NationStates Jolt Archive

So in a couple days, I'm going to find myself in Connecticut, and I find myself wondering...

... what the devil is in Connecticut? Does Connecticut actually serve some role in things, or is it just a buffer between New York and Boston? I mean, I actually visited Rhode Island once (Providence, rather) and it was a pleasant little place, but I can't for the life of me think of anything to do with Connecticut, aside from circumstantials (e.g., they lost a hockey team to us folk here in NC.)

I can't think of any industries located in CT. I can't think of any major sports teams. It doesn't seem to have that high a population, or any cities known for being interesting. It's got Yale, OK, but what else?

Oh, and a heads-up to anyone in the area: Beware, for the Hairball cometh.

Best to drive up to Springfield and see the basketball hall of fame. Don't know what is in Connecticut.

I thought LG was somewhere in the Connecticut area.

(If true, that may explain why little else is known about it)

Honestly...there really is not much here...

Connecticut is a funny name :p

But that's about everything I can think of...

Hmm...

I'm drawing a blank. Maybe they'll turn it into a national garbage dump. Then it'll be useful.

An extra "c" in the name?

Connecticut has always been, well for the past 100 years +-, the country playground of rich New Yorkers. So, if you ever find yourself in that state there will always be good food in Springfield and Hartford, Springfield has an amazing German restaurant, better than Peter Lugar’s. You can check out New Haven, if you are a Yalee. Sailing is somewhat big. And there is a decent amount of outdoor activities.

For sights, very few, other than New Haven, and in Springfield there is the Mark Twain house, which is nice. Albeit very boring. Other than that…there is very little in Connecticut.

my husbands employer is headquartered in ct.



anyway all you need to know about ct is FOXWOODS CASINO.

It's near New York. :)

As a resident of Connecticut, I should tell you that Springfield is in Massachusetts, not my state.

As far as Connecticut goes, there's actually a surprising amount of things to do here. The Mark Twain house recently got a considerable renovation and has a pretty interesting museum, along with artifacts like Twain's signature white suit, and plenty of witty comments from the author. Next door is the Harriet Beecher Stowe house, if you are a serious literature buff. Both houses are in West Hartford.

On the shoreline, there are some good beaches. The town of Mystic has a great aquarium, with Dr. Bob Ballard's research center (the guy who found the Titanic) and a historical seaport housing the famous slave mutiny ship, the Amistad. Mystic Pizza, the inspiration for a Julia Roberts movie of the same name, is also in the town, as is Drawbridge Ice Cream. Jimmy's at Savin Rock is an incredible surf-and-turf restaurant with a beautiful view of the shore.

Foxwood's Casino is the world's largest casino. Run by the Pequot tribe, it has a great resort, with several hotels and restaurants. The Pequots also run a spectacular American Indian museum, featuring a life-size village replica/. It's one of my favorite sites in the state. Mohegan Sun is the casino's main competitor, and has an impressive concert arena in addition to a WNBA team on site.

New London is home to the US Coast Guard Academy, and nearby Groton is home to the nuclear sub base for the country. Not sure if they're tourist sites, but they're definitely impressive.

Timex, the watch company, has an interesting museum in Waterbury, chronocling the history of time-telling.

If you are a nature buff, the Essex Train and the nearby River Museum are great ways to see the area. There are some trails connected to the Appalachian Trail, and some great biking routes.

Connecticut has several notable theater venues, including the Bushnell in Hartford, which is currently hosting "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." The Hole-in-the-Wall theater, affiliated with actor Paul Newman, is also in state.

Stafford Springs has a motor speedway.

For art fans, the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford has an exhibit on imperial age art and Picasso currently. The New Britain Museum of American Art is the oldest museum of American art in the world. Among other artists, it displays works by Gaugain, Gilbert Stuart, Renoir, and Monet.

Yale University is not in a great area of New Haven, but the university runs Peabody Museum, one of the finest museums in the country for natural history. UConn has a dairy bar with ice cream to die for in Storrs.

There is a ton to do in my beloved home state of Connecticut, if you look for it. Everything has a homey feel to it, and is very comfortable. Any of the sites I just mentioned can be found online, and definitely fill a great day.

Have a great time up here!

As a resident of Connecticut, I should tell you that Springfield is in Massachusetts, not my state.

If that is to me I realize that, having lived in Massachusetts for the first 13 yrs of my life. Sorry for the lack of specification. More to do in MA anyway. ;)

Nah, that was towards me. But Springfield is a close enough drive that it doesn't really matter.

I'm there.

It's quite lovely and I have some family friends up there. People tend to be a little alternative in CT, so you'll fit right in. Look up Toby and Joel Krutt if you're so inclined, he works as a radio DJ and Toby does just about everything. She is a rocket of a woman. They got some cute daughters too but I think they're just college-age, I don't know.

So in a couple days, I'm going to find myself in Connecticut, and I find myself wondering...

... what the devil is in Connecticut? Does Connecticut actually serve some role in things, or is it just a buffer between New York and Boston? I mean, I actually visited Rhode Island once (Providence, rather) and it was a pleasant little place, but I can't for the life of me think of anything to do with Connecticut, aside from circumstantials (e.g., they lost a hockey team to us folk here in NC.)

I can't think of any industries located in CT. I can't think of any major sports teams. It doesn't seem to have that high a population, or any cities known for being interesting. It's got Yale, OK, but what else?

Oh, and a heads-up to anyone in the area: Beware, for the Hairball cometh.

Where exactly in CT are you going to be? Southeast CT has a couple of things that might interest you.

The 2 largest casinos in the world are here in southeast CT. Foxwoods in Ledyard (the town I live in), and Mohegan Sun (in Uncasville). Both have a lot to do there. You could spend the entire day there, and not lose 1 penny to gambling (there's shopping, food, shows, clubs, etc).

There's also Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium in southeast CT. The Seaport has a lot of info on old world sailing and ships (from what I've been told), and the aqarium is a neat afternoon trip.

ETA: At the right time of year, there's Sailfest and Subfest (but I don't believe either is happening at the time you'll be here).

As a resident of Connecticut, I should tell you that Springfield is in Massachusetts, not my state.

As far as Connecticut goes, there's actually a surprising amount of things to do here. The Mark Twain house recently got a considerable renovation and has a pretty interesting museum, along with artifacts like Twain's signature white suit, and plenty of witty comments from the author. Next door is the Harriet Beecher Stowe house, if you are a serious literature buff. Both houses are in West Hartford.

On the shoreline, there are some good beaches. The town of Mystic has a great aquarium, with Dr. Bob Ballard's research center (the guy who found the Titanic) and a historical seaport housing the famous slave mutiny ship, the Amistad. Mystic Pizza, the inspiration for a Julia Roberts movie of the same name, is also in the town, as is Drawbridge Ice Cream. Jimmy's at Savin Rock is an incredible surf-and-turf restaurant with a beautiful view of the shore.

Foxwood's Casino is the world's largest casino. Run by the Pequot tribe, it has a great resort, with several hotels and restaurants. The Pequots also run a spectacular American Indian museum, featuring a life-size village replica/. It's one of my favorite sites in the state. Mohegan Sun is the casino's main competitor, and has an impressive concert arena in addition to a WNBA team on site.

New London is home to the US Coast Guard Academy, and nearby Groton is home to the nuclear sub base for the country. Not sure if they're tourist sites, but they're definitely impressive.

Timex, the watch company, has an interesting museum in Waterbury, chronocling the history of time-telling.

If you are a nature buff, the Essex Train and the nearby River Museum are great ways to see the area. There are some trails connected to the Appalachian Trail, and some great biking routes.

Connecticut has several notable theater venues, including the Bushnell in Hartford, which is currently hosting "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." The Hole-in-the-Wall theater, affiliated with actor Paul Newman, is also in state.

Stafford Springs has a motor speedway.

For art fans, the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford has an exhibit on imperial age art and Picasso currently. The New Britain Museum of American Art is the oldest museum of American art in the world. Among other artists, it displays works by Gaugain, Gilbert Stuart, Renoir, and Monet.

Yale University is not in a great area of New Haven, but the university runs Peabody Museum, one of the finest museums in the country for natural history. UConn has a dairy bar with ice cream to die for in Storrs.

There is a ton to do in my beloved home state of Connecticut, if you look for it. Everything has a homey feel to it, and is very comfortable. Any of the sites I just mentioned can be found online, and definitely fill a great day.

Have a great time up here!

You forgot about the Waterford Speedbowl.

Also, Mystic Pizza is nasty (the one near the drawbridge in the center of town). I don't know about Mystic Pizza II, though.

You forgot about the Waterford Speedbowl.

Also, Mystic Pizza is nasty (the one near the drawbridge in the center of town). I don't know about Mystic Pizza II, though.

But it has a movie named after it, so it doesn't matter how the pizza tastes!

I'd recommend going down to the coast to the beaches. Most of the shoreline towns have some form of public beach, some of which are pretty nice.

Have fun!

But it has a movie named after it, so it doesn't matter how the pizza tastes!

After finding out about how the pizza tastes, I've come to the conclusion some serious money exchanged hands in order for Mystic Pizza to be the basis for the movie.

Besides, I found out Julia Roberts doesn't ACTUALLY work there. :(

Thanks everybody for the wealth of information. It's good to know more.
Where exactly in CT are you going to be? Southeast CT has a couple of things that might interest you.
Around Waterbury, which I am given to understand is a sleepy (if, by North Carolina standards, quite large) city a reasonably quick bike ride from Hartford.
The 2 largest casinos in the world are here in southeast CT. Foxwoods in Ledyard (the town I live in), and Mohegan Sun (in Uncasville). Both have a lot to do there. You could spend the entire day there, and not lose 1 penny to gambling (there's shopping, food, shows, clubs, etc).

There's also Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium in southeast CT. The Seaport has a lot of info on old world sailing and ships (from what I've been told), and the aqarium is a neat afternoon trip.

ETA: At the right time of year, there's Sailfest and Subfest (but I don't believe either is happening at the time you'll be here).
Well, I'll be working in the area for about two months. That's not to say that I'm free to go visiting immediately, but I do actually have most weekends off in entirety if I want them.
It's quite lovely and I have some family friends up there. People tend to be a little alternative in CT, so you'll fit right in. Look up Toby and Joel Krutt if you're so inclined, he works as a radio DJ and Toby does just about everything. She is a rocket of a woman. They got some cute daughters too but I think they're just college-age, I don't know.
Well, I'm always happy to meet new people - especially interesting ones - so... perhaps we can see about arranging an introduction at some point.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ct.html



Woot.

Well, usually I'll just go to the beach... But those sound fun too. If you're into that kind of thing.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ct.html

A Catalog of Thrills

Connecticut is an overdeveloped, overtaxed state crawling with rich people who've forgotten how to have fun. What options does the typical Nutmeg Stater have on his/her afternoon of leisure?

How about a visit to the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven? The high point here is a three mile (yes, three mile) ride on a nearly-empty trolley car. The desperate-for-company conductor makes extended stops for guided tours through the repair barns and restoration shop.

Prisons and mines are usually safe bets for Roadsiders, and an attraction that combines the two sounds like a sure thing. But the half-rotted Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby is a dull relic from colonial times. No fun here -- unless the thought of a 300-year-old shaft collapsing on you sounds exciting.

Want more? Visit the Lock Museum of America in Terryville, "the birthplace of the cabinet and trunk lock industry in 1833." Bet you never saw a doorknob made out of BRONZE before, eh? Take a look at that skeleton key display, and the wall-mounted History of Hinges! Hope you brought enough film in that camera!

Finally, the Kerosene Lamp Museum in Winchester Center. Its excruciatingly limited collection features only patented, American lamps made from 1856 to 1880. "An astonishing aspect of the spurt in burner development was the lack of interest in the Argand type, developed by Ami Argand, the father of scientific lighting." Agggggggh! Let us outta here!

Woot.

How about a visit to the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven? The high point here is a three mile (yes, three mile) ride on a nearly-empty trolley car. The desperate-for-company conductor makes extended stops for guided tours through the repair barns and restoration shop.

I think I did that ride! It was fun. ;)

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ct.html

Woot.
Hm...

Anyway, just in case anybody wanted to know, I'm actually in CT now. The people who are actually from CT working here seem to be OK, although there are a lot of spoiled New Yorkers around. The tolerance stuff Ilie mentioned... I can really believe it from what I've seen so far.

I'll be zipping to Boston next weekend, and just saw a professional baseball game for the first time ever (in NYC) this weekend, but I really do want to see more of CT while I'm here. Aside from the fact that UPS doesn't deliver to the Waterbury area more than three times a week (!), I haven't found out much first-hand yet.
Well, usually I'll just go to the beach... But those sound fun too. If you're into that kind of thing.
That, and I've been warned that the beaches up here are complete crap compared to what I'm used to (in NC, mind you). Haven't seen anything I'd call a beach yet, though.

Go up to Roxbury, you can look for silver.

The Mystic/Stonington area has some incredible old (talking early 18th c.) houses. If you go, you MUST have breakfast at Kitchen Little. It's small, and there's usually a but of a wait, but the Portuguese eggs are sooooo worth it. Real pressed apple cider can be found in the area as well. If you dig gambling and all the related high-end shopping mess that goes with it, there's both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos. Long Island Sound is a picturesue seashore almost anywhere you see it, and one of the finest public golf courses I've ever played is a short trip in Rhode Island (Westerly), it's called Fenner Hill.

I know all this because my brother lives in Pawcatuck, CT.