15 Best Places to Visit in Connecticut

Wadsworth Falls State Park is a beautiful 285-acre park in Connecticut that runs through Middletown and Middlefield. It is one of Connecticut's most magnificent natural areas.

One of the routes passes a tiny bridge and leads to the 30-foot-high Wadsworth Falls. Because of its outstanding whitewater, the stunning cascades of Wadsworth Falls are a shoo-in among the top Connecticut attractions. Spending the day climbing up to the falls and witnessing it for yourself will make the journey all the more worthwhile. The 6-kilometer route to the falls passes through a wonderful woodland area, so take advantage of the scenery. During your trek, keep a lookout for wildflowers and wildlife.

There are also several picnics and swimming areas throughout the park. Wadsworth Falls State Park is especially popular in the summer due to the availability of grills for use in cookouts.

Old Saybrook is a magnificent old hamlet nestled on the banks of the Connecticut River. It is one of Connecticut's most historic towns and one of the state's most attractive.

Because people have lived here since 1635, there are several historical sites to see, such as the General William Hart House and Fort Storybrook Monument Park. The Lynde Point Lighthouse is one of the best sites to visit near you during your stay in this seaside town. This lighthouse, built in 1886, is best viewed from the river or Maple Street.

A quiet day at Harvey's Beach is one of the greatest things to do in Old Saybrook. If you're traveling with children, they'll enjoy Saybrook Point's mini-golf and the historic Saybrook Breakwater Light. Try to see a show at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Theater, go for a bike ride along with the river, or sample many types of fudge on Main Street.

Gillette Castle resembles a medieval fortification and is undoubtedly one of the most physically appealing structures in Connecticut. The actor William Gillette, for whom the castle is called, planned and erected the spectacular and unusual Gillette Castle between 1914 and 1919. It is a fantastical 24-room house located high up on one of the Seventh Sisters Hills.

Inside, you'll find a lot of odd things: built-in couches, massive stone fireplaces, dungeon-like chambers, secret tunnels, and 47 distinct entrances. A gorgeous state park spreads away from the castle, consisting of fine gardens and lush woods, with plenty of fantastic hiking trails for you to meander around. The views of the surrounding gardens from the castle are just breathtaking.

Mystic Seaport is a fascinating maritime museum located in the picturesque hamlet of Mystic. It is well-known for its collection of sailboats and sailing ships. Fans of nautical history will appreciate the vast collection of marine items housed in this museum. They even have historic ships like the L.A. Dunton, Charles W. Morgan, and the Greda III moored in their harbor. The most well-known is the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, America's oldest commercial ship.

Once you step foot on the expansive grounds of the Mystic Seaport Museum, you'll understand why it's regarded as one of Connecticut's top tourist attractions. A working shipyard, planetarium, children's museum, exploration barn, re-created 19th-century maritime hamlet, and a significant collection of vintage boats are all part of this spectacular attraction.

Enders State Forest is located in northern Connecticut, approximately five miles south of the Massachusetts border. It is mostly forest; however, those who enjoy seeing waterfalls while hiking in natural settings will find something to enjoy at Enders Falls State Park. A stroll down the peaceful Enders Brook is one of the nicest things to do in the entire state.

Enders State Forest's major activity is hiking. The waterfalls are amazing stars of this forest, and numerous marked routes will take hikers to the best sites to see them. The journey to the falls through the forest is rather straightforward, and the main route is well-maintained. The main route begins directly from the Route 219 parking area. The highest waterfall is around 30 feet tall.

Kent Falls Park features numerous nice picnic sites and is an excellent place to go trout fishing. A charming covered bridge is one of the numerous must-see attractions at Kent Falls, which also offers hiking and picnicking options.

The falls themselves are very breathtaking, with water falling for around 250 feet. Even before you get to the falls, there are three observation decks with breathtaking vistas. The greatest seasons to see the falls are in the spring when melting snow increases the volume of water falling, and in the fall when the trees put on a magnificently colorful show.

Visit Campbell Falls State Park and discover a plethora of various natural beauty and one-of-a-kind characteristics that will make your visit unforgettable. The White Memorial Foundation of Litchfield, Connecticut, donated Campbell Falls State Park to the two states. The park shares a boundary with Massachusetts, and there is even a stone on the grounds that marks the point where the two states meet.

The park has been saved in its natural form, with no visiting facilities. Within the park, the Whitney River dips over 100 feet before entering Connecticut. The river flows through a tight canyon, changing course twice, first to the left and then to the right. This craggy type of waterfall is breathtaking at any time of year, but especially so in early spring when the snow melts.

Lake Compounce is an amazing park located between Bristol and Southington in Connecticut. It is the country's oldest continually operational theme park, having been established in 1846. The park is 332 acres in size and features a lakeside beach and a water park. The Wildcat, a wooden roller coaster constructed in 1927, is still in operation. The park has around 50 rides and attractions.

Some of the most popular attractions include Crocodile Cove, Connecticut's largest water park, Boulder Dash, the world's best wooden roller coaster, and Bayou Bay, which has millions of gallons of water where you may splash or bounce on the waves. Ride the wooden Boulder Dash coaster, Wave Swinger, and Drop Zone. The many waterslides and water playgrounds will keep you entertained and refreshed throughout the day.

Could the circular holes in the falls truly be the devil's work? Or is it just nature and water leaving their imprint on future generations? Visit Devil's Hopyard to discover your own solution to this age-old riddle. Devil's Hopyard State Park, with its 860 miles of rugged, wooded terrain, is one of Connecticut's most popular hiking destinations.

The park is primarily known for Chapman Falls on the Eightmile River. This beautiful waterfall cascades more than 60 feet down a multistep granite structure. Several hiking routes lead to the falls and other picturesque sights.

From April through October, the park's 21 forested campsites are located near Chapman Falls and are open.

Hammonasset Beach State Park is unquestionably one of Connecticut's top vacation places with almost two miles of sandy shoreline. It is a terrific spot to go if you just want to kick back, relax, and sunbathe on its enticing sands while soaking up some rays. Swimming is both fun and safe because of a stone breakwater erected in 1955.

Aside from its large beach, the state park offers a variety of pleasurable recreational activities, including cycling, hiking, and camping. There are around 550 campsites in the park and several rustic cottages.

Saltwater fishing is permitted on two jetties during the day, and night fishing is permitted along the beach during peak season. Winter and summer flounder, bluefish, blackfish, weakfish, scup, and striped bass may all be found here.

Originally known as Bill's Brook Dam, Saville Dam is a 135-foot-tall, 1,950-foot-long embankment dam on the Farmington River near Barkhamsted, Connecticut. The Saville Dam at Barkhamsted Reservoir may be Connecticut's most stunning man-made structure. The dam was completed in May 1940, but it took another eight years for the Barkhamsted Reservoir to be filled to full.

The dam, named after its principal engineer, Caleb Mills Saville, serves as Hartford, Connecticut's major water supply. The views from the dam have to be seen to be believed — they are breathtakingly magnificent and memorable. On Route 318, there is a lovely parking area with amazing views of the spillway and reservoir and some great hiking paths.

Yale University is a gleaming jewel in the heart of New Haven. The Yale campus is a tourist destination in and of itself, with remarkable structures constructed by Eero Saarinen, Frank O. Gehry, and other notable architects. There is a film, and historical artifacts in the visitor center, and free student-led campus tours are available every morning.

Several world-class museums may be found at Yale University. There is the YA Art Gallery, the Peabody Museum of Natural History, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. There's a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, dinosaur fossils, Van Gogh paintings, and more treasures to be found here.

If you want to see dinosaurs, go to the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, one of Connecticut's most popular tourist destinations. Among the more than 14 million specimens and items on exhibit, you'll find everything from fossils to meteorites to Babylonian carved stone divination devices.

Mystic Aquarium is Connecticut's best aquarium. It has outstanding indoor and outdoor displays and beluga whales, a Stingray Touch Pool, a Sharks Touch Habitat, a Marsh Trek, and an Animal Rescue Center.

You'll be able to witness penguins, jellyfish, and various other water species. You can even get up and personal with stingrays and sharks in the touch pool. Interacting with computer-generated graphics in the Wild Arctic exhibitions is another exciting feature. You may virtually interact with a polar bear and meet a walrus here.

The Jurassic Giants indoor dinosaur trail has gigantic animatronic dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, and other ancient monsters and two 4D cinemas.

Greenwich is a tiny town in Fairfield County that is noted for being one of the wealthiest towns in the United States. It's ideal for a romantic weekend in one of the charming Victorian B&Bs. Though this little town appears to be pricey at first appearance, there are activities here that are both inexpensive and interesting. You may always pay a visit to the Bruce Museum or stroll around the Greenwich Avenue Historic District.

Greenwich Point Park is a joy, with miles of hiking paths, a beautiful sand beach, and a breathtaking view of New York City's iconic skyline. Unlike today's major cities, the clean and traditional street design of street fixtures and the comparatively small buildings make the entire town feel more open and vintage.

Every year The Greenwich International Film Festival takes place in Greenwich. Don't miss the Bruce Museum and Audubon Center are other worthwhile stops. Greenwich Avenue is a perfect place for everyone who likes shopping.

Silver Sands State Park is a 300-acre leisure area notable for its beach and dunes. It s lockated on Long Island Sound. The wild and rocky environment is stunning, and there are several hiking paths that weave their way through the state park for you to explore.

Silver Sands State Park has a very serene air, and various birds can be seen spinning in the cold wind that comes in from the Atlantic. It's a great area to enjoy a picnic or go swimming in the surf.

The search for Captain Kidd's buried treasure is a favorite activity at Silver Sands State Park on Charles Island. According to legend, the mischievous captain hid his riches beneath the sand in 1699 and never returned to recover them.