Hello all.. I am planning a mini-vacation to visit my friend who lives in Meriden I believe sometime this fall..
I guess I%26#39;m just wondering what kinds of things are a ';must do'; or ';must see'; on my trip. Also what are some neat day trips that can be taken? He does have a vehical. This will probably be one of the only times I will ever be to CT or even that area (I live in Northern Michigan) so I%26#39;m open for all suggestions on places to go and sites to see. Like I said, I%26#39;m willing to travel about 2 hours or so for a day trip to see things..
Thanks!!
Mini Vaca to CT
Go to the GOLIST in Hartford and I suggested things to do in ';Hartford day trip on a budget';. I strongly suggest going to The Mark Twain House on Farmington Avenue and next door to his is The Harriett Beecher Stowe House. Also our museum is the oldest in the States which has some of the finest art in the country (right in downtown Hartford) a block away, you can go to Bushnell Park and see over 100 different kind of trees and we have a 1914 carousel that you can ride for only $1.00 next to it, you will find a FINE piece of architecture which is the Soldier Arch (click on see Hartford for some photos that I posted). Check out Cedar Hills Cemetery where the late Katharine Hepburn (4 times Oscar winner) is buried. This cemetery is a beautiful place (they provide a tour guide pamphlet) so that you can see some of Hartford%26#39;s famous residents resting place. For a nice lunch...go to Vito%26#39;s by the Park (next to Bushnell Park) they have an oyster bar and some of the best pasta/pizza%26#39;s around. In downtown, you can see The Travelers Insurance Tower, The Phoenix (insurance) the first two sided building ever built. Down Farmington Avenue in the Hartford/West Hartford line, you will find Elizabeth Park with several gardens along its wildflower trail, a lovely pond and sports and concert facilities, is best known for its magnificent rose garden, with 800 varieties of roses. Hope this can help and WELCOME to CT! :)
Mini Vaca to CT
I don%26#39;t want to shortchange Hartford because I think its great but within 2 hours of Meriden are New York and Boston. You can drive to New Haven and take Metro North railroad into NY. If you haven%26#39;t visited these cities you should. If you%26#39;re in Ct in the fall you should check out some foliage in the rural areas. There are websites that can predict where the colors will be best when you visit. Visit one or both of the huge casinos and I%26#39;m fond of the Native American Museum near Foxwoods Casino. Have a steamed cheeseburger at Ted%26#39;s in Meriden and have fun in CT
Connecticut is much smaller than Michigan and you can pretty much go from corner to corner in a short time. Mystic Seaport and the New London sub base are nice areas to visit. Litchfield area is very historic and lovely to visit. You might want to take a tour of Yale university in New Haven. You can take a day trip to the Bershire%26#39;s in Massachusetts to see the splendid foliage. Hope that you enjoy your visit.
You%26#39;ve been given some great advice already! Excellent suggestions for Hartford, Litchfield, New London and extended trips to ever Historic Boston (Gorgeous) and the 8th wonder of the world NYC where I just came from. In fact I have a friend visiting from NYC and am looking for things for her to do. IF you go to New London, there is a gorgeous state park with a Mansion and gardens, an expansive lawn and a little Rustic New England beach with view of the sound. Harkenss Memorial Park in Waterford abutts New London, and is well worth a day trip and probably less than an hour from Meriden where I also have relatives. I have pic and would be happy to share then with you if you like. Have a great time. CT is great because we really do have many great things to do here and are smack in between 2 great cosmopolitan cities. Enjoy Connecticut! Ted%26#39;s was in NB and my Dad LOVED their bugers. Another good tip.
Gwenn
For a mii-vacation to Meriden Here are my top 5 things to do or see.
1. When in Meriden, go to the top of Castle Craig in Hubbard Park.
2. Go to Mohegan Sun Casino
3. Eat the best pizza on earth at Pepe%26#39;s on Wooster Street in New Haven
4. Visit a Connecticut Winery. There is one close to Meriden right in Wallingford called Gouveia Vineyards.
5. Take a day trip to NYC. Take Metro North train from New Haven right into Grand Central Station.
I second taking the train into NYC or going to Mystic.
Some good suggestions, but what kind of things do you want to do? If you are not a museum-goer and want to have fun it makes a big difference.
Since it will be in the Fall you have another great option......go to Salem Massachusetts! If you go in October, during the whole month it is lots of fun with lots to do, Salem Halloween Style.
If you are staying close to Meriden, you definitely should get to New Haven for pizza. Although you will hear all arguments on which is the best (I am a Sally%26#39;s Apizza girl), they are all good (including Modern Pizza). Plus nightlife and driving around the Yale Campus is great in New Haven, so you can make a day out of it.
Depending on when you come, there are all kids of Fairs in the Fall. The Durham Fair in CT and the Big E in Massachusetts are all day long events with sometimes a good concert thrown in as well. Check out CT Fairs when you know your date of arrival.
As many posters all said previously, you are close to NYC, Boston and Rhode Island if you want a day or so trip. You can leave Meriden early, take Rte 9 down to CT shoreline and spend some time on a scenic Rte 1 ride stop at Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun, and travel on through Mystic Seaport and into Rhode Island to Newport. Lots to do there too, as well as walk the mansion routes.
Right around Meriden, you have some great restaurants too. Yellowfins in Cheshire is excellent for better dining and then you could go to local bar, Sam the Clams in Southington for some great fried seafood and a band on Saturday night (not for the stuffy crowd, to say the least).
Here are some ideas for Meriden itself:
Fall would be a great time to hike up Castle Craig near Hubbard Park. It is a pretty easy hike and you get some great views! The park is nice for a little stroll too.
After your hike you should go to Ted%26#39;s Restaurant. It is a little hole in the wall place that serves great steamed cheeseburgers. It has been writtten up in a variety of travel magazines and guides. There is a Dairy Queen a couple of buildings up where you could grab an ice cream for dessert.
number one thing is to go get a PIZZA in New Haven:
yaleherald.com/archive/…p51pizza.html
and since you are on the shoreline - head over the Q bridge I-95 north toward Branford, get off Exit 56, take a right - and go until you see Long Island Sound,...
...pull up to the dock, and catch a tour boat ride :
http://www.thimbleislands.com/
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