If you’re travelling in the New England area of the
U.S., one of the nicest states to stop in for a visit is
Connecticut. This small north-eastern state is divided into
eight counties and is the 29th most-populated state in the
country with about 3.5 million people and the third smallest in
size. The largest city is Bridgeport and the capital is
Hartford. Other major cities include New Haven, Waterbury,
Stamford, Norwalk, New Britain, Bristol, and Danbury.
The state has quite a history and is one of the
oldest in America as it became just the fifth one to join the
Union back in 1788. The area was inhabited by Native Americans
and the first Europeans to settle were Dutch. However, the first
major towns were set up by the English in the 1630s. In 1662 it
became a crown colony of Britain along with 12 others. However,
the residents fought against British rule during the American
Revolution to gain independence.
Like most American states, this one features a
wide variety of landscapes and some attractive rural areas,
beaches, state forests, farms, rivers, waterfalls, and
mountains. These include Bear Mountain, the Connecticut River,
the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Quinebaug and
Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor; as well as
the Weir Farm National Historic Site. If it’s history you like,
then you’ll also be interested in the Scoville Memorial Library
as it’s the oldest public library in America, dating back to
1771.
The state has no access to the sea, but it’s
still pretty close to the Atlantic Ocean and that often dictates
its weather. It’s pretty warm and humid in the summers and cold
in the winters with the average temperatures going down to about
31 degrees Fahrenheit.
Culturally, there’s a real interesting mix of
nationalities and they have all influenced things such as the
arts and cuisine. These include Italian, Irish, English, German,
Polish, Hungarian, Dutch, and Portuguese people.
There are several interstates that lead into
Connecticut so it’s pretty easy to reach by car. In fact,
sometimes the roads are quite busy because the state is so close
to New York City. This has some benefits though as there’s an
extensive rail network between New York and Connecticut,
especially to New Haven. Amtrak also makes stops at several
cities, so riding the rails is a pretty common way to get to,
and around the region. There’s a ferry service from Port
Jefferson, New York into Bridgeport and a state-wide bus service
if you don’t feel like battling the traffic. The international
airport is in Windsor Locks, which is just outside of Hartford.
There are also some regional airports throughout the state if
you’d like to take a short trip.
Some of the other top attractions to check out
include Yale University and its museums, the Mystic Seaport, and
the Maritime Aquarium. If you’re into gambling there are two
large Native American casinos to try your luck at. These are the
Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, and Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket.
There are several historical forts and botanical gardens as well
as amusement parks, lighthouses, and the Beardsly Zoo in
Bridgeport.
Connecticut doesn’t have any major- league
professional sports teams, but it’s still pretty active as the
PGA stops there for the Travelers Championship, which used to be
the Greater Hartford Open. There are quite a few motorsport
events throughout the year as well as the annual Pilot Pen
Tennis Tournament. There are a few minor league teams, but many
residents make the short trip to New York to catch major pro
teams.
Hotels, motels, and quaint country inns are all
over the place and there are restaurants just about everywhere
you look, especially in New Haven. These include fine
establishments that serve food from all over the world.
While Connecticut is so close to New York, it
retains its small-state charm. It’s rich in nature, history,
art, and beauty and if you want to turn things up a notch, has
plenty of big cities to enjoy.
About Connecticut