Connecticut is home to seemingly endless things to do, whether you're interested in tasting some delicious food, learning about its history, or testing your luck at a casino resort. Adult entertainment and family-friendly fun are available in equal measure, as you can embark on a wine trail or ride a century-old carousel that overlooks the stunning New Haven Harbour. You'll always be able to find fun here, no matter what you're looking for. Learn all about the 10 best things to do in Connecticut.
- 1
Lighthouse Point Park Carousel
Experience incredible views from this antique carousel
- Families
- History
Lighthouse Point Park Carousel is more than a century old, yet it still offers fun rides that let you relax and enjoy the surrounding scenic views. When you ride on this antique carousel, you can look out across New Haven Harbour and Long Island Sound to see the sandy beaches and bright-blue waters. Given that it's located on a west-facing coast, you can also enjoy spectacular sunsets here as the red and orange colours blanket the beach and the waters of New Haven Harbour.
Location: 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT 06512, USA
Open: Memorial Day–Labour Day: Saturday–Sunday from noon to 4 pm (closed Monday–Friday)
Mapphoto by Jllm06 (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
- 2
The Glass House
Explore an architectural marvel
- Photo
- Unusual
The Glass House is a fascinating home built completely from glass that you can explore to gain insight into one of the most impressive examples of modernist architecture. The quirky aesthetic here can be explored via a scheduled tour. Because the tours involve relatively small groups, you can closely examine all the eccentricities of this house during your visit including the artwork and sculptures within. You'll even find depictions of other buildings designed by the same architect, Philip Johnson.
Location: 199 Elm St, New Canaan, CT 06840, USA
Open: Friday–Monday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed Tuesday–Thursday)
Phone: +1 203-594-9884
Mapphoto by Staib (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
- 3
Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Examine incredible contemporary art
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is the only museum in Connecticut dedicated entirely to contemporary art, and you can explore it all on a trip here. One of the most important things to know about this museum is that there are no permanent exhibits, so it's a destination you can keep coming back to for new experiences. The exhibitions can be fascinating, with one past example being Martin Creed's display of hundreds of balloons in the gallery space.
Location: 258 Main St, Ridgefield, CT 06877, USA
Open: Sunday–Monday and Wednesday–Friday from noon to 5 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +1 203-438-4519
Mapphoto by Robacols (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
- 4
Mohegan Sun
Test your luck at this massive casino
- Luxury
- Nightlife
Mohegan Sun is a massive entertainment facility that houses a casino along with an arena, a theatre, and a retail shopping centre to enjoy. The casino is home to quite a few different games you'd expect including poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette, but you'll also find baccarat, keno, and Caribbean stud poker. Of course, the casino has no shortage of slot machines as well, with more than 6,500 in total, so you won't have to look far to find one.
Location: 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382, USA
Open: 24/7
Phone: +1 860-862-8000
Map - 5
Mark Twain House
Explore this iconic historical home
- History
The Mark Twain House was the home of the legendary writer for quite some time and has since been turned into a comprehensive museum. During your visit, you can see much of Mark Twain's life including where he worked, ate, and slept. The museum also frequently hosts events that are particularly appealing to prospective writers. Writing workshops are common along with author talks, so you may also be able to work a bit on your own project in Twain's famous library.
Location: 385 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 4.30 pm
Phone: +1 860-247-0998
Map - 6
Hummock Island Oyster Tour
Learn everything you need to know about oysters
- Food
The Hummock Island Oyster Tour lets you learn all about oystering in Connecticut while you enjoy the delicious flavours of this state speciality. While learning about oystering, you'll discover the most important talent that every oyster enthusiast will need to have, and that's how to properly shuck oysters. Your adventure on this tour isn't just about learning, however, as you'll also be able to check out iconic seafood restaurants to experience how experts get every bit of flavour out of these bivalves.
Phone: +1 203-340-1311
- 7
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Enjoy endless entertainment and gaming
- Luxury
- Nightlife
Foxwoods Resort Casino is home to all the entertainment you could want, whether you're looking for games or live performances by big-name comedians. You'll find all sorts of games available at this casino including classics like poker, blackjack, craps, and slots, but that's just the beginning. You'll also find live performances with big-name talent frequenting the stage, including popular, world-famous joke tellers. Don't forget to check out the accompanying restaurants as well and their luxurious attention to detail and quality.
Location: 350 Trolley Line Blvd, Ledyard, CT 06338, USA
Open: 24/7
Phone: +1 860-312-3000
Map - 8
Connecticut Wine Trail
Trek through Connecticut's best wineries
- Food
- Shoppers
Embarking on the Connecticut Wine Trail makes it easy to enjoy the best of Connecticut's 40 wineries while keeping track of your progress and favourites. On the wine trail, you'll receive a passport that lets you keep track of the wineries you've visited and make a log of your favourite wines. With so many to explore throughout the state, you likely won't be able to hit them all during your holiday, so be sure to hold onto your passport. Visiting all 40 wineries is reason enough to keep coming back.
Phone: +1 860-713-2538
- 9
Mystic Pizza
Enjoy a slice of heaven
- Families
- Food
- History
Mystic Pizza is one of the most famous pizza restaurants in all of Connecticut and beyond, thanks to the film of the same name and the pizzeria's unrelenting dedication to flavour and quality. The secret to their success is well-kept, and it's what makes their pizza so delicious and addicting. Their secret recipe is unknown to any outsiders, but you can enjoy everything it has to offer when you grab a slice in their shop that has delighted diners for decades.
Location: 56 W Main St, Mystic, CT 06355, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 10 pm
Phone: +1 860-536-3700
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