Hartford, CT Road Trips

Founded in 1635, Hartford is among the oldest cities in the United States. It is home to the country's oldest publicly funded park (Bushnell Park), the oldest continuously published newspaper (the Hartford Courant), and the second-oldest secondary school (Hartford Public High School). The Greater Hartford region is enmeshed with Springfield (Massachusetts), which lies only 24 miles to the north. Hartford and Springfield are the principal cities in the Knowledge Corridor, the second largest urban region in New England with 2.18 million people, 29 universities and colleges, and 120,000 university students. Hartford tourism website The climate of Hartford Connecticut is hot humid continental. Winters are moderately cold with some snow. Summers are hot and humid. Typical summer heat indices average around 86 °F (30 °C) during the day and 66 °F (19 °C) at night. It's not unheard of for heat indices to climb upwards to near 100 °F (38 °C) and not go below 75 °F (24 °C) on some exceptionally hot and sweltering summer days.

1 Connecticut State Capitol, 210 Capitol Ave, ☏ +1 860-240-0222. M-F 8AM-5PM. Downtown atop Bushnell Park the capitol is a National Historic Landmark that opened back in 1878. This stunning building is made of marble and is topped off by a gold dome. Open for free on-hour tours year round. free. (updated Jun 2018) 2 Bushnell Park, Bounded by Jewell Street, Trinity Street, Elm Street and Capitol Avenue downtown. The first publicly funded park in America. Located in the center of the city and bordering the state capitol building. The park was designed by the architect of Central Park in New York City. (updated Sep 2015) 3 Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street, ☏ +1 860-278-2670, [email protected]. Th-Su noon - 5PM. America's first public art museum, founded in 1842. The Wadsworth has more than 45,000 works of art as part of its permanent collection. Free admission during final hour (4-5PM) $20/adult, $15/senior, $10/student, children free. (updated Jul 2024) 4 Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Boulevard, ☏ +1 860-SCIENCE (7243623). With 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events, the Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens and adults. (updated Sep 2019) 5 Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, Bushnell Park. The first permanent triumphal arch and the first permanent war memorial in America, it pays tribute to the Connecticut soldiers who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It also pays tribute to slaves and their struggle.

1 Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 250 Columbus Boulevard, ☏ +1 860-713-3131 ext 323. (updated Sep 2019) 2 XL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, ☏ +1 860-249-6333. The largest arena in Connecticut. This is the former home of the Hartford Whalers National Hockey League team and numerous other professional sports teams and the current home of American Hockey League Hartford Wolfpack, and one of two homes for the men's and women's basketball programs of the University of Connecticut Huskies, and for its men’s hockey program. Various bands and recording artists perform here, mostly popular and more established acts. (updated Sep 2019) 3 Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Avenue, ☏ +1 860-987-5900. Hartford (Downtown). The state's premier performing arts theater. Home of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and Connecticut Opera. Principally showcases classical music and traveling Broadway shows. Popular comics also tour here. 4 Xfinity Theatre (formerly New England Dodge Music Center), 66 Savitt Way. Hartford (North Meadows - just north of Downtown). This is a huge amphitheater that has 6,100 seats in a covered pavilion and a lawn that can hold up to 18,000 people. The Center brings in big name concerts each year including the Dave Mattews Band, Britney Spears, O.A.R., Weezer, John Mayer, Pearl Jam and Aerosmith. The Center is closed in the winter months but is open the rest of the year. (updated Jun 2024) 5 Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard (Downtown), ☏ +1 860-251-8111.

Over the years, Hartford came to be known for its Italian cuisine. South End of Hartford used to be called Little Italy, and even though most Italian-Americans have migrated to the southern suburbs of the city, their restaurants and shops remain. Today, however, Hartford is not limited to Italian cuisine. Waves of immigrants from South America, the Caribbean Islands (mainly Puerto Rico and Jamaica) and southeast Asians have added a richer cuisine to Hartford. South End and West End is filled with Peruvian and Brazilian cuisines. West End and parts of East Hartford have seen a surge in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, North End and parts of West End are known for their Jamaican and Caribbean/West Indies cuisines, and Park Street for the Puerto Rican cuisine. To the locals and those in the surrounding areas, Hartford is known for its giant grinders (sandwiches). Most of these giant grinder shops are in the South End neighborhood, on or near Franklin Avenue, which include Corner Grinder, Franklin Giant Grinder, La Rosa's, and Wethersfield Pizza House. 1 Bear's Smokehouse Barbecue, 25 Front St, ☏ +1 860-785-8772, [email protected]. Opened in 2014, brings southern-style BBQ to the neighborhood. (updated Sep 2020) 2 Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum Avenue, ☏ +1 860-278-7427. Serves BBQ and Cajun restaurant southeastern food. The restaurant also plays live music from many well-known and local blues artists. (updated Sep 2020) 3 El Pollo Guapo, 26 Front Street, ☏ +1 860-246-2800.

1 Vaughan's Public House, 59 Pratt St, ☏ +1 860-882-1560. Cozy pub offering traditional Irish fare, Guinness & single malts amid dark woods & memorabilia. (updated Sep 2019) 2 Pig’s Eye Pub, 356 Asylum Street, ☏ +1 860-278-4747. Famous for never having a cover, and live bands on the roof top patio. Overall a rowdy little place with lots of fun. 3 Black-Eyed Sally's, 350 Asylum St, ☏ +1 860-278-7427. Southern fare & BBQ in a hip, vibrant roadhouse with live blues, jazz & soul music. (updated Sep 2019) 4 Arch Street Tavern, 85 Arch Street (across from the Connecticut Convention Center & Marriott Hartford Downtown Hotel). Historic restaurant/bar featuring a rustic atmosphere, pub food and live music. 5 Agave Grill, 100 Allyn Street. Upscale tequila bar, quieter and more mature. Features an excellent selection of tequila and also serves up great Mexican cuisine. 6 Spigot Cafe, 468 Prospect Avenue. Laid-back bar with wide selection of draft and bottled beers. 7 Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt, 140 Huyshope Ave, ☏ +1 860-461-0945. (updated Sep 2019) 8 New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Ave, ☏ +1 860-232-2033. (updated Sep 2019)

There are an abundance of large chain hotels in the Hartford area as well as many upscale ones downtown and in the suburbs. Over 60,000 rooms are located in Greater Hartford. 1 Hartford Marriott Downtown, 200 Columbus Blvd, ☏ +1 860-249-8000, toll-free: +1-866-373-9806, fax: +1 860-249-8181. Attached to the Connecticut Convention Center and overlooks the Connecticut River and downtown. This new hotel features 409 rooms on 22 floors plus an indoor pool, fitness center, full service spa called Glo, as well as a restaurant and a bar. (updated Aug 2017) 2 DoubleTree by Hilton Hartford, 315 Trumbull Street, ☏ +1 860-728-5151, fax: +1 860-240-7247. Downtown, attached to the Hartford Civic Center / XL Center. Hotel features 393 rooms, an indoor pool, fitness center, a restaurant and an upscale bar. (updated Aug 2017) 3 Residence Inn Hartford Downtown, 942 Main Street, ☏ +1 860-524-5550, toll-free: +1-800-960-5045, fax: +1 860-524-0624. In the heart of downtown in the Richardson Building which dates back to the late 1800s, two buildings away from the Old State House and the Hartford Stage and one block from the Hartford Civic Center / XL Center. Features 120 rooms on 8 floors plus a restaurant, 2 cafes and a fitness center. (updated Aug 2017) 4 Goodwin Hotel, 1 Haynes St, ☏ +1 860-246-1881. (updated Sep 2019) 5 The Capitol Hotel, 440 Asylum St, ☏ +1 860-455-4001. (updated Sep 2019) 6 Candlewood Suites Hartford Downtown, 370 Market St, ☏ +1 860-724-1074. (updated Sep 2019) 7 Hampton Inn & Suites, 351 Pitkin St, East Hartford, ☏ +1 860-282-2500.

A recommended route for getting to Hartford from a rather distant city is to fly into Boston Logan International Airport and then take one of the below-mentioned buses into the city. This also happens to be the cheap route. 1 Bradley International Airport (BDL IATA) is 15 mi (24 km) north of Hartford in nearby Windsor Locks. It can be reached by car along I-91. CT Transit's Bus 30 operates service between the airport and downtown. Hartford is located in the junction of Interstates 91 and 84, as well as Connecticut Routes 2 and 6. From Boston/Worcester, MA: I-90 West (tolled), then I-84 West From Springfield, MA: I-91 South From New Haven: I-91 North From New York City: I-95 North or Hutchinson River Parkway/Merritt Parkway (CT-15 North), then I-91 North From Danbury/Waterbury: I-84 East From Providence, RI: Route 6 West, then I-384 West 2 Hartford Union Station, 1 Union Place (a few blocks east of downtown). (updated Oct 2023) Train operators: Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Dec 2020) Routes stopping at Hartford: Amtrak Hartford Line operating 3-5 trips per direction daily between Springfield and New Haven with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford. Northeast Regional operating twice daily between Springfield and Washington, D.C.

Hartford is easy to navigate. Street parking is free on the weekends. Downtown is the safest to drive and park. CT Transit Hartford operates public bus service throughout the Greater Hartford Area. Most bus-stops receive service every 15-30 minutes. The regular fare is $1.75, with one free transfer. All day passes are also available for $3.50. Passes can be bought online or at the CT Transit Customer Service and Sales Outlet located at State and Market Streets next to the Old State House (M-F 7AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-3PM, CT Fastrak is Connecticut’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. It is a system of bus routes that utilize a bus-only roadway on dedicated lanes with offboard fare payment and level boarding, using a former rail corridor. The CTfastrak system provides direct service to and from Hartford to New Britain, Bristol, Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol and more with routes that take advantage of the bus-only CTfastrak roadway. Dash Shuttle is a free circulator bus that operates in the downtown area every 15 minutes Monday-Friday 7AM to 7PM and weekends during major events. The route connects the CT Convention Center, the Riverfront, the Arts and Entertainment District, various restaurants, and downtown hotels.

Despite what the media says, Hartford is generally a safe city. The areas where tourist attractions, colleges, shops, nightclubs and restaurants are is safe. Most of the violence is confined to the north end of Hartford which includes areas north and west of downtown (excluding the North Meadows and West End). A majority of the attractions and entertainment in Hartford is located in Downtown/Central Business District, the West End, South End, and North Meadows and these areas are fairly safe. North Meadows safety: If you are a visitor you would visit the North Meadows if you were attending some sort of event. The Dodge Music Center, Connecticut Expo Center and the Greater Hartford Jaycees Community Boathouse are all in the North Meadows. This area is not a residential neighborhood, it is a commercial and industrial neighborhood and when major events take place there is a police presence in the area to make sure things don't get out of hand at a big concert for example. West End safety: The West End is home to the Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, UCONN School of Law, Hartford Seminary, University of Hartford, Governors Mansion, Elizabeth Park and Watkinson School.