Connecticut: Things to Do and See

South Western, CT

1. Thimble Island Cruise: The Thimble Islands are an archipelago of more than a hundred islands (depending on the tides), just off the coast of Stony Creek, CT. The Thimble Islands are mostly privately owned and contain some truly spectacular real estate. Visitors can take a boat ride around the islands and learn their rich history or Kayak/Ferry ride out to Outer Island for a day of swimming, snorkeling, or picnicking. website
2. Beardsley Zoo:
3. Sherwood Island State Park:
4. Barnum Museum:

North Western, CT

1. Old Newgate Prison & Coppermine: The tunnels left behind by miners burrowing deep underground in search of copper ore became Connecticut's first prison in 1773. website
2. Quassy Amusement Park:

Central, CT

1. Amistad: The vision of Amistad America Inc. is to foster unity among people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, and to promote the legacies of leadership, cooperation, perseverance and social justice inherent the Amistad Incident of 1839. website
2. Gillette Castle: in East Haddam is an architectural anomaly, and it is quite lucky that the quirky home of actor William Gillette has been preserved as a Connecticut state park. The grounds alone, with their Connecticut River views, will take your breath away. Venture inside the castle for a self-guided tour, and you'll be fascinated by the story behind this intriguing home. website
3. Devil's Hopyard State Park:   website
4. Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, is the nation's oldest amusement park: a distinction that will be lost on your kids, who will only care that this attraction has a cool water park and even cooler roller coasters. If you are visiting Connecticut with your family during the park's mid-May through October operating season, you owe it to the entire clan to carve out a day to spend enjoying the rides, shows and nostalgia at this lakeside amusement zone. When October rolls around, the Haunted Graveyard adds another--terrifying--dimension to your visit. website
5. Hammonasset Beach State Park & Meigs Point Nature Center: in Madison, Connecticut, make the largest beach in the state a popular place for families to spend sweltering summer days. More than one million visitors head for this Connecticut attraction each year. When summer's crowds dissipate and the seaside camping season ends, Hammonasset is still a scenic place to stroll and to observe the natural beauty of the Connecticut shoreline. website
6. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat: The 1892 Essex Station is your launch point. Climb aboard the Essex Steam Train on a 12-mile, narrated trip to Deep River Landing. There you’ll board the Becky Thatcher riverboat for a 1¼- hour cruise along the Connecticut River and see the natural habitats of wildlife and water birds. Gillette Castle, Goodspeed Opera House, and the Haddam Swing Bridge are among the historical highlights along the way. Upon Becky's return, “steam” on back to Essex Station.   website
7. Goodspeed Opera House: This historic Victorian theater overlooking the Connecticut River is a beauty, and that is just the start. Home to the original productions of “Man of La Mancha,” “Shenandoah,” and “Annie,” and recipient of two special Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in the musical theater, the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam is world renowned as the home of the American musical. website
8. Norma Terris Theatre: Dedicated in 1984, the theatre is named in honor of the actress Norma Terris, star of Jerome Kern’s Show Boat and a patron and trustee of the Goodspeed Opera House during her later years. She presided over the dedication of The Norma Terris Theatre, and in 1987 she established The Norma Terris Fund to develop the careers of new actors and to promote musical theatre. website
9. Deep River Ancient Muster: The DRAM is the oldest and largest gathering of fife and drum participants and enthusiasts in the world and has been referred to as “The Granddaddy of All Musters”, and “A Colonial Woodstock" Occurs every year on the 3rd Saturday of July. website
10. Dinosaur State Park & Arboretum:
11. Farmington River Tubing: Unless you are a real Nervous Nellie, you will probably get a thrill from a not-very-scary ride on the white water of the Farming River. These folks will put you and your friends in river tubes for a 2.5-mile ride down the scenic Farmington River. Traveling over three sets of rapids, you'll experience a thrill as you splash through the white water. A fee of $18 to $20 per person includes the rental of a river tube, a life jacket, and a shuttle bus ride from the take-out point to the starting point. website
12. Bradley Playhouse: website
13. Old State House:
14. Mark Twain House:
15. New England Air Museum:
16. Connecticut Trolley Museum:
17. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History: Located in New Haven, CT and part of the Yale University Campus is one of the best Natural History Museums in the country.
18. Plainville Balloon Festival: Held annually and sponsored by the Plainville Fire Co. Check their website for the dates. website

South Eastern, CT

1. Mashantucket Pequot Museum: Connecticut is home to one of the nation's best museums devoted to Native American history, arts and culture. Built by the tribe that experienced soaring fortunes following the opening of Foxwoods, the museum in Mashantucket, Connecticut, is a multimedia, interactive, thoughtfully presented portrayal of the tribe's evolution and its struggle to survive. Don't miss the audio tour of everyday life in a Native American village. website
2. Mohegan Sun Casino:   website
3. Abbott's Lobster in the Rough : Nothing beats eating fresh-cooked seafood al fresco in a waterside setting, and that's what makes Abbott's in Noank, Connecticut, worth a pilgrimage. Well, that and--Abbott's makes the best lobster roll in all of New England: a quarter-pound mound of buttery sweet lobster on a butter-bathed toasted bun. Open seasonally from early May through mid-October, Abbott's is a BYOB restaurant. Bring along a cooler with your favorite alcoholic beverages, and prepare to spend a spell feasting on the food and the views. website
4. Mystic Seaport: in Mystic, Connecticut, is America's leading maritime museum, and it's really a fascinating place to spend a day: an attraction that alone is worth making the trip to Connecticut. Climb aboard historic ships, watch skilled craftsmen at work, explore a recreated 19th-century coastal village, see exhibits of art and artifacts, cruise along the Mystic River in a coal-fired boat and learn about how the sea has shaped America's history and economy. website
5. Mystic Aquarium: This world-class facility is not only home to sea life ranging from mesmerizing jellyfish to playful penguins, its new Titanic - 12,450 Feet Below installation showcases the work of famed marine scientist and Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard, whose underwater archeological expeditions have spurred technological development and led to wondrous findings. Add to your aquarium experience by reserving your spot in an animal encounter program. My time in the tank with a beluga whale is still one of the most memorable things I've ever done in Connecticut. Penguin Encounters are fun, too! website
6. USS Nautilus:
7. Thompson International Speedway: website
8. Brighter Skies Hot Air Balloon Company: website
9. Bigelow Hollow State Park:  
10. Antiquing in Putnam:
11. Sharpe Hill Vineyard:
12. Taylor Brook Winery:
13. Florence Griswold Museum:
14. Glass House: