Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center At Milford Point
Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center is a nature endowed environment made up of barrier beaches, dunes, tidal salt marshes, and tide pools which are habitat to lots of shellfish as well as about 315 species of birdlife.
This beautiful center was established with the sole aim of protecting the wildlife and land of Long Island Sound.
The center is a place where you can visit to witness and learn about the wonders and beauty of nature.
The Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point is highly frequented during the summer period by American oystercatchers when lots of shorebirds gather here, piping plovers position on the beach, and ospreys nest in the marsh.
Among other beauties are significant interpretive exhibits and also cams are positioned for purple martins and ospreys. Other features of this center include a unique tide pool replica and also a boardwalk with several lookout points that offers a thorn view of the property and vicinity.
Finally, there are four observation platforms with scopes, structured along the centers beaches for bird-watching. There are over 300 different birds species available in this park including rare species, so this a perfect place to visit while in Milford if you are a bird lover.
Address: 1 Milford Point Rd, Milford, CT 06460, United States
Explore The Nuclear Option
When it was launched into the Thames River in Connecticut 1954, the USS Nautilus immediately outclassed every other vessel at sea. Like something out of a science-fiction novel, the worlds first nuclear submarine could generate its own fuel and oxygen, and stay submerged for months at a time. In 1958, the Nautilus and its crew passed under the North Pole while submerged beneath the ice. Today, the decommissioned vessel is permanently docked in the Thames River and can be toured for free as part of the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, the only submarine museum operated by the US Navy.
Visit Sherlock Holmes Whimsical Castle
Gillette Castle State Park is on the Connecticut River like the above stops but deserves its own special place on our list. Even if you do not drive the loop around the river, the castle should make your itinerary as one of the most unique things to do in CT.
Perched high above the river with beautiful views, the castle was built between 1914 and 1919 by William Gillette, the first Sherlock Holmes. The building looks more like a stone fortress from the Medieval era than an actual home.
Unfortunately, tours are only available from Memorial Day to Labor Day so we werent able to adventure inside. But the grounds are open year-round and the curtains pulled back so we were able to take a sneak peek.
After reading the interior is just as extraordinary as the exterior with puzzle-like locks, trick mirrors, and secret passageways, we are definitely adding it back on our list of places to get back to.
Where: 67 River Road, East Haddam
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Stamford Museum & Nature Center
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Its easy to spend an entire day at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Its a place for fun, education, and recreation.
Kids will have a great time, and adults have plenty to keep themselves occupied.
Experience nature like never before at the nature center. What started as a private estate has now grown to a 118-acre campus.
The grounds include several facilities like a farm, planetarium, and observatory.
The site has plenty of walking and hiking trails. You can see the diverse flora growing in the area and come across lots of wildlife. Its an excellent place for birdwatching. Visitors can also interact with the farm animals.
Stamford Museum is a part of the grounds that you dont want to miss. It hosts exhibits dedicated to art and nature.
Some of the kid-friendly activities include events, camps, and educational programs.
Address: 39 Scofieldtown Road and, 151 Scofieldtown Rd, Stamford, CT 06903
Explore The Uss Nautilus And The Submarine Museum
If you have always wanted to walk through a submarine, then you are going to think that the USS Nautilus is one of the top things to do in Connecticut. This is also one of the fun things to do with kids in CT, because they can see how everyone lives and works on a submarine. Everyone will wonder how sleep is possible on the small bunks that are on this submarine! After you explore the USS Nautilus, you can walk through the submarine museum to see how the submarines have changed over the years.
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Things To Do In New Haven: Ely Center Of Contemporary Art
The John Slade Ely House is an historic house located near the Yale University campus, originally constructed in the English Elizabethan style in 1901 as a residence for Yale School of Medicine chair John Slade Ely and his wife Grace Taylor Ely. Following Grace’s death in 1959, the house was donated to the community as an arts center, overseen by the Friends of John Slade Ely House of Contemporary Art. Throughout its tenure, the Ely Center of Contemporary Art has served as an important launching pad and nurturing ground for area artists. Solo and group exhibitions are presented throughout the year, featuring works by artists such as Laura Barr, Marion Belanger, Lys Guillorn, and Allie Hornak.
51 Trumbull St, New Haven, CT 06510, Phone: 203-624-8055
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New Haven Museum New Haven Ct
The New Haven Museum and Historical Society has a mission is to preserve and present the history of the local area. Founded in 1862, it was originally known as the New Haven Colony Historical Society. The museums collection includes art, artifacts, furniture, photography, and other historic objects that cover New Haven history from the first settlement up to the present.
Its exhibits focus on local features like East Rock, Winchester, and Yale and on historic people such as Benedict Arnold, Noah Webster, Eli Whitney, and many more. The museum is housed in a 1929 Colonial revival style building.
114 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, Phone: 203-562-4183
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Carousel At Lighthouse Point Park New Haven Connecticut
The Carousel at Lighthouse Point Park, located on Lighthouse Road in the East Shore area of New Haven, is a carousel ride that dates from the 1920s. The carousel building was constructed in 1916: it replaced an even earlier carousel structure. While there were once over 10,000 carousels from the 1920s, there are only about 100 still operating today. The carousel features two chariots and 70 figures all directed by a figure of George Washington holding a baton.
The building and the carousel are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The park is open from April through November, and the carousel is open Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
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Best Things To Do In Vernon
On the east side of the Connecticut River Valley, the town of Vernon is only 15 minutes from Hartford via the I-84. But when you walk Vernons trails it will seem impossible that a big city could ever be so close.
Arcing through the town, the Vernon Rails to Trails Park is a narrow strip of nature on the paved trackbed of a 19th-century railway.
Theres also 19th-century heritage at Valley Falls Park, once the scene of a textile mill and now a place to wander, swim and relax in summer.
Another textile mill dating back more than two centuries houses the New England Motorcycle Museum, showing off some 200 bikes from 25 different brands.
Lets explore the best things to do in and around Vernon:
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Things To Do In The Fall In Connecticut
Are you looking for some fun and interesting to do this Fall in Connecticut? While we know that Fall is the time we pick apples, drink cider, and go on long, scenic drives through the state to watch the Fall Foliage change colors, did you know that there are so many other things to do too? I bet you didnt know about the the Mystic Pirate Invasion coming in October did you?
Theres a lot about Connecticut you may not know about and this time is the best time to discover everything our wonderful state has to offer. Fall is one of the best seasons to be in Connecticut.
Mark Twains House And Museum
If youve been following along on our adventures, you might remember when we took our nephews to Hannibal, Missouri to explore Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twains, boyhood home or more recently his study and burial site in New York. The man is a literary legend and Im not only interested in his artistic genius but the man himself is quite intriguing.
Not only did he love to travel and considered himself a vagabond, but he was a literary celebrity. He even dressed the part, wearing white from head to toe even his untamed wild hair and eyebrows matched.
At the , you get a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle that led him to financial ruin.
Built in 1847 for $45,000, the home has a medieval gothic feel with dark wood and rich colors.
No pictures are allowed inside, but on the tour, we learned Clemens and his family lived in the Hartford home for seventeen years and it is where he wrote many of his famous novels.
The house is filled with original furniture and even has silverware laid out on the dining room table etched with Olivia Langdons name, Twains wife.
If you are interested in American literature, Victorian architecture or history, the Mark Twain House and Museum is one of the best things to do in Hartford, Connecticut.
Where: 351 Farmington Road, Hartford, CT
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Bartlett Arboretum And Gardens
Nine color-coded, well-marked trails guide you through the calming 93 acres of this lush sanctuary. A visit to this natural playground will also reward you with 12 impressive gardens, all boasting educational signs depicting each specific species. You can tell a lot of work went into planning this utopia.
Whether youre looking to climb hills, visit the sparkling pond, or get lost among the trees, youre sure to enjoy every second spent in this healing oasis. Lulled by birdsong, youll instantly forget how close you are to the busy Merritt Parkway. Admission is free unless youve arrived for a special event like one of the summer concerts.
The Arboretum also offers popular classes and other special activities throughout the year. Another bonus: Its dog-friendly, making it a perfect spot for a morning or afternoon stroll with your favorite four-legged friend.
Kids will love the secret head scavenger hunt. Throughout the grounds are hidden faces, often camouflaged within a trees bark. These arent easy to find, so youll need to keep your eyes peeled. Or, head to their website to find eight clues to help guide you. Its not cheating, we promise!
Insiders Tip: Watch where youre stepping. Slippery roots and rocks can be underfoot. This is nature, after all!
Address: 151 Brookdale Road, Stamford, Connecticut
Official site:
Ct Things To Do: Stamford Museum & Nature Center
The Stamford Museum and Nature Center is a museum, a farm, and home to over eighty acres of nature trails. The museum, housed in the neo-Tudor Bendel Mansion, contains collections of American art, natural history, artifacts of Native American art and culture, and a display of farming implements. The ten acre farm incorporates barns, a maple sugar house, and dozens of farm animals, including chickens, pigs, and cows.
Along the nature trails visitors may spot red foxes, white tailed deer, salamanders and toads, woodpeckers, Eastern bluebirds, and wood ducks. The property maintains a pond inhabited by river otters, and has an observatory with a 22-inch telescope, where monthly astronomy talks and guided star gazing take place. The museum and nature center offer tours, educational programs, and summer camps.
39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06903, Phone: 203-977-6521
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Explore The Regional History
Source: flickr
See the history of the surrounding region, with a visit to the Fairfield Museum and History Center.
See where the community began as a colonial settlement, more than 375 years ago, or stop by for a lecture or panel, led by respected historians and scholars.
You can also do your own research about the area in the Special Collections Library.
Check the calendar for holiday events, like the Halloween Spooky Stroll and the Holiday Express Train Show.
Wander Through Gillette Castle
One of the cool things to do in Connecticut is wandering through Gillette Castle. This is an excellent option when you are looking for things to do this weekend in Connecticut, because it doesnt take too long. You will be taken through the two floors of this museum, as your tour guide points out the little intricate details that Gillette had included when this castle was built. One thing you will notice is the mirrors that were placed strategically around the castle, so Gillette could see visitors from wherever he was standing. Another unique feature is the hidden lock on the liquor cabinet. You will learn how Gillette tricked his guests every time they were over with that lock!
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
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Get Inspired At The Yale University Art Gallery
New Haven is home to Yale University, a bevy of impressive museums, and an increasingly popular restaurant scene. While the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is a must-see for those jonesing for a dinosaur or sarcophagus sighting, the city boasts another gallery that will take your breath away.
Tucked off the main green, the Yale University Art Gallery features more than 250,000 objects, including masterpieces crafted by, well, masters. You’ll find works by the likes of Degas, Monet, and Manet within these spacious walls. The gallery features timeless art and artifacts on display from across the globe. Regions such as Asia, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific are all represented here.
Not a fan of the classics? Not to worry. The gallery boasts an impressive collection of modern and contemporary works to keep you entertained. The best part? Entrance is free!
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The 18 Best Things To Do In Connecticut
In Connecticutthe Nutmeg Stateyou can experience quintessential New England through historic architecture, expansive farms, and traditional seaports. Here, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re a nature lover, a beach-goer, or a gambler. Take in the round-the-clock entertainment at the state’s two immense casinos, peruse historic houses and museums, and eat and drink your way through farm-to-table offerings and wine trail experiences.
Coastal towns, like Mystic and Norwalk, offer seaport museums and aquariums housing centuries-old ships and native sea life. Far too often, visitors miss this tiny state, traveling through en route to northern New England destinations. But slowing down and spending some time in Connecticut can truly deliver a well-rounded vacation experience.
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Enjoy Thrills At The Countrys Oldest Amusement Park
Thrill-seekers looking for a day of family-friendly fun can ride the coasters at Lake Compounce. The oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States, this 332-acre park includes a beach and water park with the price of admission.
Its one of the coolest things to do in Connecticut for families with kids, as youll find a long list of heart-pounding adventures for everyone. Test your bravery on the Boulder Dash, an award-winning wooden coaster, or see if you can tackle the Phobia Phear Coaster that reaches speeds of up to 65 miles an hour.
In addition to roller coasters, this park features classic carousel rides and giant Ferris wheels for those who prefer a more low-key adventure. Kid-friendly train rides take you around the park, while the Ghost Hunt lets you hunt down ghosts in the Bleakstone Manor.
If you need to cool off, head to the on-site water park Bayou Bay. Kick back and relax on the Croc-O-Nile lazy river or plunge down the cascading waterfall at Mammoth Falls. Alternately, opt to drive a mini-Corvette around the race track or zoom around in a bumper car.
There you have it! The 25 best things to do in Connecticut. Whats your favorite thing to do in The Nutmeg State?
Planning a trip to Connecticut? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!
