Manchester, CT

1. Wickham Park

• What is Wickham Park?
  • Wickham Park is a 250-acre park featuring themed gardens, ponds, woodlands, sports facilities, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
• What events and activities take place at Wickham Park?
  • The park hosts a variety of events, including gatherings, cross country races, car shows, garden tours, disc golf tournaments, fundraising walks, receptions, and weddings. In December, visitors can enjoy Santa’s Workshop.
• What themed gardens are in Wickham Park?
  • The park has numerous wheelchair-accessible gardens with different themes, including:
    • English Garden
    • Lotus Garden
    • Italian Shrine
    • Oriental Garden
    • Sensory Garden
    • Irish Garden
    • Wetlands Garden
    • Scottish Garden
    • Cabin Garden with Amphitheater
• Are there food and drink options at Wickham Park?
  • Yes, a concession stand operates on weekends, offering drinks and snacks.

1329 West Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT 06040, Phone: 860-528-0856

2. Case Mountain

• What is Case Mountain?
  • Case Mountain is a 600-acre recreational area located in the southeastern part of Manchester, CT. It consists of both watershed land and open space.
• Is Case Mountain open to visitors?
  • Yes, the land surrounding the reservoir is open to visitors for recreational activities.
• What is the difference between Case Mountain and the forest area?
  • While the hill itself is called Case Mountain, the entire forest and trail system is commonly referred to as Case Mountain by local residents.
• What recreational activities are available at Case Mountain?
  • The area features an extensive network of trails for mountain biking and hiking, with some sections being hilly and rocky.
• Does Case Mountain offer scenic views?
  • Yes, visitors can enjoy great vistas of the surrounding area from various points along the trails.

640 Spring St, Manchester, CT 06040, Phone: 860-647-5235

3. Lutz Children's Museum

• What is the Lutz Children's Museum?
  • The Lutz Children's Museum is an interactive museum in Manchester, CT, offering special daily programs and frequently changing exhibits designed for children between the ages of two and ten.
• What is the Main Street exhibit?
  • The Main Street exhibit takes guests back in time to 1943, allowing children to experience imaginative play by visiting homes, attending school, and going shopping.
• What does the Farm exhibit showcase?
  • The Farm exhibit highlights the rich farming history of central Connecticut, letting visitors explore what a local farm from the 1800s would have been like.
• Are there live animals at the Lutz Children's Museum?
  • Yes, children can interact with live animals, including chinchillas and around fifty other animals.
• How are the animals cared for?
  • All animals receive care from licensed professionals and are released when possible back into the wild.

247 South Main St, Manchester, CT 06040

4. Cheney Homestead

• What is the Cheney Homestead?
  • The Cheney Homestead is a historic home in Manchester, Connecticut, originally built around 1785 by Timothy Cheney, one of America’s famous clockmakers.
• Who owns and manages the Cheney Homestead?
  • The homestead is owned and managed by the Manchester Historical Society.
• When can visitors tour the Cheney Homestead?
  • The Cheney Homestead is open for visits during special events and by appointment.
• What is special about the living room?
  • The downstairs living room, originally a keeping room with pine paneling, features a built-in wall clock, an example of Timothy Cheney’s craftsmanship.

106 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT 06040, Phone: 860-643-5588

5. The Fire Museum

• What is The Fire Museum?
  • The Fire Museum in Manchester, Connecticut serves as both a museum and the headquarters of the Connecticut Firemen's Historical Society.
• Where is The Fire Museum located?
  • The museum is housed in a collection of renovated red-brick mill buildings that are part of Manchester’s Cheney National Historic and Landmark District.
• What is the history of the museum’s building?
  • The Fire Museum is located inside a wooden firehouse that was originally constructed in 1901.
• How many floors does The Fire Museum have?
  • The museum spans three floors of the historic firehouse, offering visitors a chance to explore its extensive collection.
• What can visitors see on the second floor?
  • The second floor features a large exhibit gallery showcasing various artifacts related to the history of firefighting.

230 Pine St, Manchester, CT 06040, Phone: 860-649-9436

6. Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall

• What is the Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall?
  • The Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall is a community-driven organization that collaborates, promotes, and plans events to make Cheney Hall a cultural and arts center for the entire region.
• How many productions does the theater present each year?
  • The theater produces five main stage productions annually, offering at least forty-five performances throughout the year.
• What is “Evenings @7”?
  • “Evenings @7” is a play-reading series held multiple times a year, giving the theater troupe a chance to hear new works and providing playwrights an opportunity to see their scripts performed on stage.
• What is the Silk Room?
  • The Silk Room is a part of Cheney Hall that features art exhibitions, adding to the venue’s cultural offerings.

177 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT 06040, Phone: 860-647-9824

7. HRLPC: Laurel Marsh Trail

• What is the Laurel Marsh Trail?
  • The Laurel Marsh Trail is a loop trail near Manchester that spans approximately 3.3 miles and includes a river.
• What is the difficulty level of the Laurel Marsh Trail?
  • The trail is considered to have a moderate difficulty, making it suitable for a variety of recreational activities.
• Where is the trailhead and parking lot located?
  • The trailhead and parking lot are located along Routes 44 and 6, on the south side, across from Cheney Technical High School.
• Is there a sign marking the entrance?
  • Yes, there is a sign indicating the entrance to the trail.
• Is the Laurel Marsh Trail handicapped-accessible?
  • The first part of the loop is handicapped-accessible, featuring a surface of grass or stone dust along approximately three-fourths of a mile.
• What happens after the accessible portion of the trail?
  • After the accessible portion, the trail splits left or right, leading to two gentle slopes for continued hiking.

8. Aussakita Acres Farm

• What is Aussakita Acres Farm?
  • Aussakita Acres Farm is a small family-owned farm located in the woods of Manchester, Connecticut. It is owned and operated by DJ Lupacchino and Tracy Longoria.
• What kind of tours does the farm offer?
  • The farm provides educational, hands-on farm tours where families can interact with, pet, and feed farm animals while learning more about them.
• What is the Baby Farm Animal Socialization Session?
  • This special session allows visitors to play with and cuddle newborn baby animals, making for an enjoyable and interactive experience.
• Does the farm offer animal yoga?
  • Yes, Aussakita Acres Farm is one of the premier destinations in Connecticut for Farm Animal Yoga and Goat Yoga.
• Do visitors need reservations for farm tours?
  • Yes, reservations are required for the Farm Animal Tours.

555 Lydall St, Manchester, CT 06042, Phone: 860-930-0895

9. Artisanal Burger Company

• What is the Artisanal Burger Company?
  • The Artisanal Burger Company is a restaurant specializing in handcrafted, fresh burgers made from some of the best local ingredients available.
• Where does the restaurant source its ingredients?
  • The ingredients for the artisanal burgers are sourced locally whenever possible, and all dishes are prepared fresh in-house.
• What types of burgers can visitors try?
  • Guests can choose from a variety of unique burgers, including:
    • Rise and Shine Burger – served with a waffle bun
    • Bahn Mi-Chicken Burger – inspired by Vietnamese flavors
    • Dry Aged Burger – made with premium aged beef
    • Broad Brook Farms Burger – crafted with local grass-fed beef
• What other menu items are available?
  • In addition to burgers, customers can enjoy favorites like the Colossal Pretzel, Smoked Chicken Wings, and Crispy Cauliflower.
• Are there drinks available?
  • Yes, the restaurant offers a wide selection of milkshakes, beers, bourbons, and more.

1436 Pleasant Valley Rd, Manchester, CT 06042, Phone: 860-644-0046