Hit the Jackpot

Here are a couple of Connecticut destinations so big and multifaceted that they seem to beat with a pulse of their own. Great restaurants, a brilliant lineup of concerts and other entertainment, excellent accommodations and lots of gaming opportunities – there’s no other place quite like these two in all of New England.

1-3 days

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Winter
  • Fall

  • Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
  • Foxwoods Resort Casino
  • Mohegan Sun Casino
  • Outlet Shopping
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, Mashantucket

Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center

Looking for a “Wow, I never knew this place was here!” moment? Begin your getaway with a bit of misdirection: a visit to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, (seasonal) easily one of Connecticut’s best museums. This state-of-the-art facility focuses on the history and culture of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and other indigenous people in North America. Among the wow factors: an amazingly realistic walk through a 16th-century Indian village complete with the aroma of a campfire and sounds of woodland animals.

Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket

Foxwoods Resort Casino

When you enter Foxwoods, you enter a world unto itself, with a stunning variety of dining, entertainment, shopping and gaming options. Choose a restaurant and parlay it with a show. Dance 'til late, try your hand at blackjack, bowl a string or two, or shop at the casino’s brand new Tanger Outlets – the casino’s got you covered. Spend the night at one of the resort’s four hotels – the views from the upper floors of the Fox Tower seem to encompass all of southeastern Connecticut.

* Editor's Picks
Mohegan Sun, Uncasville

Mohegan Sun Casino

Now it’s on to Mohegan Sun Casino. Check in to your room and begin your stay with a visit to the Elemis Spa to work out the kinks from your night of dancing. Many dining options await at Mohegan Sun. Entertainment might include everything from a big-time concert, to a standup comedian to a WNBA basketball game or a free concert in the Wolf Den.

Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets, Clinton

Outlet Shopping

Still feeling lucky? On the way home, stop and look for bargains at two Connecticut outlet centers, both right off I-95. In Clinton, Clinton Crossing offers 70 designer outlets, including Kate Spade New York, Under Armour and J. Crew. In neighboring Westbrook, Tanger Outlet Center includes Rockport, Timberland and Williams-Sonoma among its dozens of stores. You can also shop Tanger’s newest outlet center at Foxwoods.

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