Connecticut’s capital gets a bad rap. Hartford is the fourth-largest city in the state and it’s best known as the Insurance Capital of the World. It’s home to the headquarters of many insurance companies and other businesses. Due to this business-centric focus, it’s not as popular of a tourist attraction as other areas of Connecticut, like our coastal towns. But there’s a lot to do here and anyone who visits Connecticut without seeing Hartford is really missing out. Here are a few of our favorite Hartford attractions:

  1. Elizabeth Park Conservatory: 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117

Cara Macdonald/Google Maps The Elizabeth Park Conservatory is one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut. This 102-acre preserve is home to several gardens, including a gorgeous rose garden, and a pond. You can get more information about the park on their website. Elizabeth Park Conservancy, 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA

  1. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art: 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103

Micah Siegel/Google Maps Did you know that Connecticut is home to the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the country? The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is an absolute gem that everyone should check out. It’s got 75,000 square feet of space filled with art from many historical eras. You can find information about exhibits on the museum’s website. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA

  1. Mark Twain House and Museum: 385 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105

Steve Gray/Google Maps Hartford is among the oldest cities in the country, so there’s a lot of historical sites worth visiting. One of our favorites is relatively new, though: the Mark Twain House and Museum was home to the famed American author and his family from 1874 to 1891. Many of his most important works were written there. You can find out more on the museum’s website. The Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105, USA

  1. Harriet Beecher Stowe Center: 77 Forest St, Hartford, CT 06105

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center/Google Maps Another great historical site in Connecticut is the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. The center was once the home of the abolitionist author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Guided tours of the center go into detail about Stowe’s life and the feminist and abolitionist movements in the United States. You can learn more from the museum’s website. Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St, Hartford, CT 06105, USA

  1. The White Rabbit: 214 Park Rd, West Hartford, CT 06119

Jon R./Google Maps You won’t want to go to Hartford and miss out on shopping. There are plenty of locally-owned stores worth checking out. One that we love is a little boutique antique shop called The White Rabbit in West Hartford. It’s a great spot to pick up creative gifts and decor. Visit their website for hours and more info. The White Rabbit, 214 Park Rd, West Hartford, CT 06119, USA

  1. Curioporium: 1429 Park Street, Suite 199, Hartford, CT 06106

Curioporium The Curioporium is one of the strangest attractions in Connecticut. It’s an interactive 90-minute piece of performance art that is perfect for lovers of the paranormal. Take a look at their website to learn more. Curioporium, 1429 PARK STREET • SUITE 199, Hartford, CT 06106, USA

  1. Connecticut Science Center: 250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103

Connecticut Science Center/Google Maps The Connecticut Science Center is a nine-story museum with really fascinating exhibits. There are various programs and events for science lovers of all ages here. The museum’s website can tell you more. Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, USA

  1. Bushnell Park: 99 Trinity St, Hartford, CT 06123

mrceder/Flickr This 37-acre park hosts fun events throughout the year. It’s the oldest publicly-funded park in the United States and has some interesting features, like a historic carousel. The Bushnell Park Foundation works to preserve the history of the park. Bushnell Park Foundation, 99 Trinity St, Hartford, CT 06123, USA

  1. Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue: 25 Front St, Hartford, CT 06103

Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue/Google Maps There are lots of great restaurants in Hartford. One that we wanted to give a shout out to is Bear’s Smokehouse, home to some of the best barbecue in Connecticut. Check out their wood-smoked Kansas City-style BBQ on their website. Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue, 25 Front St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA

Did we miss your favorite attractions in Hartford? Share them in the comments, and you never know, you may see them in a future article!

Connecticut’s capital gets a bad rap. Hartford is the fourth-largest city in the state and it’s best known as the Insurance Capital of the World. It’s home to the headquarters of many insurance companies and other businesses. Due to this business-centric focus, it’s not as popular of a tourist attraction as other areas of Connecticut, like our coastal towns. But there’s a lot to do here and anyone who visits Connecticut without seeing Hartford is really missing out. Here are a few of our favorite Hartford attractions:

Connecticut’s capital gets a bad rap. Hartford is the fourth-largest city in the state and it’s best known as the Insurance Capital of the World. It’s home to the headquarters of many insurance companies and other businesses. Due to this business-centric focus, it’s not as popular of a tourist attraction as other areas of Connecticut, like our coastal towns. But there’s a lot to do here and anyone who visits Connecticut without seeing Hartford is really missing out. Here are a few of our favorite Hartford attractions:

Cara Macdonald/Google Maps

The Elizabeth Park Conservatory is one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut. This 102-acre preserve is home to several gardens, including a gorgeous rose garden, and a pond. You can get more information about the park on their website.

Elizabeth Park Conservancy, 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA

Micah Siegel/Google Maps

Did you know that Connecticut is home to the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the country? The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is an absolute gem that everyone should check out. It’s got 75,000 square feet of space filled with art from many historical eras. You can find information about exhibits on the museum’s website.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA

Steve Gray/Google Maps

Hartford is among the oldest cities in the country, so there’s a lot of historical sites worth visiting. One of our favorites is relatively new, though: the Mark Twain House and Museum was home to the famed American author and his family from 1874 to 1891. Many of his most important works were written there. You can find out more on the museum’s website.

The Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105, USA

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center/Google Maps

Another great historical site in Connecticut is the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. The center was once the home of the abolitionist author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Guided tours of the center go into detail about Stowe’s life and the feminist and abolitionist movements in the United States. You can learn more from the museum’s website.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St, Hartford, CT 06105, USA

Jon R./Google Maps

You won’t want to go to Hartford and miss out on shopping. There are plenty of locally-owned stores worth checking out. One that we love is a little boutique antique shop called The White Rabbit in West Hartford. It’s a great spot to pick up creative gifts and decor. Visit their website for hours and more info.

The White Rabbit, 214 Park Rd, West Hartford, CT 06119, USA

Curioporium

The Curioporium is one of the strangest attractions in Connecticut. It’s an interactive 90-minute piece of performance art that is perfect for lovers of the paranormal. Take a look at their website to learn more.

Curioporium, 1429 PARK STREET • SUITE 199, Hartford, CT 06106, USA

Connecticut Science Center/Google Maps

The Connecticut Science Center is a nine-story museum with really fascinating exhibits. There are various programs and events for science lovers of all ages here. The museum’s website can tell you more.

Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, USA

mrceder/Flickr

This 37-acre park hosts fun events throughout the year. It’s the oldest publicly-funded park in the United States and has some interesting features, like a historic carousel. The Bushnell Park Foundation works to preserve the history of the park.

Bushnell Park Foundation, 99 Trinity St, Hartford, CT 06123, USA

Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue/Google Maps

There are lots of great restaurants in Hartford. One that we wanted to give a shout out to is Bear’s Smokehouse, home to some of the best barbecue in Connecticut. Check out their wood-smoked Kansas City-style BBQ on their website.

Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue, 25 Front St, Hartford, CT 06103, USA

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Address: Hartford, CT, USA