{"id":2952,"date":"2023-03-16T07:59:18","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T07:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.aerlingus.com\/?p=2952"},"modified":"2024-10-03T10:23:04","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T10:23:04","slug":"connecticut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/connecticut\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you need to connect with Connecticut"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One of America\u2019s smallest states, Connecticut is the perfect destination if you like to include a little driving on your holiday.<\/h3>\n

Not so vast that you can\u2019t move around it with ease, Connecticut nevertheless has so much to offer.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Home to American author Mark Twain as he wrote some of his most memorable works, the \u2018Constitution State\u2019 is rich in historical importance. Beyond that, however, Connecticut also possesses astounding natural beauty. Located south of Massachusetts and north of New York State on the Atlantic coastline, it’s the ideal place to go if you’re looking to explore what America\u2019s north-eastern coast has to offer.<\/p>\n

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Literary Giants<\/h4>\n

Mark Twain\u2019s Family Home<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Located in Connecticut\u2019s capital city of Hartford, you\u2019ll need to make sure your trip takes in a visit to the home of one of America\u2019s most widely-loved authors, Mark Twain. Born Samuel Clemens of Missouri in 1835, Twain lived in this house between 1874 to 1891. Described by his biographer as \u2018part steamboat, part medieval fortress and part cuckoo clock,\u2019 it was in this house that Twain would compose some of his most celebrated works; bringing characters like Tom Sawyer and, of course, Huckleberry Finn, to life. Fully restored and open to the public, the Mark Twain House & Museum<\/a> also offers a whole host of special events catered to everyone from the literary aficionados, to families travelling with young children.<\/p>\n

Harriet Beecher Stowe Centre<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Harriet Beecher Stowe\u2019s novel Uncle Tom\u2019s Cabin was the second best-selling book across the whole of the 19th century. Considering it was only published in 1852 is one thing, that the book ranked #1 was the bible is another. Beyond its commercial success however, Stowe\u2019s novel played an important role in shifting the attitudes of those who supported slavery, and, in the opinions of some scholars and historians, hastened the onset of the American Civil War. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, you can visit the home that has now become a conversational, interactive museum that encourages visitors to participate along with your guide. Learning all about Stowe herself, the tour also covers a whole range of social and cultural issues from the 19th century; from slavery to the role of women in society, from immigration to equal pay. A truly fascinating experience, one of America\u2019s smallest states has certainly left a lasting literary mark on the whole country.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Outdoor Pursuits<\/h4>\n

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Mystic Seaport Museum<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The self-proclaimed \u2018leading maritime museum\u2019 across the whole of America, the Mystic Seaport Museum<\/a> is a little bit special. Boasting over 500 historic watercraft amongst its collection, it’s also home to the world\u2019s oldest whaleship; the 1841 Charles W. Morgan \u2013 something to get those fans of Moby Dick excited. However, beyond this incredible collection, the Mystic Seaport Museum really strives to bring America\u2019s maritime past to life. With its recreated New England coastal village and a working shipyard, visitors are guaranteed an authentic experience of life from a distant time. You\u2019ll meet historians, storytellers, musicians and craftspeople who conjure up an image of life as it were for a 19th century, sea-faring American. It even has a planetarium that lets you see how sailors of old used to rely on the stars to navigate their ships. Demonstrating the skills and techniques of traditional shipbuilding, this is also a fantastic place for families. From swabbing the decks of the children\u2019s museum, to building a toy boat souvenir, the Mystic Seaport Museum offers an interactive experience that won\u2019t be forgotten. By the way, the town of Mystic itself is home to some of Connecticut\u2019s loveliest coffee shops. Check them out here<\/a> before you go.<\/p>\n

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Chasing Waterfalls<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Connecticut is one of the places to go if you\u2019re looking to experience nature at its most awe-inspiring. Home to an incredible number of waterfalls, if you\u2019re up for an adventure, this could be exactly what you\u2019re looking for. One of the most popular spots is Enders Falls in the Enders State Forest. Offering an accessible trail that takes you right to the waterfall, visit in the Autumn months and the changing colour of the forest landscape will make for an astounding sight.<\/p>\n

Indian Well Falls is another of Connecticut\u2019s beautiful waterfalls. Unlike Ender\u2019s Falls, you\u2019ll be able to stop off here and \u2013 if you\u2019re thinking ahead \u2013 enjoy a picnic on the shaded grove at the water\u2019s edge. Although you\u2019re not allowed to swim around the waterfall itself, there is a little beach close by where you can go to cool off. For the more adventurous among you, the Great Falls are where you should be looking to go. Located near the aptly-named Falls Village, this 60-foot high waterfall allows you to get into a kayak and manoeuvre around beneath the cascading water. Not one for the faint-hearted, make sure to take a trip into the nearby village when you\u2019re through. With its churches, railroad depot, streets and houses, Falls Village prides itself on looking like it never moved beyond the 1800s \u2013 the perfect way to relax after kayaking under a 60-foot high waterfall. For an even broader look at all the outdoor activities available to visitors, check it out here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Food & Drink<\/h4>\n

High-Tea<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you enjoy the finer things in life, there’s no doubt you\u2019ve been tempted to go for a spot of high tea in London. Well, lo and behold, the people of Connecticut are past masters at serving up some delicious afternoon treats. With town names like New London, New Britain, Bristol and Norwich, perhaps this shouldn\u2019t be such a surprise. If you fancy Tea With Tracey<\/a> in the town of Seymour, a wonderful selection of homemade sandwiches and cakes will be complemented with 220 different tea selections. Mrs. Bridges\u2019 Pantry<\/a> in the town of Woodstock strives to create a more quintessentially English experience. Along with its homemade jam and clotted cream, it goes so far as to offer baked beans on toast and a steak and kidney pie. If you really want to go all out, however, the Bee & Thistle Inn<\/a> of Old Lyme might just tempt you. Only offering their Afternoon Tea<\/a> during the festive period, the Bee & Thistle Inn is an ideal spot for any romantic getaway you have planned. Located along the coast, it offers a spa on the premises, along with art exhibitions and live performances from a whole host of various musicians.<\/p>\n

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Chamard Vineyards<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Located near the coastal town of Clinton, the Chamard Vineyards<\/a> allows you to experience a New England winery held up to the finest French traditions. One of the regions many wineries, the Chamard Vineyards is just one stop on Connecticut\u2019s wine trail<\/a>. Offering wine-tasting and vineyard tours, the Chamard Vineyard also possesses a \u2018French-inspired\u2019 bistro. With its farm-to-table service, it is a wonderful way to experience authentic, locally-sourced food in a beautiful surrounding environment.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Hitting the Road<\/h4>\n

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Setting out from Hartford, you\u2019ll only be slightly more than a three-hour drive from New York City; less then that again into Boston. So, if you want to combine Connecticut\u2019s natural beauty with a day or two in the big city, this will be very doable indeed. However, if you\u2019d prefer to take in some of New England\u2019s lesser-spotted sights, Hartford is the perfect place to kick off your east-coast American road-trip.<\/p>\n

Hidden Beaches Road Trip<\/strong>
\nWorth visiting at any time of year, Connecticut\u2019s beaches are a sight to behold. With their incredible views of the Atlantic, a two-hour drive from Bluff Point in the north to the Cove Island Wildlife Sanctuary in the south will let you decide what appeals to you most. A trip that takes in six beaches in total, you can plan out your route with this extremely helpful interactive map<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Castle Road Trip<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Certainly one for the architecturally-minded, as Mark Twain\u2019s 19th century house proves, Connecticut is the place to go for exquisitely designed buildings. With so much European influence feeding into the state\u2019s early architecture, some of these buildings will undoubtedly resemble ones you have seen before. However, they are not just for looking at. Inside many, you can take a walk around and explore the incredible job that has been done restoring and furnishing them. You can take a look at the route here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Small Towns Road Trip<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Although you might stumble across some of Connecticut\u2019s beautiful small towns whilst exploring the state anyway, this trip makes sure you experience some of the most memorable of all. Taking in eight different towns, you\u2019ll see a version of America you may have thought had already vanished. Maybe a bit too much to take in during one day of driving, you could build a whole trip around visiting these small towns one by one. A view of the route is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Fly direct to Hartford, Connecticut and start planning your ideal getaway.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Book Now<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":3005,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2270,1469],"class_list":["post-2952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-trip","category-destinations"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy you need to connect with Connecticut - Aer Lingus Hub<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n