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Connecticut

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Connecticut [1] is a small New England state, full of charm, rural beauty and several major cities. The State's top tourist attractions include Yale University, which maintains numerous world-class museums, Mystic Seaport, the restaurant and nightlife scene in downtown New Haven, and two major Native American casinos.

[edit] Regions

From West to East:

[edit] Cities

Some of the principal cities in Connecticut are:

[edit] Other destinations

Connecticut is rich with history, nature, art and beauty. Truly something for everyone. While many people are drawn each year to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casinos, there is much more in this state. There are a number of beaches at the shore, state parks and forests throughout the state, and many smaller parks as well. Gillette Castle State Park in East Hadaam is an excellent family destination. So is the Essex Steam Train and River Boat Ride in Essex.

[edit] Beaches

Some of the most well-known beaches include:

  • Hammonassett State Park, Madison.
  • Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme. Aside from the beach, Rocky Neck also offers a large camp ground where visitors may come in contact with deer and wild turkey, and a hiking trail that leads up a small mountain.
  • Lighthouse Point Beach, New Haven.
  • Savin Rock, West Haven

[edit] Understand

Like most of New England, the weather in Connecticut is varied with the seasons. It can be highly unpredictable in the spring and fall months, however, throughout the year there is little certainty on exactly what the weather will do.

It is recommended to bring clothes for a variety of temperatures when visiting, and to check the weather report closely. Although there are periods of little or no rain, a raincoat or umbrella are good items to pack. Warm clothes in the winter and light clothes in the summer are also important, although it is recommended to pack a light jacket, even in the summer months.

[edit] Talk

New Britain, Connecticut is well known for its large Polish community. Large cities in Connecticut, such as Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury have significant Hispanic populations. Bridgeport also has a small Brazilian area. New Haven's Chinatown caters to Mandarin speakers, and Wooster St serves as the city's "Little Italy."

[edit] Get in

Bradley International Airport(BDL) in Windsor Locks is the state's largest airport. Nearby to Hartford and Springfield (Massachusetts), it has increased its volume at a rapid pace. Southwest Air, one of the discount airlines serves Bradley. You also could fly into Logan International in Boston (about a 80-90 minute drive), or any of the three New York area airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark).

  • Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, 155 Burr Street, New Haven, +1 203 466-8833, [2]. A smaller airport.
  • There is also a ferry that leaves from Port Jefferson, Long Island to Bridgeport daily, cars are allowed on that ferry.

Amtrak provides frequent service to Connecticut destinations on trains between Penn Station in New York City and South Station in Boston. MetroNorth provides requent weekday commuter service from Grand Central Station Manhattan and several cities and towns in southwestern Connecticut's Fairfield and New Haven counties.

As with trains, there are frequent intercity buses between South Station Boston and Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan with stops in Connecticut. Major bus lines serving Connecticut include Peter Pan and Greyhound.

Those entering Connecticut by car from the west can choose from three major routes. Interstate 84 enters Danbury, Connecticut from Pennsylvania and the lower Hudson Valley of New York and continues to Waterbury, Hartford and Worcester. The Merrit Parkway, closed to trucks and buses, enters the state from New York's Westchester County, and is considered one of America's most scenic highways because of how its design matches the bucolic leafiness of the suburbs that surround it. An extension of the Parkway tunnels under a hill north of New Haven and continues to Meriden where it merges with Interstate 91 going north towards Hartford and beyond. Interstate 95 traverses the east coast of the United States from Maine to Florida, and runs along Connecticut's coast from east to west. The visitor should be aware I-95 North according to federal road signs is actually going East in Connecticut, and I-95 South is going West in Connecticut. Between New York and New Haven I-95 goes through densely populated suburbs and is heavily congested. East (North according to directional signs on the road) of New Haven I-95 goes through more rural coastal towns and is not so congested.

Entering the state from Boston involves taking the Massachusetts Turnpike also known as Interstate 90 west to I-84, or Route 6, a two-lane road, or Interstate 95 from Rhode Island.

[edit] Get around

Car is usually best.

[edit] By bus

  • Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT), 100 Leibert Road, Hartford, Phone: +1 860 522-8101, Fax: +1 860 247-1810, [3].
  • Bridgeport is served by its own service.
  • New Haven is also served by a free electric trolley system that runs the downtown area.

[edit] See

  • Yale University and museums in New Haven.

[edit] Do

Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport in Mystic

[edit] Casinos

Connecticut is home to the world's largest casino, Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard. The resort includes three hotels with a total of over 1400 guest rooms.

The Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville is only slightly smaller with 1,200 guest rooms and a number of restaurants and shops.

[edit] Eat

  • Downtown New Haven is widely considered the restaurant capital of the state, with more top Zagat-rated restaurants than any other community in Connecticut by a wide margin. Interesting ethnic restaurants, including Eritrean, Malaysian, Turkish, Spanish, French, Mexican, Cuban, Jamaican, Ethiopian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Southern and Northern Indian, Nepalese, Cantonese and Italian restaurants can be found throughout the city.
  • Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods have many fine restaurants.
  • Custy's International Seafood Buffet is an all you can eat buffet with shrimp, steak, and lobster. See Ledyard article.

[edit] Drink

[edit] Stay safe

Although Connecticut is well known for its affluence, and is the wealthiest state in America, unfamiliar areas should be visited with caution, especially at night. Connecticut is also well known for having very poor and unsafe inner city areas, most notably in Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven. On an overall basis, the state is considered one of the safest in the country.

[edit] Get out

Numerous cities are located within reasonable driving distance of Connecticut's major metropolitan areas: New York, Boston, Springfield, Providence, and Newark. Depending on traffic, Hartford is about a hour away from Bridgeport and about 40 minutes from New Haven on the highway.

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