Hartford, founded in 1636, is Connecticut’s capital and the state’s second-largest city. Rich in history, this revitalized city boasts quite a few attractions that will make a short stay in this classic New England town a pleasant experience. The downtown area offers a range of good accommodation and some unique restaurants close to major tourist sights and easily reached by rental car.
Getting there
Located about 19 miles north of the city, Bradley International Airport, in Windsor Locks, is served by several major airlines with daily connections to the major eastern air hubs. Amtrak has several daily trains on the route between New York City and Boston, stopping at Hartford and Windsor Locks. The trip to either New York or Boston takes about 2 hours, 30 minutes. Greyhound buses link Hartford to other major New England destinations. Checking out national travel deals at the airport can save time and money. For those travelling by road via car rental, interstate highways I-84 and I-91 intersect in Hartford (halfway between New York and Boston).
Key attractions
The first public art museum in the nation (1842), Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, retains some of the strongest collections in New England, in particular 19th and 20th century American paintings. Mark Twainеs Hartford Victorian mansion, where the author produced seven of his major works, is also located in Hartford. Hartford’s Old State House is the oldest in the nation and was designed by Charles Bulfinch in 1796. Other sights to visit in town after you’ve arranged your car rental include Constitution Plaza and the beautiful marble and granite Capitol building.
Out and about
The whole family can enjoy Six Flags New England theme park, located in Agawam and featuring more than 130 rides, shows, and attractions plus the new Hurricane Harbor water park. Alternatively, Foxwoods is New England’s largest casino and resort hotel, located in Ledyard. It’s also worthwhile taking a day trip to Old Sturbridge Village, in Sturbridge. This community is an authentic reproduction of a rural New England village with over 40 buildings, and a working farm. The New England Air Museum а the largest aviation museum in the northeast а is 15 minutes north of Hartford by rental car, in Windsor Locks.
Leisure options
You can spend some time relaxing and strolling in the rose gardens of Elizabeth Park, or visit the 1914 Bushnell Park Carousel with its intricately hand-carved 48 horses. Alternatively, Colt Park was originally the estate of the inventor of the Colt revolver. For more distant attractions, national travel deals can be useful when hiring a car.
Safety
Although Hartford is probably one of the safer cities in terms of crime, travellers in an unfamiliar environment can still have accidents or problems with travel arrangements. Additionally, driving on snowy or icy roads in winter can be tricky, with car accidents being a leading cause of death in the US. It is advisable to take out travel insurance for you and your family when visiting here.