Things to Do in Connecticut

1. Historic Downtown Mystic

• What makes Mystic a historical destination?
  • You can feel the history everywhere you go in Mystic. This charming Connecticut seaside village is focused on its glorious maritime past and beautiful beaches.
• What are the must-visit attractions in Mystic?
  • Visitors can explore the magical Mystic Seaport, a beautifully recreated 19th-century village with its tall ships, or visit the Mystic Aquarium, which is home to seals, beluga whales, and dolphins.
• What other activities can visitors enjoy in Mystic?
  • Visitors can stroll through the Olde Mystic Village with its magnificent Colonial buildings, sample one of many great seafood restaurants, and check out unique shops, all while soaking up the village’s historic atmosphere.
  • Don’t miss the Mystic Art Association's studios and galleries, or, if you prefer, take a kayak trip on the Mystic River, have fun at the Mohegan Sun casino, or catch a free concert at Mystic River Park.

2. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

• What is the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat adventure?
  • Double the fun and take a ride in one of the 1920s coaches pulled by an original steam locomotive, and then hop on the Becky Thatcher riverboat for a slow journey on the Connecticut River.
• How long is the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat trip?
  • The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat adventure is a two and a half hour trip through the picturesque Connecticut River Valley, called "one of the last great places on Earth" by the Nature Conservancy.
• Where does the trip start?
  • The trip starts at the 1892 historic Essex Station.
• What can you see during the riverboat cruise?
  • The train takes you to Deep River Landing, where you board the Becky Thatcher riverboat for a one and a quarter-hour cruise along the Connecticut River. You will pass Goodspeed Opera House, Gillette Castle, and breathtaking landscapes on both sides of the river.
• Are there other excursions available?
  • The Valley Railroad Company, which operates the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, offers a number of other excursions and adventures on boats or trains, separately or together.

1 Railroad Ave, Essex, Connecticut 06426, Phone: 860-767-0103, Map, Facebook

3. The Glass House

• What is The Glass House?
  • The Glass House is a historic house in New Canaan, Connecticut, designed by Philip Johnson in 1949 as his residence.
• Why is The Glass House architecturally significant?
  • The building’s minimalist structure, proportions, and geometry made it an influential project for modern architecture of the time.
  • It is an early example of using industrial materials such as steel and glass in home design.
• What else is on the property?
  • The Glass House is one of 14 structures on the verdant 49-acre property, which features a permanent collection of significant 20th-century sculptures and paintings.
  • The site also hosts occasional temporary exhibitions.
• Is The Glass House a historic site?
  • Yes, the property is a National Trust Historic Site.
• When is The Glass House open for tours?
  • The site is open, and tours are available from May to November.

199 Elm Street, New Canaan, Connecticut 06840, Phone: 203-594-9884, Map

4. Florence Griswold Museum

• What is the history of Miss Florence Griswold’s house?
  • In the early 20^th century, Miss Florence Griswold's boardinghouse housed a number of young American Impressionist artists, who lived and painted in the house, sometimes on the doors and walls.
• Who were some of the famous artists that stayed at the house?
  • Some well-known artists who lived here include Henry Ward Ranger, Childe Hassam, Edward Charles Volkert, and Willard Metcalf.
• What is the Lyme Art Colony?
  • The house became the core of what is known as the Lyme Art Colony, the most famous American summer art colony and the home of American Impressionism.
• What is the house used for today?
  • Today, Miss Griswold's house is a museum known for its collection of American Impressionist paintings.
• What is the most significant collection at the Florence Griswold Museum?
  • The most significant collection at the Florence Griswold Museum is the Hartford Steam Boiler Collection, which includes 157 oils, 31 paper works, and two sculptures.

96 Lyme St, Old Lyme, Connecticut 06371, Phone: 860-434-5542, Map

5. New England Air Museum

• What is the New England Air Museum?
  • The New England Air Museum, located at Bradley International Airport, presents the history of aviation in a lively and interesting way.
• What types of aircraft are on display?
  • The museum’s three hangars display over 65 aircraft, ranging from early pioneering flight eras to modern jet planes, as well as helicopters and ultra-light aircraft.
• What other exhibits can visitors explore?
  • The museum features a large exhibit of aircraft engines spanning the history of flight.
  • There is a significant display focusing on the history of commercial aviation.
  • Educational videos are available for both children and adults.
• Are there interactive exhibits?
  • Yes, the museum emphasizes interactive exhibits, including a flight simulator and cockpits where visitors can sit and test out the controls.
  • There are also hands-on activities and interactive games designed for children.
• Can visitors see aircraft restoration?
  • Yes, visitors can even watch aircraft being restored.
• Does the museum have a gift shop?
  • Yes, the museum has a gift shop.

New England Air Museum, 36 Perimeter Road, Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096, Phone: 860-623-3305

6. Lyman Allyn Art Museum

• What is the Lyman Allyn Art Museum?
  • Located in New London, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum was established by Harriet Upson Allyn in 1926 to help people learn about art and culture.
• What kind of art collection does the museum have?
  • The museum hosts Southeast Connecticut's most important art collection.
  • It includes European, non-Western, and American decorative and fine art.
• What are some of the most significant artworks?
  • Some of the most significant pieces include American 19th-century paintings and European 17th-century artworks on paper.
  • The museum also features a collection of contemporary works of art.
• Does the museum offer educational programs?
  • Yes, the museum organizes educational programs for visitors of all ages.
• What is the Deshon-Allyn House?
  • A part of the museum's campus, the 1829 Federal-style stone Deshon-Allyn House was home to various members of the Allyn family.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St, New London, Connecticut 06320, Phone: 860-443-2545

7. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Connecticut

• What is the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art?
  • The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford is America's oldest continuously operating art museum.
  • It was founded by arts patron Daniel Wadsworth in 1842 and paved the way for many major art museums in the country.
• What are some of the museum’s notable firsts?
  • It was the first American museum to acquire artworks by Caravaggio, Joseph Cornell, Frederic Church, Joan Miró, and Salvador Dalí.
  • It was also the first in the country to showcase exhibits of important surveys of works by Surrealists, Picasso, and Italian Baroque masters.
• How large is the museum’s collection?
  • Today, the museum holds more than 50,000 works of art spanning over 5,000 years of human history.
• What are some of the most important collections?
  • The museum has major collections of Baroque and Surrealist paintings.
  • It houses the Morgan collection of Roman and Greek antiquities and decorative arts from Europe.
  • It also features one of the world’s best collections of Hudson River School landscapes.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford, Connecticut 06103, Phone: 860-278-2670, Facebook

8. Charles W. Morgan

• What is the Charles W. Morgan?
  • Once part of a mighty 2,700 ships-strong American whaling fleet, today only one ship remains: the Charles W. Morgan.
• When and where was the Charles W. Morgan built?
  • This magnificent tall ship was launched in 1841 from the Jethro and Zachariah Hillman yard in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
• What are the ship’s dimensions and sailing capabilities?
  • The ship is almost 107 feet long with a beam about 27 feet wide.
  • It carries 7,134 square feet of sail and originally sailed with 35 sailors from around the world.
• What were living conditions like for the sailors?
  • The cramped, stifling hot quarters for officers and men were located below the deck.
• Has the Charles W. Morgan sailed in modern times?
  • After five years of restoration, the Charles W. Morgan set out in 2014 for its 38^th sail to New England ports-of-call.
  • It now serves as a magnificent reminder of America's glorious maritime heritage.

Charles W. Morgan, Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, Connecticut 06355, Phone: 860-572-0711, Facebook

9. Hill-Stead Museum

• What is the Hill-Stead Museum?
  • The Hill-Stead Museum is a stately Colonial Revival house located on a large estate in Farmington, Connecticut.
  • It was designed in 1901 by Theodate Pope Riddle, one of the first American female architects, for her father Alfred Atmore Pope.
• What is the museum best known for?
  • The museum is best known for its collection of major French Impressionist masterpieces, collected by Pope and his daughter.
• Which artists are featured in the collection?
  • Some of the most significant artworks include paintings by Mary Cassatt, Eugène Carrière, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Édouard Manet.
  • The museum also displays engravings by Albrecht Dürer.
• What can visitors see inside the house?
  • The house remains as it was when Theodate Pope Riddle lived in it, with 19 rooms open to the public.
  • It is furnished with magnificent paintings, prints, art pieces, and furniture.

Hill-Stead Museum, 35 Mountain Rd, Farmington, Connecticut 06032, Phone: 860-677-4787

10. Lake Compounce: An Amusement Park in Bristol

• What is Lake Compounce?
  • Lake Compounce is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America, having been open since 1846.
  • The park spans 332 acres and offers pure family fun.
• What water attractions does the park have?
  • The park includes Crocodile Cove, Connecticut's biggest waterpark, featuring several slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool.
• How many rides are at Lake Compounce?
  • The park has over 50 attractions and exciting rides for the entire family.
• What are some of the most exciting rides?
  • Boulder Dash, the world’s best wooden coaster, is one of the park’s top attractions.
  • New rides are added yearly, including the latest addition, Phobia, the first triple launch coaster in New England.
  • Phobia reaches speeds of up to 65 miles per hour and features an adrenaline-pumping “cobra roll” 150 feet in the air.
• Are there rides for younger children?
  • Yes, rides such as the Drum Circus, Flying Elephants, and the Antique Carousel are well suited for younger guests.
• Does the park offer food options?
  • Yes, the park offers food of all kinds to satisfy every taste.

Lake Compounce, 186 Enterprise Dr, Bristol, Connecticut 06010, Phone: 860-583-3300, Facebook