10 Great Experiences You Can Only Have in Connecticut

During a tech conference, I was able to stay at the Crowne Plaza in Stamford, Connecticut for the weekend. I was expecting a pretty normal conference: most of my time spent at the event, without a lot of chances to get out of the venue and my hotel and enjoy the rest of my time in Stamford. The tourism opportunities, however, surprised me. As it turns out, there are a number of experiences you can only have in Connecticut. Here are our favorites:

1. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was credited by Abraham Lincoln as one of the major factors in fighting the Civil War. At the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, you’re able to learn more about this inspiring woman and her life and work.

2. Mark Twain remains one of America’s greatest writers. At the Mark Twain House and Museum, it’s possible to go on a tour and learn a great deal more about this remarkable American legend.

3. The Stamford Museum and Nature Center contains more than 4,000 feet of exhibit space. It also has an 18-acre farm, an observatory, a nature center, a playground, and a trail system.

4. The Yale University Art Center has an incredible, eclectic collection like nothing you’ll find anywhere else. Among its exhibits are everything from coins and medals to modern and contemporary art. There are works by Giacometti, Picasso, Calder, Diebenkorn, and many others.

5. The Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the largest casino destinations in the world. It has gaming and 24/7 entertainers, but for those who are interested in a quieter experience, there are spa and golf facilities, boutique shopping, and fine dining opportunities.

6. The American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol has a collection of more than 1,000 timepieces. Many of these incredible works of art were made in shops right here in Connecticut.

7. The Mystic Aquarium and Seaport is a recreation of a 19th century whaling village complete with historic boats and ships. The seaport offers classes, workshops, and demonstrations as well as the opportunity to view an incredible array of marine life.

8. The Connecticut State Capitol is, of course, a landmark that shouldn’t be missed on any trip through the state.

9. Did you have a train phase when you were a kid? Know a little one who is still stuck in theirs? If so, the Danbury Railway Museum is the perfect stop on any tour of Connecticut’s landmarks. This 1903 station contains locomotives, passenger equipment, freight equipment, self-propelled cars, and plenty of other exhibits that will appeal to the child in you.

10. Do you get excited by antiques? The Woodbury Antiques Trail offers more than 30 professional antiques dealers. Among them, they cover almost every period and style in the world!

If you’re going to be visiting Connecticut, you shouldn’t miss out on any of these amazing opportunities, many of them things that you could experience nowhere else in the world. It astonished me to learn that Connecticut is a vast cultural center with opportunities available that can’t be found anywhere else. I can’t wait to go back and see what else I can find in this amazing state!

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About The Author:  Benny Wald is a content and communication specialist at Stamford Crowne Plaza Hotel. He enjoys nature, music, and spending time with his wife and 5 kids.
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