Founded in 1636, Hartford is the capital of Connecticut and the state’s second-biggest city. This classic New England town is an invigorated spot full of history and boasting several attractions which make a short stopover a memorable experience. The downtown area is the place to stay as it offers a variety of good hotels and some exceptional restaurants which are located near major tourist draws.
There are a couple of key attractions to be visited in the otherwise unattractive Hartford, such as Mark Twain’s Victorian mansion, where he wrote many of his works including Huckleberry Finn. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art offers the chance to view thousands of artworks including pieces by masters such as Ruebens and Renoir. Architecture buffs will not want to miss Hartford’s Old State House as well as Constitution Plaza and the eye-catching granite and marble Capitol building.
If highbrow culture gets up your nose, head for the nearby, beautiful green spaces, including Elizabeth Park with its rose gardens, the 1914 Bushnell Park Carousel, and Colt Park. Daily noontime summer concerts and a farmers’ market downtown top the picture off. The entire family will take pleasure in visiting Six Flags New England theme park featuring the recently completed Hurricane Harbor water park. Better still, why not tax your budget at Foxwoods, New England|England’s largest casino.
Highlights
Wadsworth Atheneum: the first public art museum is the US has displayed special collections of 19th and 20th century paintings since 1842, including pieces by Rubens and Renoir.
Hartford Victorian Mansion: it was here that the mature author Mark Twain put seven of his major oeuvres down on paper, and a home-museum contains the author’s books and memorabilia.
Hartford’s Old State House: the oldest state house in the nation was designed in 1796 and is nowadays an information center providing guided tours, changing exhibitions, a museum of curiosities, and an American puppet theater.
The New England Air Museum: located in Windsor Locks only 15 minutes drive north of Hartford, the biggest aviation museum in the northeast has 80 aircraft on display.
Museum of Connecticut History: offers the chance to get up close to Colt rifles and revolvers and the desk on which the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Lincoln.