Connecticut: A World-Class Destination

From coastline to mountains, with over 100 state parks, 30 state forests, and waterfalls, Connecticut is a playground for adventure – and it’s all so close together.

Connecticut’s top rated hiking trails are just the start of its natural beauty. The state is ideal for biking, kayaking, waterfall chasing, rock climbing, and more.

Visit in the summer and spend the day with your toes in the sand at Connecticut’s beaches. Then take adrenaline waterside and try watersports from waterskiing to wakeboarding. Feel like slowing down? Charter a boat and see the best of Connecticut!

If you visit in the fall, expect a beautiful, vibrant eruption of color from our foliage – one you really can’t miss. Make leaf peeping your top activity and discover bold colors and jaw dropping scenery. Feel like going extreme? View foliage from the heights!

Next on your list, pick your own at Connecticut farms! Stop by any one of Connecticut’s farms and find yourself perfect pumpkins or apples! Or snap the perfect pumpkin picture at these Insta-worthy pumpkin patches. Bring the kids to apple orchards, cider mills, and farm stands to enjoy sweet fall treats. 

Connecticut's world-class casinos will take you a world away. Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, both ranked among the top 10 casinos in the U.S., pair extensive gaming with exceptional dining, shopping, spas, live entertainment, and stylish hotels.

Owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Foxwoods Resort Casino offers all kinds of gaming across seven casinos, AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants, spas, state-of-the-art theaters, exclusive retailers, and the #1-rated golf course in Connecticut.

Created by the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is one of the country’s top resort casinos. And for so many reasons! In addition to two distinctive casinos, it offers exceptional dining, top-rated hotel accommodations, retail shopping, three live entertainment venues, nightlife, great retail shopping, a family entertainment facility, a luxurious spa — plus Mohegan Sun’s very own WNBA team, the Connecticut Sun.

Get ready to shop ‘til you drop. In Connecticut, you'll find shopping experiences at one-of-a-kind boutiques in bustling downtowns, outlet malls, antiquing havens, and even shops by A-list designers. Find more below.

Connecticut is tops. Did you know we’re home to the #1 ranked pizza in the U.S.? In fact, New Haven’s Wooster Street is a mecca for some of the nation’s best pizza. Across town, you’ll find the official birthplace of the hamburger – Louis’ Lunch. And you might be surprised to know two of Connecticut’s BBQ restaurants were ranked among the top in the country.

And seafood? We do that well. Very well. In fact, the hot buttered lobster roll was invented in Connecticut. And we’re an amazing destination for oysters.

You’ll find all the best of classic New England life in Connecticut. Explore small town charm. Discover American maritime and steam train history. Cruise to lighthouses. And see it all on a coastal road trip.

Adventurers will be happy to know that Connecticut has been named the #1 state in the U.S. for hiking! And after you’ve reached the summit, unwind and relax at Winvian Farm, named the U.S.’s #1 destination spa.

Connecticut’s food scene is like no other. It’s uniquely independent – with a whopping 98% of restaurants independently owned. That means less chains and more privately operated mom-and-pop restaurants, offering meticulously curated menus with local ingredients and plenty of passion.

If you want to sophisticate your palate, award-winning restaurants in Connecticut are Michelin rated, Zagat reviewed, and James Beard award winners. And if you want to zero in on your favorite brew or bite, tour our food trails from the Beer Trail and Wine Trail to the Chocolate Trail, Pizza Trail, and more.

Still hungry? Dig in below.
 

If you’re looking for arts, culture, live music, theater, creative hubs, and unique hidden gems…we’ve got that! And in fact, we have some of the best.

Connecticut's flourishing theater scene is a Tony Award-winning destination including six producing theaters – and many served as the launchpad for hit Broadway shows. Meanwhile, our art community is world-class, featuring galleries, museums, home and garden tours, architectural marvels, and deep roots in Impressionism.

Music lovers will find Connecticut hits all the right notes. See A-list acts, indie bands, and emerging artists. Plus, experience major music festivals and outdoor concert series to record shops and venues with eclectic histories.

Explore more ideas below.

There’s so much to do in Connecticut, you really need an overnight break to catch your breath. Luckily, Connecticut has lots of places to stay over in style, from cozy country inns to luxury waterfront resorts. Splurge on a beach house rental or spend the night in a campground at an amusement park!

Find amazing accommodations here and get more ideas below.

For a more enjoyable start to your trip, fly into Bradley International Airport (BDL). The airport that travelers have voted one of the best in the nation offers all the big airport amenities you love with the small airport convenience you want – meaning less crowds, less stress, and more joy.

BDL's Ground Transportation Center makes your trip even easier with convenient rental car services and access to public transportation all in one spot connected to the terminal. Not to mention BDL is in a central, quiet area, free from the overwhelming crowds you might find flying into a bigger city.

And to make your trip even smoother, those traveling with Aer Lingus will also benefit from the added convenience of U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance offered in Dublin Airport. This means that Bradley International Airport bound passengers will be able to complete all necessary US-entry requirements in Dublin before their departure with no further checks needed in Connecticut.

There's so much to see and do in Connecticut — the fun never ends. So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip today and start making unbeatable memories in this world-class destination!

Looking for more? Find inspiration for all sorts of adventures here, or browse our pre-planned itineraries.