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| River Valley Trail Getaway | |||
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Just a two-hour drive from New York City or Boston, Greater Hartford abounds with cultural treasures and a mélange of dining. Reserve the "Culture is Alive and Thriving in Hartford Package" (promo code: CUE) at the new Downtown Hartford Marriott which includes two admission tickets to the Wadsworth Atheneum. After checking in to the hotel, walk to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the nation’s oldest public art museum. Before exploring the museum’s renowned collections, stop for a sumptuous lunch at The Russell at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art…on the terrace, weather-permitting. For dinner, walk from the museum or hotel to Peppercorn's Grill for award-winning Italian cuisine.
That evening, before taking in a symphony, opera, Broadway show or jazz concert at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, dine at trend-setting Max Downtown for award-winning fare.
On Day Three, experience one of the nationally renowned homes of Mark Twain or Harriet Beecher Stowe before returning home .
For tourism information on the region, visit River Valley Regional Tourism District or call 800-793-4480. For tourism information on Connecticut, visit ctvisit.com. |
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| Fairfield County Trail Getaway | |||
Explore sophisticated Greenwich and Coastal Fairfield County, just 35 miles from New York City, known as Connecticut's Gold Coast while you discover five world-class museums and historic sites along the Connecticut Art Trail.
From New York, drive directly to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich for changing exhibitions of fine art,
 photography, ethnology and natural science in a park setting. Lunch al fresco at the luxury waterfront hotel across the street, the famed L'Escale Restaurant. After lunch, browse the designer shops, boutiques and art galleries on Greenwich Avenue, dubbed the "Rodeo Drive of the East." Then drive 2 miles to
 the Bush-Holley Historic Site in Cos Cob/Greenwich, Connecticut's first Impressionist art colony and Bush-Holley historic home. Take the 45-minute tour of the home (offered at 12:15, 1:15, 2:15 or 3:15.) Then, continue north four miles to Stamford and check-in to the recently renovated Hilton Stamford Hotel. Dine your first night at one of the many fine restaurants in downtown Stamford, such as Sabatiello's Italiane Grille on Bedford Street...choose either the lively outdoor Cafe Fresco, or one of the intimate dining rooms which offer a panoramic view of downtown Stamford. Or, in season, take a dinner cruise from Greenwich on Fjord Dinner Cruise (board at 7 p.m., Friday nights only.)
On Day Two, drive to the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in South Norwalk, a multimedia studio and
 gallery dedicated to the art of the print housed in an historic landmark carriage house on Mathews Park. Visit another landmark on Mathews Park, Lockwood Mansion, America's first chateau, a 62-room Victorian palace. Browse South Norwalk's hip shops and boutiques, then stop at Chocopologie cafe and retail store for lunch and a
 decadent chocolate treat before heading on to Weir Farm National Historic Site and Weir Farm Art Center in Wilton (six miles) to tour the studios and park grounds that inspired three generations of artists including American Impressionist painter J. Alden Weir. From Weir Farm, drive ten minutes to the neighboring town of Ridgefield and The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, renowned as a national leader for its presentation of outstanding new art and cultivation of emerging artists. Dine early at Luc's Cafe & Restaurant, an authentic French bistro in picturesque Ridgefield, a few blocks from the Aldrich before heading to the the Westport Country Playhouse
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On Day Three, check-out of the Hilton Stamford Hotel. Drive fifteen minutes north to the Silvermine Guilde Arts Center in New Canaan, a complex of five galleries with changing exhibitions (open Sundays 1-5 p.m.) before getting on the Merritt Parkway at exit 38 toward New York.
For regional tourism information, visit Coastal Fairfield County Visitors Bureau or call 800-866-7925. For information on Connecticut tourism, visit ctvisit.com.
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| Litchfield Hills Trail Getaway | |||
Just a one and one-half hour drive* from New York City, Litchfield Hills beckons with village greens, country inns, white-steepled churches and winding back roads. But it’s not all countryside in this northwestern corner
 of Connecticut. The Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center in downtown Waterbury and The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield are two cultural treasures in this part of the state.Start your getaway by checking-in to House on the Hill Bed and Breakfast in Waterbury, an 1888 Victorian sitting high on a southern hillside, just blocks from the Mattatuck Museum. Walk to the Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center to view their new, interactive permanent history exhibit and collection of 19th and 20th century Connecticut artists. That evening, enjoy a pre-theatre dinner at San Marino Ristorante before a live performance at the Palace Theater or the Seven Angels Theatre .
 On your second day after enjoying a sumptuous breakfast at the inn, check out of the inn and drive five minutes to Timexpo, in
 Waterbury to learn the story of Timex since it began in the 1850’s. Then, continue south 27 miles to The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in the charming town of Ridgefield, to view innovative, diverse contemorary art that focuses on emerging and mid-career artists. Lunch at Luc's Cafe, an authentic French Bistro a short walk from the Aldrich Museum. Then, check in to the historic West Lane Inn, also in Ridgefield (ask about their package with the Aldrich) and dine next door at the legendary Bernards Restaurant.  On Day Three, check out of the Inn. Drive ten minutes south en route to New York to Weir Farm National
 Historic Site, a National Park Service Site bordering Ridgefield and Wilton, that preserves the home and studios of three generations of artists including American Impressionist J. Alden Weir. Then, wind your way back to the City!For more information on Litchfield Hills - Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau, visit their website or call 800-663-1273. For Connecticut Tourism, visit ctvisit.com.
*Don’t want to drive? Then take Metro North to Waterbury, where the innkeeper will pick you up at the train station and drive you to Hertz for a rental car. |
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| Mystic Country Trail Getaway - Mystic and the Shoreline | |||
Bordering the charming Connecticut shoreline, Mystic and the Southeastern Connecticut region are rich in history, architecture and cultural attractions...and only a two hour drive from New York City or Boston.
 Check-in to the Bee & Thistle Inn in Old Lyme (ask about their package with the Florence Griswold Museum), an elegant inn with eleven guest rooms, before walking to the Florence Griswold Museum, home of American Impressionism with one of the foremost collections of Impressionism in America. For lunch or a late snack, drive less than one mile from the museum to Old Lyme Ice Cream Shoppe and Cafe for premium ice cream, specialty coffee or sandwiches. Return to the comfort of the Bee & Thistle Inn Inn for relaxation and dinner in their superb dining room.
 On Day Two, after a hearty breakfast at the inn, drive two miles to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, which offers a comprehensive collection of European art as well as American fine and decorative art. A key strength of the museum is the collection of European works on paper. Have lunch at Fred's Shanty, a local favorite, for seafood and burgers (open seasonally) or Mr. G's Restaurant for sandwiches, salads, pizza and Italian specialties. After lunch, drive across the Thames River to the Submarine Force Museum in Groton (admission is free), the only submarine museum operated by the United States Navy, with the world's finest collection of submarine artifacts. Board the USS Nautilus, America's first nuclear-powered submarine and experience first-hand the thrill of being a submariner.  Or, continue on Route 1 to Mystic Seaport, the nation's largest maritime museum, where you can climb aboard historic tall ships, see a working shipyard in action, stroll through a re-created 19th century seafaring village on seventeen acres or ride aboard a 1908 steamboart (operated seasonally.)
Return to the Bee & Thistle Inn to freshen up before a short walk to dinner at the Old Lyme Inn: The Grill for tavern fare (open daily), or the romantic Winslow Dining Room (open Fridays and Saturdays).
 On Day Three, if you are heading back toward New York, take exit 63 off I-95 to Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets, seventy outlet stores representing fine designers and name brands. If you are traveling north toward Boston, stop in Norwich for a visit to The Slater Memorial Museum, located on the Norwich Free Academy campus. See plaster-casts of ancient Greek sculpture; Connecticut, American and European paintings and decorative arts; contemporary American crafts; Asian textiles and decorative arts; Native American and pre-Columbian artifacts; and African and oceanic artifacts. For tourism information on the region, visit Mystic Country Visitors Bureau or call 800-863-6569. For Connecticut tourism information, visit ctvisit.com. |
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| Mystic Country Trail Getaway - Northeastern "Quiet Corner" | |||
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Just a 1-1/2 hour drive from Boston, Northeastern Connecticut boasts rolling hills, white-steepled churches, winding country roads, picturesque town commons and 18th century homes.
Nestled within this scenic landscape is the University of Connecticut at Mansfield/Storrs which is a destination in itself for its vibrant cultural scene. Check in to the
 Nathan Hale Inn & Conference Center located in the heart of the campus (ask about their Celebrate the Arts! package), then walk to the University's Lodewick Visitors Center to pick up brochures on the campus's four museums, performing arts center, farm and barn tours, etc. Walk to the University's William Benton Museum of Art (free admission) to view changing exhibits of art from the 15th to 21st centuries. Visit the Café Muse for a snack or the UConn Dairy Bar for its famous home-
 made ice cream. Dine early dinner at the Inn's Blue Oak Cafe before a live performance at either the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts or the Connecticut Repertory Theatre.On Day Two following breakfast at the Inn, walk to the UConn Animal Barns for a self-guided tour of their dairy and beef cows, sheep, horses and baby animals. Check their website for the schedule of feeding and milking times. For lunch, pick-up a healthy sandwich or salad from Healthy Alternative Market & Deli (take-out only) for a picnic lunch on campus. Back on campus, learn how Connecticut’s natural history is integrated with its cultural history at the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History.
 Dine at the romantic Altnaveigh Inn in one of their three snug, distinctive dining rooms. In the summer, enjoy a drink on the patio; in the winter, dine before one of their warming fireplaces.
 After you check out of the Nathan Hale Inn on Day Three, and if you are heading north toward Boston, stop at the elegant and award-winning Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret for a gourmet lunch (reservations required), wine tasting and tour of their 25-acre vineyard. Or, drive scenic Route 169 through Pomfret to Putnam for antiques stores and either casual or high-end dining.
For information on the area, visit the Mystic Country Visitors District. |
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| Greater New Haven Trail Getaway | |||
If you love to walk in a city where you can park your car and walk from place to place, and feed your soul as well as your senses, then you will find much to love about downtown New
 Haven and the multi-faceted campus of Yale University, home to the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale University Art Gallery. All just 75 miles from New York City (a 1-1/2 hour drive, or Metro North or Amtrak train ride.)
Check-in to the sophisticated AAA Four-Diamond Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale before walking two blocks to the Yale Center for British Art which houses the largest and most comprehensive
 collection of British art outside the United Kingdom, exhibited in a striking building designed by American architect Louis I. Kahn. After dark, New Haven becomes a lively university town with a rich selection of dining options and nightlife. Adjacent to the Yale Center for British Art, dine al fresco at the convivial Scoozzi Trattoria and Wine Bar, known for imaginative pastas and superb desserts. After dinner, walk next door to the Yale Repertory Theater, one of America's leading professional theaters.On Day Two, walk a few blocks from the Omni to Yale University Art Gallery, a fine-arts museum presenting
 works of art from ancient times to the present day --- and like the Yale Center for British Art, open year-round free of charge. The Gallery's main building, designed by American architect Louis I. Kahn, is a masterpiece of modern architecture and design which recently underwent a comprehensive renovation. The Gallery is located across Chapel Street from the Yale Center for British Art. Grab a light lunch plus great people-watching at a local favorite, Atticus Bookstore & Cafe. For a glimpse of college life, take a tour of Yale University campus (tours start at 149 Elm Street, Saturday & Sunday at 1:30 p.m., Monday - Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) Hear about Yale's rich 300-year history and aspects of student life at several of Yale's twelve residential colleges. The tour also includes the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library, Yale's largest, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Constructed with more than one hundred panels of translucent marble, the Beinecke is home to one of the world's preeminent collections of rare materials, including the Gutenberg Bible. That evening, dine at the Union League Cafe, voted Connecticut's #1 restaurant in 2006 & 2007 and enjoy a live performance at the Shubert Theater.
  For more information on the Greater New Haven visitors district, visit their website or call (800) 332-STAY. For Connecticut Tourism, visit ctvisit.com. |
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On Day Two, drive twenty minutes to the 
of French Impressionist paintings and family memorabilia surrounded by landscaped gardens and walking paths. Lunch at 
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