of the Connecticut River is not only treasured by locals but beloved by audiences far and wide. And enjoy Goodspeed Musicals at the Norma Terris Theater (33 North Main St. in Chester).
Offices 860-873-8664
Box Office 860-873-8668

ESSEX

The Connecticut River Museum (67 Main St.)
The old Steamboat Dock in Essex Village was built in 1879 and is home to the Connecticut River Museum — one of Connecticut’s most treasured resources. This National Register site attracts folks interested in the long, proud history of the Connecticut River, its role in early colonization, and its impact on the state’s evolution to the modern day. The museum, open year-round, tells that story through ever-changing exhibits, activities, and programs. If you visit between mid-January and mid-March, bring your binoculars, warm mittens, and earmuffs — then take one of the Winter Eagle Watch cruises sponsored by the Connecticut Audubon Society, which leave the dock on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. Book passage by calling Connecticut Audubon EcoTravel at 800-996-8747. All cruises are $30 per person. The Connecticut River is a National Heritage River and listed by The Nature Conservancy as A Last Great Place. 860-767-8269

FARMINGTON

Hill-Stead Museum (35 Mountain Rd)
An outstanding example of Colonial Revival domestic architecture, Hill-Stead Museum houses the Pope family’s collection of Impressionist paintings by Monet, Manet, Cassatt, Degas, and Whistler, as well as antique furniture, rugs, and decorative arts. Hill-Stead also sponsors regular educational and cultural events, including the very popular Sunken Garden Poetry Festival held each summer. 860-677-4787

Stanley-Whitman Museum (37 High St)
This National Historic landmark was built in 1720 and restored to depict life in 18th century Farmington. There is programming for families and children, and its Sampler Gift Shop sells educational materials, toys, and books related to 18th century life. 860-677-9222

Day-Lewis Museum (158 Main St., rear)
The Day-Lewis Museum offers a small but very impressive collection of Native American artifacts. 860-678-1645

Lewis-Walpole Library (154 Main St.)
This library is a non-circulating research library for 18th-century English studies that was bequeathed to Yale University by W.S. Lewis, who spent his life collecting the letters and works of Horace Walpole. It has the most extensive collection of English 18th Century satirical prints in the United States. 860-677-2140

GLASTONBURY

The Welles-Shipman-Ward House (972 Main St.)
This mansion house, as it was known in the 18th century, is traditionally believed to have been built by Col. Thomas Welles as a gift to his son, John, on the occasion of his marriage in 1753 to Jerusha Edwards of Hartford, a niece of Gov. William Pitkin III. John Welles owned the John Welles and Co. shipyard and merchant trading business located on the Connecticut River. George Welles, second son of John and Jerusha, inherited the property and sold the “house, barn, cowhouse, and other buildings” to Stephen Shipman, Jr. in 1789. The Shipman family owned and occupied the house for over 125 years. In 1929, Mrs. Berdena Hart Ward, wife of Dr. James Ward, purchased the property, decorating and furnishing the house in an English country style. The house is now owned and maintained by the Historical Society of Glastonbury. Please call for tours and events. 860-633-6890

Museum on the Green (Corner of Main and Hubbard St.)
The Historical Society of Glastonbury occupies the original Town Hall. Nearby, the town’s Historical District is a showcase of 18th and 19th century homes, and the original Town Green hosts the Art Guild’s annual art show and, in the summer, Concerts on the Green and the annual Antique Festival on the Green. Native American, agricultural, and industrial exhibits chronicle the town’s early history. Documents and genealogical materials are also available for research. The historical society is open for tours. Please call for more information. 860-633-6890

Cotton Hollow Preserve (493 Hopewell Rd.)
Roaring Brook runs through this preserve, providing some of the best white water in the state. Three miles of Class IV water, with about a dozen significant rapids, is everything the white-water enthusiast could wish for. In addition, the park is a hiker’s delight with several paths that wind along the brook to the impressive ruins of an 18th and 19th century industrial center. Along the way, the carefully protected habitat of many New England plants and animals offers another insight into the beauty of this diverse natural area.

The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry (289 Meadow Rd., Rte. 160)
This is the nation’s oldest continuously operating ferry. Since 1655, it has served as a vital link between Rocky Hill and Glastonbury. The first ferry, a small raft, was pushed across the Connecticut River with poles. Today’s craft, an open flatboat, is propelled by a diesel-powered towboat. Historically, the ferry was operated by local families, but it is now owned by the State of Connecticut and operated by the Department of Transportation. The ferry operates Monday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May 1 through October 31. The cost is $3 per vehicle, $2 per commuter, and $1 for walk-ons and bicyclists. 860-335-5918

Belltown Hill Orchards Farm Market and Bakery (483 Matson Hill Rd., S. Glastonbury)
This third-generation working farm grows 150 acres of fresh fruit, including cherries, blueberries, apples, peaches, and more. Enjoy apple cider donuts, pies, and crisps from the bakery, along with farm-made applesauce, maple syrup, and native honey. There are free tractor-drawn hayrides to PYO fields on weekends. And they make “Glastonbury’s Best Apple Fritters.” Open 7 days a week, Memorial Day through New Year’s Eve; weekends only between January and February. 860-633-2789

Dondero Orchards LLC (529 Woodlast St., S. Glastonbury)
Mountain View Farms (3582 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury)
Two locations offer apples, peaches, pears, plums, blueberries, strawberries, nectarines, raspberries, blackberries, rhubarb, basil, dill, parsley, lettuce, peas, summer and winter squash, asparagus, beans, cabbage, corn, eggplant, onions, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, fruit pies, cookies, breads, shortcakes, and award-winning pesto. PYO and already-picked items are available at both locations. Open April through December: spring and fall from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; summer from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and winter from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
860-659-0294

E. Draghi & Sons Farms (80 Main St., S. Glastonbury)
This farm stand features apples, pears, peaches, plums, blueberries, strawberries, nectarines, raspberries, blackberries, herbs, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, peas, beans, summer and winter squash, asparagus, eggplant, onions, potatoes, peppers, annual flowers, and perennial flowers, Christmas trees, cemetery arrangements, wreaths, apple cider, eggs, cheese, honey, canned goods, and Stonewall Kitchen products. Open early spring through Christmas Eve from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bakery opens daily at 7 a.m. 860-633-2197

Old Cider Mill / Riverview Farms (1287 Main St.)
The Old Cider Mill features natural cider, apples, hot apple fritters, pumpkins, and fall decor. Their country store offers local honey, jams, hand-crafted soaps, lotions, farm books, CBD oil, and gifts. They hold special vendor fairs and a Christmas Market. And they have a petting zoo with baby chicks to hold. Open seasonally from the weekend before Labor Day to Halloween. 860-657-9197

Rose’s Berry Farm LLC (295 Matson Hill Rd., S. Glastonbury, The Farm Stand, 200 Hebron Ave.)
Pick-your-own blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, pumpkins, and Christmas trees in season at the main farm — or browse pre-picked selections at the farm stand, along with honey, maple syrup, homemade jam, vinegar, salsa, salad dressings, baked goods, hanging and potted plants, gifts and other specialty items. Enjoy Breakfast-With-A-View on the farm on Sundays only between Father’s Day and the end of October from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farm stand is open May through October. Pick-your-own June through December. Please call for daily hours. 860-633-7467

Scotts Orchard and Nursery, LLC (1838 New London Tpke.)
Pick-your-own apples, peaches, pears, and plums in season. Enjoy locally grown corn, berries, and fresh veggies all summer. In the fall, farm-grown pumpkins and mums are featured. And the garden center offers annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, supplies, and more. Landscaping services available. Open year-round 9-5. 860-633-8681

GRANBY

McLean Game Refuge (Salmon Brook St.)
Consisting of over 20 miles of well-marked trails with a wide variation of terrain, there’s a footpath here for everyone. Trails are easily accessible from two main entrances. The Route 10 entrance is located one mile south of Rtes. 202/10 and Rt. 20 in Granby Center. To reach the west entrance, take Rte. 20 West to Barndoor Hills Rd. A picnic area is available at this entrance. 860-653-7869

HARTFORD

The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts (166 Capitol Ave.)
The Bushnell features Broadway shows, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, international performers, Broadway tours, and a wonderful travel series. Office 860-987-6000
Box Office 860-987-5900

Charter Oak Cultural Center (21 Charter Oak Ave.)
Built in 1876 as Connecticut’s first synagogue, it is now a venue dedicated to the exploration of world cultures through the visual and performing arts. 860-310-2580

Charter Oak Landing (50 Reserve Rd.)
his is the place to go for daily riverboat cruises. 860-713-3131

Connecticut Historical Society (1 Elizabeth St.)
The CHS museum galleries feature interactive exhibits and over three million manuscripts on Connecticut history. 860-236-5621

Connecticut Science Center (250 Columbus Blvd.)
The Connecticut Science Center is perfect for kids, with highly interactive educational science exhibits on a wide range of topics, from physics to health to geology. See a 3D movie, try inventing something at the hands-on Idea Generator — or leave the kids at home and enjoy a night of food and music at the Liquid Lounge. 860-SCIENCE (860-724-3623)

Elizabeth Park (Prospect and Asylum Aves.)
Elizabeth Park is the country’s first municipally owned rose garden, with more than 15,000 bushes representing 900 varieties. Peak bloom is in late June, making it a popular spot for wedding photos. Greenhouses are open to public. And there is a skating pond in winter, as well as an excellent restaurant. 860-231-9443

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (77 Forest St.)
Former home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and 30 other books, the Center, located at Nook Farm with the Mark Twain House, is carefully restored with period art, memorabilia and beautiful grounds. Guided tours are available. 860-522-9258

Hartford Stage (50 Church St.)
Featuring live professional theater in downtown Hartford, this Tony Award-winning theater produces original works as well as adaptations of classics. Office 860-525-5601 Box Office 860-527-5151

Theaterworks (233 Pearl St.)
Theaterworks presents cutting-edge productions in an intimate setting. 860-527-7838

The Wadsworth Atheneum (600 Main St.)
This is the nation’s oldest public museum. Within this grand and historic building are significant collections of American and international art and major touring exhibitions. 860-278-2670

The XL Center (1 Civic Center Plaza)
This 16,000-seat sports and performance venue features the Connecticut Whale (AHL) hockey, UConn Basketball (men and women), skating shows, and big-time touring concerts. 877-522-8499

Xfinity Theatre (61 Savitt Way)
This outdoor music performance venue with a capacity of 30,000 attracts the biggest touring acts.
Box Office 203-265-1501
Premium Seating Sales 203-949-7715

Mark Twain House (351 Farmington Ave.)
This Victorian mansion, once home to Hartford’s most famous citizen, has an impressive collection of Twain memorabilia, as well as award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns’ biography of the author. 860-247-0998

Old State House (800 Main St.)
Designed by Charles Bulfinch and built in 1796, this is the oldest state house in the nation. Guided tours are available. 860-522-6766

Real Art Ways (56 Arbor St.)
Real Art Ways is popular for its contemporary art, theater, and films. 860-232-1006

Trinity College (300 Summit St.)
Well known for being one of the country’s finest liberal arts colleges, Trinity College is set on a 100-acre campus “with classic collegiate architecture,” where Carillon Concerts in summer, film classics at Cinestudio, and exhibits at the Austin Arts Center draw Hartford residents and visitors alike. 860-297-2000

MIDDLETOWN

Wesleyan University (45 Wyllys Ave.)
Founded in 1831, Wesleyan University is one of the country’s oldest Methodist institutions of higher education. Twenty-seven hundred undergrads and about 400 graduate students share the campus and contribute to Middletown’s contemporary college-town atmosphere. A walking tour of the campus reveals architectural treasures that include the Washington Street Greek Revival Russell House fronted by massive Corinthian columns. The Davison Art Center’s pink Mediterranean façade (circa 1843) rubs shoulders with Queen Anne, Tudor, and brownstone examples of the gracious evolution of the campus and the city. Henry Bacon, who also designed the Lincoln Memorial, designed the Olin Library, built in 1928 on Church Street. 860-685-2000

Main Street
Wesleyan University and its students set the tone and pace for a Main Street and downtown that have undergone a dramatic renaissance in recent years. It’s an easy walk from campus to book, clothing, and jewelry stores that cater to every fashion taste, as well as gift and card shops, home decorating and framing shops, a hardware store, a sporting goods emporium, a hobby shop, a newsstand, restaurants, and all the essentials and pleasures necessary to everyday life. Art exhibits, museums, lectures, and the annual Connecticut River Regatta round out an unending list of things to do.

Lyman Orchards (3 Lyman Rd., Middlefield Apple Barrel Market 32 Reeds Gap Rd., Middlefield; Pick Your Own Orchard 105 South Street, Middlefield; Golf Club 70 Lyman Road, Middlefield; Golf Center 700 Main Street, Middlefield)
Generations of Connecticut families and visitors have made Lyman Orchards a year-round destination for great food, family fun, and championship golf. Starting in May, enjoy delicious breakfast fare in a beautiful country setting. Open weekend mornings through early October. Homestead, Apple Barrel Market, and Pick Your Own Orchard 860-342-8195 (PYO Hotline 860-349-6015); Golf Club 860-200-1537; Golf Center 860-356-3558

Kidcity Children’s Museum (119 Washington St.)
Kidcity Children’s Museum celebrates a child’s natural curiosity through hands-on play space where children ages one through eight are welcome. It is located in the 1835 Camp-Sterns House, which was moved 400 feet down Washington Street, renovated and enlarged — then filled with one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits.
860-347-0495

Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate (421 Wadsworth St.)
This was the summer residence of Colonel Wadsworth, who was an authority on the emerging science of forestry and conservation. Designed by the New York architecture firm Hoppin and Koen, it rivaled the “cottages” of Newport, RI. In the late 1990s, Middletown citizens funded a rehabilitation of the mansion and immediate grounds. Today, it’s a favorite venue for weddings, celebrations, and cultural activities. The public is invited to walk through the parkland at any time. Tours of the mansion are held on Wednesdays only.
860-347-1064

NEW BRITAIN

New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington St.) For an outstanding collection of early through contemporary American works, this is the place to go.
860-229-0257

SIMSBURY

Tariffville Gorge (Rte. 315 to 189 East to 187 North)
To visit the Tarriffville Gorge, cross the river on 187, take your first right on Spoonville, a right onto Tunxis at the bottom of hill, then go under the Rte. 187 bridge to the foot trail that leads to the beach. The most challenging whitewater on the Farmington River, the Gorge has hosted national canoe and kayak competitions, including Olympic trials.

Heublein Tower (Rte. 185 on Talcott Mountain)
This 165-foot-tall structure atop Talcott Mountain is the Valley’s most visible landmark. Now part of Talcott Mountain State Park, it was built as a summer retreat between 1911 and 1914 by Gilbert Heublein of Heublein, Inc., distillers. The tower has been renovated and is open to the public. It’s a nice 30-minute hike up with gorgeous Valley views. 860-242-1158

Tulmeadow Farm (255 Farms Village Rd.)
This has been an operating dairy farm since 1786 and today produces what may, in fact, be the world’s best ice cream! 860-658-1430

International Skating Center of Connecticut (1375 Hopmeadow St. Rte. 10, north of town center)
Oksana Baiul, Victor Petrenko, and Ekaterina Gordeeva all trained here — and so do lots of up-and-coming skating stars. Skating lessons, community skating, and hockey are going on all the time, and there are regular shows by the stars, too. 860-651-5400

Phelps Tavern Museum and Homestead (800 Hopmeadow St.)
Expect imaginative tours and presentations, as well as a special exhibit that uses period rooms and interactive galleries to re-create the tavern’s use as an inn from 1786 to 1849. And be sure to visit the museum store. 860-658-2500

Rosedale Farms & Vineyard (25 East Weatogue St.)
This family farm has been growing good things since 1920. Today, fresh produce, fruits, flowers, and crop-share memberships continue the tradition. Award-winning wines make Vineyard-hosted tastings special events, and the Chef-to-Farm Dinners prepared by Max’s Oyster Bar in June, July, and August are wonderful. A perfect setting for a party or wedding — and don’t miss the fall corn maze, pumpkin patch, and hayrides.
860-651-3926


WETHERSFIELD

Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum (211 Main St.)
The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum consists of three restored 18th-century homes that showcase furniture and decorative arts from 1690 to 1840. The homes bring to life the world of Joseph Webb, merchant (1752); Silas Deane, Revolutionary diplomat (c. 1766); and Isaac Stevens, leather worker (1788). The Webb and Deane houses are National Historic Landmarks. In fact, it was the Webb House where, in 1781, General Washington met with Compte de Rochambeau to make final plans for the battle of Yorktown. These homes are part of a larger historic district known as Old Wethersfield — Connecticut’s first permanent English settlement, with over 200 houses that date from the 17th to 19th centuries and 50 that pre-date the Revolution. The museum is owned and operated by the Colonial Dames and is open from May 1 to October 31, Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and November 1 through April 30, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Saturdays and Sundays from November through April and most national and religious holidays. Admission is charged. 860-529-0612

The Buttolph-Williams House and Broad Street Green (249 Broad St.)
A short distance away from the Main Street houses on Broad Street is the Buttolph-Williams House (c. 1715), which is considered the best-restored house of its period in the area. It evokes the influence of medieval English architecture and features authentic period furnishings. The Broad Street Green — two blocks wide and two miles long — is lined with handsome old homes, and it was here in 1781 that General Washington assembled his troops in preparation for the battle of Yorktown. The house is open May 1 through October 31, Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is an admission fee of $5 per adult, $4 per child/senior/student/active military member, or $15 per family. The building is owned by the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society and is managed by the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. 860-529-0612

Wethersfield Museum and Visitor Center at the Keeney Memorial (200 Main St)
“Legendary People, Ordinary Lives,” is the museum’s permanent exhibition that details the history of Wethersfield. It features over 100 artifacts, interactive components for visitors, and information on historic sites to visit in the area. The exhibition galleries showcase local artisans, artists, craft guilds, and temporary society-mounted exhibitions. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Gallery admission is $3 for adults; it is free to Wethersfield residents, society members, and children 16 and under. The Wethersfield Visitors’ Center, located in the front of the Keeney Memorial, is fully accessible from the rear parking lot and elevator. Visitor facilities are located here and information on museums, historic sites, local shops, restaurants, accommodations, and travel may be obtained here. It is open the same hours as the Wethersfield Museum. 860-529-7656

The Wethersfield Historical Society’s Old Academy Library (150 Main St.)
Over 200 researchers visit this library every year seeking their genealogical roots or researching Wethersfield history. In addition, volunteers respond to written inquiries. Located in the 1804 Old Academy building, its shelves contain some 1000 books, local and regional histories, rare books and manuscripts, account books, logs, journals, newspapers, maps, charts, and an extensive photographic history of town events, buildings, and people. The library is open year-round, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by appointment. 860-529-7656