The coastal New England State of Connecticut has a great mix of modern urbanism and reminders of days gone by. A place of history and beauty both natural and architectural, Connecticut is a great place to shop, eat or take in sights and activities that are educational, historical or scenic. At one of many Connecticut vacation home and condo rentals by owner, you can get as comfortable as you would at home and have a convenient springboard for all of the wide-ranging activities you'll have to choose from.
Things To See and Do In Connecticut
Take your family to Connecticut for vacation and you'll have many choices for your type of locale, from hills, fishing towns and farmland to art, history to metropolitan culture.
The old sailing port town of Mystic harkens back to its whaling ship days. With many original buildings, Mystic has preserved its history in a beautiful and educational way that is fun for the whole family. From great seafood to shops to real original whaling ships and cruises to an exceptional Aquarium, plus the Mystic Seaport Seamusic Festival, Mystic is filled with wondrous and charming activities and sights.
In the nearby town of Groton is a submarine base with one of the world's best submarine museums, featuring the first nuclear vessel. Also tour the first submarine ever to travel under the North Pole. Another great aquarium is the Maritime Aquarium on Long Island Sound in Norwalk. Year-round cruises allow visitors to study and greet animals in their own environment. Exhibits and an IMAX theater add to the fun and learning.
Art is everywhere in Connecticut. Fairfield has a world class theater company that presents original off-Broadway plays. Fairfield also has another of the state's many fascinating museums.
Hartford is a major cultural center. It offers Wadsworth Athenaeum (the first public art museum in the United States, boasting 50,000 pieces from ancient to contemporary, including the largest collection of Hudson River School paintings in the world,), Mark Twain house, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Bushnell Center for Performing Arts (with many popular Broadway productions stopping here), the old State House, and the Connecticut Freedom Trail, plus more museums, historical centers and theaters too numerous to mention..
Mark Twain wrote most of his books in Connecticut, and that home is now an elegantly restored Victorian mansion that still features some of Twain's personal possessions and a museum center, gift shop, and lecture series.
Another first, Hartford is home to the first publicly funded park in the U.S., Bushnell Park; walking enthusiasts will also love Elizabeth Park.
Stamford is close to the New York border and known for its antiquing. Gillette Castle in East Haddam is a 24-room castle built in 1921 and now a scenic 200-acre state park with hikes and a museum. Located on the Connecticut River, this is a stunning family spot.
Water makes of recreation in this coastal town. With 250 miles of ocean coastline, you can try deep sea fishing. Many charter boats are available. Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme is set on a beautiful beach on Long Island Sound, offering hiking, picnicking and swimming. The Thimball Islands of Long Island Sound are hundreds of islands that are mostly uninhabited, but cruises offer glimpses of much scenery, from dense woods to pink granite.
Connecticut is a major producer of maple syrup, and learning how it's made is a sweet and interesting activity. The maple tree sap flows in early spring, and at many places you can watch them be turned into maple syrup. You can also taste and buy!
Many people don't realize that Connecticut is an excellent skiing state. Downhill resorts throughout the western part of the state make great winter getaways; Nordic skiing is available as well.
Bring Your Family to Connecticut This Vacation
With urban arts centers, elegantly preserved New England history, and waterways from ocean to Sound to river, Connecticut is a top vacation destination. See it all from Connecticut vacation home and condo rentals by owner situated perfectly near these attractions. Affordability, convenience and privacy will help make exploring Connecticut you best vacation ever.
Interested in More Connecticut?
Check out nearby Coastal Connecticut , Mystic , Westbrook .
