~ Top 10 Attractions in Connecticut, USA ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Attractions in Connecticut, USA

If you have never traveled to the state of Connecticut in the United States then you may not know of all the wonderful places it has to offer and even if you have you still might not know but this top 10 list will enlighten you as to what can be found in the quiet state. Connecticut has long been a major player throughout Americas short but great history and there are many sites within the triumphant state that reflect that proud past and even if you are not a history buff it is still fun and exciting to see all the historical sites that make their home in the state of Connecticut. This list will also put you a step ahead of the competition (other tourists) by letting you know where the best Parks are found as well. So when you visit the park make sure you have this list handy or book mark it for quick access so you dont miss out on any of the fun that Connecticut has to offer.


1. Connecticut State Capitol, Hartford
 


The Connecticut State Capital in Hartford is one of the states most prized landmarks as it has been around since the American Revolution, although since then it has been rebuilt nearly three times. Today the building holds the State Senate and the House of Representatives as well as the governors office. The building was first built in the year 1871, there was an older church building that stood where the current building now stands. The construction took about 7 year to finally complete and in the same year it held its first assembly. The building is meticulously detailed and is made primarily out of white marble. The design of the building is of three elements, French, Gothic revival and Eastlake, which it is the largest building in the Eastlake style. Upon entering the building you will find that there is many ornate designs along the walls and some highly detailed statues spread throughout.

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2. Mark Twain House, Hartford
 


Also in Hart Ford Connecticut is the Mark Twain house, which is now a museum, was home to the great author and poet for nearly twenty years, until the family had to move back to England due to failing investments. Samuel Longhorne Clemens, which is Mark Twains real name, had the house built in a Victorian Gothic style which was great choice for the 19 room home. The home is recognized for its inspiring atmosphere as it the place where the famed writer wrote some of his most notable works such as Huckleberry Fin and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In 1972 the writers home was declared a national landmark and two years later a multi-million dollar remodel took place and an addition was added on to the home to showcase the authors great works. The home is in almost perfect shape just as Mark Twain left it in and now even you can enter his personal study that no one was allowed to enter except the cleaning staff and male guests.

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3. Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven
 


Lighthouse Point Park in New haven is called so due to its Giant light house, which is around 18 feet wide at its base and stands over 30 feet high. The octagon shaped lighthouse has been around for nearly a century guiding sailors safely home to land. The first lighthouse that stood in the park was constructed of wood in 1804; the area has long been a port for fisherman and explorers. There are many beachfront areas for visitors to enjoy and there are even pavilions you can rent for a big or small get together. The park also has shower facilities too. In the year 1990 the lighthouse that stands now was found its place on the register for historic places. Also at the park is the building where you will find the East Shore Ranger Program, kids will enjoy stopping at the ranger building, learning about marine creatures and seeing some hands on in the touch tank is some of the things you will do at the ranger building.

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4. Yale University, New Haven
 


Yale University is just that, a university for students looking to get their education before going out into the world at large but it is worth visiting on any day. The University is the 3rd oldest place of higher education in the United States and has produced some of the worlds most notable figures, which includes 49 Nobel Prize candidates, five United States presidents and it was also the first school to award the PHD degree. The school was started by a group of clergymen originally, so they could have a place to train clergy members for the new colony but throughout the years it developed into a place to learn more than just religious practices. The original school was built in 1701. In present day the universitys main rival is Harvard when it comes to athleticism and its library has grown to over 12.5 million book volumes from the few thousand it started out with.

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5. Mystic Seaport, Mystic
 


The Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut is a magical place as it is a living museum of seafaring history established in 1929. The site now contains around 60 historic buildings that were either restored or moved to the site for preservation. The seaport is most famous for its reconstruction of wooden exploration vessels of past explorers and its acquisition of old boats that are at least a few centuries old. The most notable acquisition of such a vessel, which actually brought rise to the seaports fame was the purchase of the Charles W. Morgan, which to this day it is the only remaining wooden sailing boat left in the world. The purpose of the ship during its heyday was for the hunting and capture of whales in the days of the whaling industry. Now with its huge historic presence the Mystic Seaport receives about 400,000 visitors each year.

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6. Bushnell Park, Hartford
 


Hartford is the main site of development in Connecticut throughout the states long lived history,  is which why many of the best parks of the state and the states greatest historical sites are found in the big city. Bushnell Park is one of those parks found in the city of Hartford and it is very nice in all meanings of the word. The park has almost been around since the founding of what is now known as America, it is the first publically founded park in the United States. The park was established by a reverend in the early years of the American colonies in 1850s. Throughout the years of the American development many statues and monuments of key players of Americas history were erected including a monument to the American Revolution, commemorating many of those that participated in the war, at least those who contributed officially.

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7. Hammonasset State Park, Madison
 


Located in Madison of New Haven County in Connecticut is another great park, the Hammonasset State Park, which is a park of many activities that the whole family can enjoy. Being the largest beach park in the state of Connecticut has its advantages such as 2 miles of shoreline to enjoy. The origins of the beach park are found in the parks name itself, as the word "Hammonasset” means "The place where we dig many holes”. This history of the park is derived from the Woodland Indians who once inhabited the lands before the lands were occupied by early European settlers. The Indians used the land, which is now the park to harvest vegetables and their main source of livelihood, the harvest of corn. There are many things to do in the park such as hiking, kayaking, surfing and picnicking of course that is aside from just tanning out in the sun.

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8. Greenwich, Connecticut
 


The city Greenwich in Connecticut may be home to many of the states biggest financial institutions and hedge fund but aside from it being a haven for financial firms it is also a site that many travelers like to visit. The town which was first settled in 1640 has been frequently voted one of the best places to call home in the United States and it earns this title almost every year. The current vote in this category has left the town holding the 12th place ribbon for the prestigious recognition. The city played a huge role in the American Revolution and it was the place, where one man escaped from his British captors to warn the cities further out such as Stamford. The city also has three islands that are part of its township; One is Calf Island, which more than half of its 29 acres are reserved as a bird sanctuary.

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9. Sherwood Island State Park

Set on the Long Island Sound is Sherwood Island State Park another fabulous park found in Connecticut with a ton of remarkable views to enjoy. The area of the park is over 234 acres of wetlands, beach and woodlands this brings many visitors to the park grounds to hike and explore the natural reserve. Visitors also come to the park to take part in the many exciting water sports that can be found in the park, mainly on the shoreline. A unique feature of the parks beaches is that there are three different colors of sand and the waves separate them all into their own layers. Some of the sands are made up of quartz, these are the white sands. The black sand is made up of magnetite and the red sands are composed of garnet. These colorful sands are what attract many of the parks visitors.

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10. Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford



The last place on in Connecticut that you shouldnt miss is the Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford. The 230 acre park is open to the public year round and includes a botanical garden for visitors to explore and picnic in. The park also houses a 42 room immaculate mansion that used to belong to Edward Harkness who was heir to his fathers riches that were raised after investing into Rockefellers Standard Oil, a wise investment for sure. The gardens of the park were all designed and planted by the friends and park officials of Mr. Harkness and they are who brought the gardens to the magnificent beauty they express to this day. They include Italian, Chinese and cutting gardens that are meticulously landscaped to very specific standards. The park and mansion should not be missed, during the week and sometimes on the weekends you can take a guided tour of the grand mansion and learn about the history of the park and the estate itself.



Connecticut is truly a great state to visit with an overflow of history and natural wonders of Mother Nature and now with this list they will be easier to find for those who arent familiar with all the wonderful sites found in the great state. There are many reasons to travel to Connecticut and these places in the list are some of the reasons why you should make your next holiday vacation in the state, even if you are just passing through the state on a road trip of sorts, these 10 places are a great place to stop on the way to your destination. Remember these ten places next time you are planning to be in the state and stop by if even if just for a moment.