Take in the spectacular vista in all directions from the 165-foot Heublein Tower, the former summer home of a prominent Hartford family. Within the tower is a museum of local history. It's a scenic 1.25 mile hike to the tower and picnic area. The familiar Farmington River Valley landmark of Heublein Tower sits atop Talcott Mountain, a long, precipitous wooded ledge named after the Talcott family. The 165-foot structure was built as a summer home in 1914 by Gilbert Heublein. Hiking the Tower Trail is 1.25 miles long; a walk to the Tower takes approximately 30-40 minutes. The Tower is accessed

A two+ acre site in the center of town features a special collection of 10 historic buildings, gardens and a gift shop. The grounds and gardens are always open during daylight hours for self-guided tours. Guided tours of the Phelps Tavern, built circa 1771, are offered Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Please call ahead to book your tour. The Visitors Center and Gift Shop are open year round, Thursdays through Saturdays, from noon until 4 p.m.

Explore this nature sanctuary with 1,200 acres, 11 miles of trails with gardens, raptor aviaries, picnic area, interpretive building, nature store and more. Audubon Sharon, consisting of the Sharon Audubon Center and Emily Winthrop Miles Wildlife Sanctuary, has been connecting people with nature for fifty years. Creating life-changing experiences that enable community members and their families to appreciate, understand and protect the natural world is at the very core of our mission. The Sharon Audubon Center is a nature center and wildlife sanctuary owned and operated by the National Audubon

Travel Mystic Aquarium’s indoor and outdoor exhibits to visit with thousands of creatures including beluga whales, African penguins, rescued seals, colorful fish and more. Roll up your sleeves and touch a shark, stingray or even an exotic reptile. Complimentary sea lion shows provide a truly unique opportunity to see these fascinating animals up-close and in action. Go back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the planet in Jurassic Giants: A Dinosaur Adventure ! Encounter dinosaurs that ‘fly’ above, lurk around every corner and get you thinking about how to protect our planet. Plus, a robust

Stunning galleries overlooking the Mystic River create a beautiful location for visitors to enjoy exceptional exhibitions curated from the Museum's permanent collections, or on loan from public and private lenders. The Museum presents monthly Looking at Art gallery talks and its signature Collectors Roundtable discussions of the art of collecting. A Visiting Artists Gallery alllows visitors to explore their own creative responses to the artwork featured in the exhibition galleries. MMoA offers boundless opportunities for visitors to unleash their creativity in fun classes, workshops, and

Wesleyan Potters, Inc. is a non-profit school and cooperative guild founded in 1948 to promote the learning and development of skills in crafts. Not just a pottery studio, Wesleyan Potters offers classes in three different media: weaving, metalsmithing and ceramics. We also offer Youth Pottery, Jewelry, Weaving and Sewing classes for children ranging from grade school up to high school. Additionally, we offer jewelry, ceramics, weaving and basketry workshops which feature demonstrations and hands-on experiences with nationally known craftspeople. Our classes are typically 9 weeks long and

Built in c.1817, Federal-style home with museum exhibits including decorative arts and Civil War artifacts. Tour time: 30-45 minutes Other amenities: Dining Nearby

A Connecticut favorite, this traditional family amusement park is home to a wooden roller coaster, "Splash Away Bay" waterpark, and other rides and attractions, in addition to a lakefront with beach and boat rides too. Ride the award-winning "Wooden Warrior" roller coaster, and the FRANTIC 360 thrill ride. "Splash Away Bay" waterpark features a variety of slides, a huge tipping bucket, and "Fish Pond," a splash pad for the little ones. More than two dozen rides and attractions including Tidal Wave Swinging Ship, Laser Maze Challenge, lakeside beach, boat rides, catered outings, food

Meriden, the Indians’ pleasant valley, situated between Hartford the river town, and New Haven the seaport, is halfway between these two early towns. The oldest house in Meriden is the 1711 Solomon Goffe House, built on an old Indian trail. This old trail later became the Old Colony Road, one of the oldest roads in Connecticut, now called North Colony Road, our number is 677. This old house is an English Gambrel roofed house, with all its history and charm of a time long gone. Walk through the gateway, past the picket fence, of wide boards with a small space-in-between only large enough so a

Large center-chimney Colonial, period rooms from 1717 to 1941, furnished with family heirlooms. This unique house museum allows the visitor to take a glimpse into the life of an American farm family encompassing five different periods of American history at one historic site. Tour time: 1 hour