[Jagadish]

Hi,
I am visiting Hartford, CT. Can anyone recommend a nice plan for sight seeing in and around Hartford on week-ends and kindly suggest the mode of transportation.
Thank you for your help!

[pastorgirl]

For something a bit different, try Mohegan Sun Casino -- they've done a nice job with incorporating the tribe's history into the fabric of the casino. Lots of historic places too, Groton and Mystic are great locations to visit for the maritime history of the area. -- probably to drive there (for Groton and Mystic), Mohegan Sun has buses that go back and forth.

[skytrekker]

Do the Wadsworth Museum in Hartford on Main Street
also the American Museum of Art in New Britain. See the roses at Elizabeth Park in the west end off of Albany Av

Of course see the Mark Twain house on Farmington AV and Harriet Beecher Stowe's home next door.

See the Air museum in Windsor Locks.

Do visit West Hartford Center-

[sunshinecities]

I would suggest like the person above said - Mark Twain House or the Anthenuem (museum). You may also want to go through Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford and sometimes the State Capitol building gives tours - it is a pretty building. To be honest I don't think there is too much to do right in Hartford itself as far as sightseeing. There are buses but schedules all vary. If you want to travel beyond Hartford I think Gillette Castle in East Hadaam is great. You can tour the castle and it looks out over the CT River. It's pretty there. You would have to drive to get there - try doing a computer search on it to find out more. Another place - in Farmington CT - that is 1/2 drive down Rt 84West (from Hartford) is the Hill-Stead museum in Farmington. It's a big house you can tour and has pretty grounds.
Patty

[sun]

20 miles south of Hartford in Meriden is an access road to the lookout tower located at the top of Meriden Mountain where a person can see for miles. There's a parking lot at the top. It's off of Route 71 (Chamberlain Highway) and I-691, just north of Hubbard Park and the access road runs next to the closest reservoir north of the park.
About 10 miles away from there on the Bristol/Southington town line is Lake Compounce, one of the nation's oldest amusement parks, take I-691 to I-84 East for a few miles to the West Street Exit, & the amusement park is about 2-3 miles away.
There's the Essex Steam train & riverboat downstate about 40 miles south on Route 9 accessed from I-91 south, Welcome to the Essex Steam Train
Nearby there's Camelot Cruises on the CT River in Haddam, Connecticut, 800-522-7263. Camelot Cruises - Dinner and Dance

[surfsnowgirl]

For restaurant's I'd recommend Vitos by the Park Vito's Its by the capital and across the street from Bushnell park; great food and great ambiance.

[Leilani Vasquez]

Originally Posted by surfsnowgirl

For restaurant's I'd recommend Vitos by the Park Vito's Its by the capital and across the street from Bushnell park; great food and great ambiance.

Vito's by the Water just opened up in Windsor. very nice place. A little nicer than the one in Hartford.

[Brent Bell, CRS]

The Mark Twain house is #1 on my list of places to see in Hartford. From the Mark Twain house, you could walk west on Farmington Avenue to Hartford's West End and choose from an Irish Pub, a Tea/Martini coffee house, Mexican, Brazilian or Japanese for lunch (yes, there is also pizza and fast food).

Walking downtown is great; you can now walk from the Old State House down to the river and actually walk across the Connecticut river to East Hartford. In the warmer months, you could find free concerts in Bushnell Park--check out the Arch & the carousel. Possibly take a tour of the gold-domed State Capitol. The Supreme Court is just across the street (the State Library is in this building).

If you visit West Hartford Center & Blue Back Square, you have the Children's Museum just steps away. The Noah Webster House is just a mile south on South Main Street.

Also in downtown, look for a show at the Connecticut Convention Center. From the upper floors, you have sweeping views of the Connecticut River. Soon, the Science Museum should be open adjacent to the Convention Center.