Editor’s Note: During this period of social distancing, Group Tour magazine will continue to provide group travel inspiration. Many attractions and destinations are closed at this time; please contact them directly for updated information.
Hartford is located in the center of Connecticut, where Interstate 84 and Interstate 91 meet.
“Connecticut’s capital city is home to some of the most renowned arts, cultural and tourism attractions in the state and the country,” said Randy Fiveash, director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism. “Deeply rooted in history, Hartford is also looking to the future. It’s experiencing a renaissance — new ideas and developments that are bringing even more vibrancy to the shopping, dining and entertainment areas downtown and along the riverfront. These attractions and events, old and new, present a variety of activities and experiences for all types of visitors, from literature lovers and sports fans to craft beer aficionados and outdoor enthusiasts.”
Connecticut Office of Tourism
888-288-4748
ctvisit.com
SEE
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the United States. The Wadsworth, founded in 1842, has a collection of nearly 50,000 works of art, spanning 5,000 years. Its five connected buildings represent architectural styles including Gothic Revival, modern International Style and 1960s Brutalism.
TOUR
Head to The Mark Twain House & Museum. The house is the 25-room Victorian home in Hartford where author Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, lived with his family from 1874 to 1891 and wrote his greatest works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The house is shown by guided tour; the museum is self-guided.
EXPLORE
Directly across the lawn from the Mark Twain House is the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. Tour the preserved Victorian Gothic cottage, now a National Historic Landmark, where author Harriet Beecher Stowe lived for 23 years. Hear about the impact of her anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Discuss social issues of the 19th century and today.
STROLL
Located on the Hartford/West Hartford line, Elizabeth Park is home to a variety of gardens, including the first municipal rose garden in the United States and the third-largest rose garden in the country today. Roses peak in late June. The park opened in 1897. Private group tours are available for a fee.