12 Best Things to Do in West Hartford, Connecticut

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It would be hard to describe the West Hartford Reservoir as anything less than a nature lover’s paradise. Composed of the MDC’s water treatment facility, five minor reservoirs, and over 3,000 acres of stunning woodlands and trails, the West Hartford Reservoir is a great place to visit for outdoor recreation. The gorgeous forestland of the reservoir is home to 30 miles of paved and gravel roads that are perfect for trail runners, mountain bikers, and hikers. Additionally, there are also picnic groves that are wheelchair accessible. When the winter months arrive, the West Hartford Reservoir is also the ideal location for recreational snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.

West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, Phone: 860-278-7850

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There’s more to Elizabeth Park than meets the eye, and it appears that the national register of historic places agrees with our sentiments. This world renowned park is famous for its hundred acre formal gardens, recreational facilities, green space and walking loops. Arguably the most famous attraction in the Elizabeth Park is the Pond House Café, where visitors can sit back and relax over a delicious meal. At the heart of Elizabeth Park is the desire of conservation. The park does this through hosting special events, tours, lectures, and garden workshops. On occasion, the Elizabeth Park also hosts outdoor concerts for the benefit of their visitors.

1561 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, Phone: 860-231-9443

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Are you a fan of the performing arts? If yes, then you might just want to stop by the Playhouse on Park sometime during your visit to West Hartford. Playhouse on Park first opened its doors in 2009 thanks to the hard work of numerous volunteers and the generosity of countless donors. Since then, the playhouse has launched dozens of plays, musicals, comedy nights, improve shows and even children’s showcases and dance recitals. The playhouse even houses its very own dance company and was named 2013’s Best Professional Theater in Connecticut by Broadway.com. Titles that visitors can look forward to include The Revolutionists, Reel to Real, The Musical Adventures of Flatley Stanley and more.

244 Park Road, West Hartford, Connecticut 06119, Phone: 860-523-5900

© Art Museum of the University of Saint Joseph

Home to over 2,000 stunning works of art, six brilliant exhibition galleries, and regularly changing installations, the Art Museum of the University of Saint Joseph is an awesome place for art lovers to visit. The Art Museum is fantastic at creating numerous opportunities for visitors to study and enjoy art and even goes the extra mile by offering a range of art programs for university students and visitors alike. This museum is known for being one of the liveliest campus museums in the entire state of Connecticut, and allows all to experience first-hand the way that great art can transform a person.

1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, Phone: 860-231-5399

© Noah Webster House

Located in the restored 18th century childhood home and birth location of its namesake, the Noah Webster House is dedicated to the preservation of literary history and continually advocates for the greater cultural understanding of all those who walk through its doors. It seems only fitting that a museum of this kind would be housed in the home of the man who created the first American dictionary. Visitors to the Noah Webster House, and by the extension the West Hartford Historical Society, are welcome to explore each of the museum’s four major components: the house and grounds, the original furnishings of the home, artifacts related to the world of Noah Webster, and the special collections of the West Hartford Historical Society.

227 South Main Street, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107, Phone: 860-521-5362

© The Children’s Museum of Connecticut

Are you traveling to New Hartford with your children? If you are, then you ought to add The Children’s Museum of Connecticut to your itinerary! Offering hands-on experiences and opportunities for scientific discovery, the museum is the perfect place to encourage creative thinking and lifelong learning for children. Kids can throw themselves into several interactive labs and workshops to sharpen their skills, or explore multi-sensory exhibits and demonstrations to really get a taste for the scientific arts. Other amazing exhibits to check out at the Children’s Museum include a life wildlife sanctuary, an innovative digital science dome and planetarium, and much, much more.

950 Trout Brook Drive, West Hartford, Connecticut 06119, Phone: 860-231-2824

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Home to the University of Hartford men’s basketball team as well as the five-time America East Champion women’s basketball team, the Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion is arguably one of the top sports facilities in the America East Conference. The arena was opened in 1990 and has a 3,507-person seating capacity. Aside from being a top sporting facility, the Chase Arena has also played host to various events such as a Bob Dylan concert, a visit from President Obama, and tons of sports clinics. Stop by to enjoy an NCAA Division 1 basketball game, or learn a thing or two about the teams that call the arena home. Don’t forget to stop by the arena shop to pick up some great sports paraphernalia.

80 Sunny Reach Drive, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, Phone: 860-768-5047

© Cora Cora Restaurant

Known for their hearty Latin American cuisine, the Cora Cora Restaurant serves up fresh and healthy eats for voracious eaters. Definitely not for the light eater, Cora Cora specializes in Peruvian cuisine in particular while still offering other south American fare. Some dishes to sink your teeth into include the arroz chaufa, the chupe de camarones, the ceviche de pescado, and the beef anticuchos. Interestingly enough, the Cora Cora Restaurant is housed in what used to be a McDonalds. You wouldn’t be able to tell now though as the owners of Cora Cora have transformed the restaurant into a lively enclave of lavish drapes, red brick walls and colorful Andean handicrafts.

162 Shield Street, West Hartford, Connecticut 06110, Phone: 860-953-2672

© Treva

Inspired by the mouthwatering cuisine of Italy’s central and norther regions, the Treva Restaurant and Bar is known for providing a stunning dining experience in the heart of West Hartford. The restaurant puts a premium on using only the freshest produce as possible, which means that their menu and cuisine is built around seasonal ingredients. Each day, dishes are hand-crafted for every patron, and are served up in a heartwarming and cordial atmosphere to complete the whole experience. Apart from their stunning and hunger inducing dishes, Treva also serves up spectacular cocktails and delicious cups of Italian coffee to give each person the perfect way to finish up their meals.

980 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107, Phone: 860-232-0407

© Restaurant Bricco

Fall in love with brilliant Italian fare at Restaurant Bricco. A West Hartford favorite for their romantic setting and perfectly crafted meals, Restaurant Bricco beckons patrons from near and far to enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail alongside any of their delicious menu offerings. Patrons may choose from a wide menu of warm and delectable dishes, which they can enjoy in an awesome atmosphere for a dreamy dining experience. Come for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and enjoy crowd pleasers like the Peppered Beef Carpaccio, the Warm Pistachio Crusted Goat Cheese Salad, or the Handmade Butternut Squash Ravioli. Something that every guest should also try a bite of is “My Mom’s” Spaghetti Carbonara, one of the best-selling items on Restaurant Bricco’s menu.

78 Lasalle Road, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107, Phone: 860-233-0220

© Max’s Oyster Bar

Conceptualized and founded by a successful restaurateur by the name of Richard Rosenthal, Max’s Oyster Bar is a chic restaurant to enjoy a luxurious dinner in West Hartford. Despite being in a relatively small town, Max’s Oyster Bar is reminiscent of a big city oyster bar and has the cuisine to compete against one too. The menu features modern renditions of classic American seafood dishes, while ethnic influences are injected into the menu to create fresh and unexpected interpretations on traditional oyster bar favorites. Max’s raw bar also offers an impressive range of bi-coastal oysters and shellfish to their patrons to ensure that every person feasts on something that suits their tastes the best. Some popular items on the menu to try include the Cherrystone Clams, the Shellfish Sampler, the Baked Copps Island Oysters, and the Furikake-Crusted Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna.

964 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107, Phone: 860-236-6299

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To say that Westmoor Park is breathtaking would be a serious injustice. The park is beyond gorgeous and spans over 162 acres of wildflower meadows, perennial gardens, woodland trails and more. Operated by West Harford’s Leisure Services Department, the Westmoor Park is a self-funded environmental education center with nature programs suitable for all ages. Eager to educate all those who visit, the park is home to a demonstration farm where several farming programs are held. If their programs aren’t at the top of your list, then set off to explore one of their many woodland trails to see the best that the Westmoor Park has to offer.

119 Flagg Road, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, Phone: 860-561-8260