What to Do and Eat in Connecticut - the short list :-)

Connecticut is a small state, therefore easy to see almost everything. This is just a small part of what we have to offer.
Lots of hiking trails Look for 50 Hikes in Connecticut by David Gerry and Sue Hardy.
To understand why our roads in Hartford all seem to lead one place read A Woman in Business: The Life of Beatrice Auerbach, a fascinating woman. I remember her from dining in G. Fox as a child.

Hartford:
Attractions:
Mark Twain House
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Wadsworth Atheneum - oldest continually operating art museum in the United States
Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens - also has a wonderful restaurant on the grounds
State Capitol
Museum of CT History - great Colt firearm exhibit, Samuel Colt was from Hartford
Connecticut Science Center
Historical Society
A. Everett Austin House
Restaurants:
ON20 - is on the 20th floor of an office building with awesome views of the river and hill of Massachusetts
Max Downtown
Agave Grill - killer guacamole
Polish National Home - delish Polish food, duh!
Costa del Sol - favorite place for paella
Carbone’s - Italian since 1938 in what was once Little Italy
Mozzicato’s Bakery - line around the block for cookies on the holidays
Simsbury - Millwright. Chef was on this year’s Top Chef

Litchfield County: Lots of beautiful old homes and where a lot of movie stars live. Beautiful ride any time of year but fall exceptional. This is what people think all of Connecticut looks like. I had friends come to visit and they said “there is nothing out here”. Exactly. Attractions:
White Flower Farm - my go to nursery. They have stunning test gardens on the grounds.
Lourdes in Litchfield Grotto - nun there once acted with Elvis Presley and left Hollywood for a nuns life.
West Cornwall Covered Bridge
Loads of Antique stores
Restaurants:
West Street Grill - get the cheese bread and heirloom tomato salad. With a glass of wine life doesn’t get any better!
Arethusa al tavalo - in the town of Bantam. If not open check out the ice cream next door. OMG.

Connecticut Shoreline: Most of CT shoreline is private sadly.
Attractions:
Stony Creek: Thimble Island Cruise - Check schedule for Sea Mist. Great cruise of all the tiny islands and houses.
Mystic Seaport - a manufactured community of what life was like back in the day. They do current restorations of old ships.
Mystic Aquarium - great place for kids.
Restaurants:
Westbrook - Bill’s Seafood. I try to go to other places but I can’t seem to drive past Bill’s. Seafood to die for.
Mohegan Sun Casino - loads of restaurants and massive casino
Foxwood’s Casino - loads of restaurants and massive casino

Fairfield County: A generally wealthy community. Sometimes referred to as an annex of NYC.
New Canaan: The Glass House - need reservations well in advance
The PT Barnum Museum
Restaurants:
Almost to many to mention. Downtown Fairfield has wonderful restaurants and downtown is quaint

Tolland & Windham Counties: known as the “Quiet Corner” also nice ride any time. Lots of small towns,
Attractions:
Coventry - Nathan Hale House
Woodstock - Roseland Cottage
Putnam - loads of antique stores and fire on the water, check websites for event schedules
Restaurants:
Coventry - Bidwell Tavern - pub food. Known for their Chicken Wings.
Pomfret - soup and sandwich
Woodstock - Mrs. Bridges tearoom and UK food store. Where I stock up on treats
UCONN Dairy Bar - University of CT campus ice cream made on premises. A must stop on car rides.
Vernon - Rein’s Deli - loaded with NY cars in the summer on way to from the city.

 
New Haven County:
Attractions:
Yale University & Museums
Restaurants:
Louis Lunch - claim to be the “original” hamburger inventor
Sally’s Pizza
Pepe’s Pizza - Note Sally’s and Pepe’s have been rivals for years