Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit In Hartford, Connecticut

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Hartford is not only the capital of Connecticut but also one of the oldest cities in the United States.

The historic city is practically vintage as it grows and improves as time passes. For something that existed for more than 350 years, Hartford is likely to thrive for a thousand years more.

In the late-19th century, Hartford was named the country’s wealthiest and most prosperous city. Consequently, downtown Hartford erected luxurious high-rise buildings, apartments, and condominiums.

These structures will tower over you as you stroll through them alongside the large corporations that saturate the area. This side of the city is for those who like to mingle in the bustling town or have wide dining and drinking options.

Meanwhile, if you’re planning an extensive tour of Hartford’s history, below includes a list of fascinating museums you can visit!

Hartford is also known for its beautiful rural-urban parks, art museums, street art, and more culture-specific attractions.

Read the list below for the best things to do and places to visit in Hartford, Connecticut!

Beyond Van Gogh Hartford

The immersive Van Gogh exhibition comes to Hartford with over 300 iconic artworks of the notable Vincent Van Gogh.

This multimedia art brings Van Gogh’s works to the heart of Hartford, including the world-famous “The Starry Night” and “Sunflowers.”

Alongside these sunny and night scenes are brilliant paintings and portraits that have pleased the eyes of millions of visitors.

Many say digital art has “taken the world by storm,” and Beyond Van Gogh Hartford has given it justice. It’s a “new way of encountering Art” that gives people more avenues to appreciate prolific artists’ stunning works.

Enter a world of animation mixed with traditional art and modern technology!

See paintings come to life and illuminate the room with color and detail within a monumental projection.

While the digital age can be thrilling, read snippets of Van Gogh’s life, works, and family for a more intentional visit. Stir your imagination with his real-life journal and letters, thinking about what it’s like to be inside his head.

Judging from Van Gogh’s life in numerous articles, nothing can humanize him more than this immersive experience.

It will leave you cathartic, in awe, and with mixed emotions, throughout the presentation! Moreover, the music adds more character to the overall exhibition.

Immerse in unique, experiential art, but don’t lose yourself in the moving walls, floor, and ceiling!

Address: 100 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Bushnell Park Carousel

Time can tell how the vintage 1914 carousel still stands at Hartford’s oldest public park.

The hand-carved carousel is considered a historic site in town, restored beautifully in the center of Bushnell Park. It is situated in a 50-acre green space and offers a thrill ride on “the biggest horses” on carousels.

Every year, more than a million visitors find this Hartford attraction a “sweet surprise” of vintage elegance. Its features include 48 horses – a mix of 36 jumper horses and 12 stand horses. It also houses a traditional 1921 Wurlitzer band organ to get you in sync with cheerful music.

Originally from Ohio, the carousel is a product of New England restoration reflecting the original design of Stein and Goldstein. It’s nice to see a vintage attraction live on after all these years.

Today, Hartford has one of the three remaining Stein and Goldstein carousels in existence.

You can locate the carousel in a gorgeous decorative pavilion on Bushnell Park’s border. With its shimmering lights reflecting on its mirrors and stained glass windows, this Bushnell Park attraction is hard to miss!

Experience a piece of American history as you ride the classic carousel circling with delight. Spending a weekend afternoon with your children or friends is a wonderful day while jamming to the carnival tune.

Address: 1 Jewell St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Charter Oak Landing

Get off the road and take a moment to breathe or stretch in Hartford’s riverfront park just south of downtown.

Charter Oak Landing provides various family fun and outdoor recreation. It features a pedestrian walkway along the river and a small playground for play and fun under the sun.

Its water features include a boat launch and fishing access, a perfect Hartford destination you may not recognize until now!

Make a little stopover in this public green space and picnic by the Connecticut river with your travel buddies. Park amenities include charcoal grills and port-o-lets for a convenient stay.

Charter Oak has something for everyone other than the paved trails and pathways. You can take your own boat for a tour along the banks for more fishing opportunities. It’s generally easy to get to the park with its convenient location south of downtown Hartford.

Moreover, Charter Oak is home to a pair of nesting eagles. It also attracts native birds you can feed along the park benches and trails.

The Charter Oak Bridge is accessible from here via the pedestrian walkway. Its rich flora adds a scenic character to the attractions, and trees shade many portions of the park.

Watch life along Connecticut’s riverbanks as you take a quick breather from the city bustle. If you want, visit Charter Oak Landing around the 4th of July to capture the fireworks display.

Address: 50 Reserve Rd, Hartford, CT 06114, United States

City Steam Brewery

Find local beers on tap and Connecticut’s liquor bliss while traveling through Hartford.

The aroma from the City Steam Brewery calls you right to the historical building of H.H. Richardson. This brewpub in the heart of downtown Hartford carries everything you need, from handcrafted beers to an “upscale casual” menu.

City Steam was previously a department store transformed into a city nightlife hub featuring 9-level seating and private function halls.

Besides the fine craft beers and delicious foods, this location in Hartford offers many entertainment opportunities.

Enjoy live comedy every weekend at the Brew HaHa Comedy Club and see local talents take over the stage. Watch a game on the pub’s flat-screen TVs or play at one of the pool tables inside the bar!

Talk to locals, make friends, and ask for more best things to do in Hartford, Connecticut. If you want to host a banquet or special event, your friendly bar attendants will help curate the best party!

Travelers who reside far can come by City Steam Brewery on sporadic occasions to catch up with recent happenings. The casual atmosphere and constantly changing selection of beers will make you want to return!

.Address: 942 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Connecticut Science Center

Hop on a day trip into a world of science with over 165 hands-on exhibits at the Connecticut Science Center.

This learning facility in Hartford, Connecticut, does not distinguish visitors by age or skill – the whole family is welcome here! It features state-of-the-art facilities in a 154,000-square-foot space, including a 3D digital theater.

Its ten galleries will lead you to various traveling and permanent exhibits, such as the Science Alley, KidSpace, and Engineering Lab.

Expand your scientific exploration within rooms that will take you to different dimensions without leaving the science center!

You’ll embark on a space journey, make the coolest inventions, solve a crime, and learn about your ancestry using DNA. These are just a few things you can do at Connecticut Science Center!

Get in the game for new experiences using the science center’s newest technologies and even meet real scientists!

This is where you bring your young ones for immersive learning and scientific education. You can sit in theater presentations or movies played every hour or head to the World Exhibition section.

Connecticut Science Center will change your perspective on things in the best way possible. Of all its endless possibilities, your only worry would be where to begin!

Address: 250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Connecticut’s Old State House

Connecticut’s Old State House is not only the state’s oldest state house but across the nation. It was named “the place where history and civics meet!”

Its location in downtown Hartford has been a usual gathering site for events like the Old State House’s Conversations at Noon series.

The house is historically known for holding the Amistad trial, gaining national recognition and significance.

For over 80 years, it served as a capitol building where national matters were discussed and debated. Today, it widened its purpose as Hartford’s most historically significant museum.

Join a tour or attend town events and happenings at Connecticut’s Old State House!

Its grounds and chambers are venues for Hartford’s Farmer’s Market, concerts, exhibitions, art displays, and more! In addition, the old state house offers educational programs and hosts school events and field trips in Connecticut.

It also houses the Greater Hartford Information Center, your first destination when visiting the area!

Visit the civic space any time of the year to learn more about the state’s fight for freedom and democracy. The beautiful historic building in the middle of Hartford adds to the city’s authentic, vibrant character.

As a result, thousands of national and international visitors come by this National Landmark every year.

Address: 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Elizabeth Park Conservancy

You’ll never know what it feels like to walk over 100 acres of flower gardens and green spaces until you’ve been in one.

This is the kind of magic Elizabeth Park Conservancy offers to the people of Hartford, Connecticut, and neighboring communities.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this city park in West Hartford is straight out of a fairytale scene. Alongside the circa-1904 formal rose garden are walking loops and facilities that cater to fun family recreations.

The beauty of the gardens is unmatched during spring and summer when tulips and heritage roses fully bloom. During this time, the park likes to host community events like the Greenhouse Show of tulips and daffodils.

Elizabeth Park has reflected horticulture in the Hartford community since its opening in 1897. The park system features more than just gardens, with its multiple working facilities like picnic areas and walking trails.

You can bike along the wildflower trail or the charming pond just within the park. Elizabeth Park Conservancy houses about 800 old varieties of roses, including the first municipal rose garden in the United States.

Of all the wide variety of flowers in the park, among the crowd favorites are the dahlia display tulips.

Swim in a pool of gardens, vistas, greenhouses, lush trees, and landscapes stretching far and wide!

By the end of the day, explore the park’s dining options at the Pond House Cafe.

Address: 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, United States

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

Get to know Harriet Beecher Stowe and the life she led with a tour of the Stowe House.

The best-selling author inspires the Hartford community with her commitment to social justice and the impact of anti-slavery. Her novels addressing social issues from the 19th century to the present show how words can make a positive change.

The story of her life and works are preserved along with the center’s historical collections.

The Stowe House is nothing short of informative, with its “conversational, interactive tour” in a beautifully preserved Victorian Gothic cottage.

The museum discusses contemporary issues and connects past to present, such as women’s equal role to men.

Regarding its interior, nothing about the house is traditional. It features modern gallery spaces and rooms reflecting Stowe’s taste in decorative arts and oil paintings.

Explore the exhibit dedicated to the controversial novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and share your thoughts with the group if you wish!

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center also established the Nook Farm, an innovative walking tour in the neighborhood.

The tour takes an hour of walking and standing, so ensure you are most comfortable in your clothes and shoes.

Nonetheless, the entire experience is substantially intriguing and thought-provoking.

Address: 77 Forest St, Hartford, CT 06105, United States

Hartford Stage

Never miss a show in Hartford’s regional theater that will relieve you of any stress.

Hartford Stage showcases classic plays and innovative performances, musicals, and more on its 489-seat space stage.

It’s named one of the leading resident theaters in Connecticut and across the country. Located in downtown Hartford, the award-winning theater is internationally known as the entertainment hub for only the best!

Hartford Stage sets global standards from the best plays and world dramas to the best classics and musicals.

Its world-known distinguished awards include the Regional Theatre Tony Award and New York Critics Circle Awards. Within the state, Hartford Stage won many Connecticut Critics Circle awards.

Provoke your creative thinking and ideas with Hartford Stage’s American premiers and world-class shows. To build a high-quality theater, it launched art programs to produce a theater experience consistent with “artistic and cultural significance.”

Level up your trip with a season ticket for a Hartford Stage first-rate show!

Address: 50 Church St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza

Get the best views of Hartford at any part of the city’s landscaped park along the Connecticut River.

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in downtown Hartford, Connecticut, is a focal attraction in the Riverfront Recapture park system. It features a stage at the river’s edge for various events and a 2500-seating on a grassy patio.

The plaza faces the Founders Bridge connecting Hartford with East Hartford and Great River Park. It’s one of the public spaces in the park system connected by riverwalks and features recreational facilities.

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza is generally easy to get to. There’s more to it than meets the eye, but the best things to do here are plenty!

The plaza provides boating and fishing opportunities and the usual walking activities on paved and elevated walkways.

It also features the iconic Lincoln Sculpture Walk with a collection of 16 sculpture installations about Lincoln scattered within the area.

Ultimately, Mortensen Riverfront became a gathering hotspot for live music and festivals. Immerse in the local community in one of these yearly events like the Food Truck Festival and Caribbean and Jerk Festival.

Celebrate the Fourth of July in the plaza to see stunning fireworks shows and additional attractions!

Address: 300 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Real Art Ways

Watch authentic, real art of Hartford talents at Real Art Ways, a nonprofit organization supporting contemporary art.

This art space in Hartford, Connecticut, showcases visual art exhibits and public art projects, such as art installations. It also houses an independent “Best Art” cinema, theater, live music, community events, and notable performances.

Real Art Ways gained global popularity for being the best early alternative art produced by old and new artists. There’s more to it than visual art but a connection of people and ideas in a gem of a place.

One of their programs includes daily cinema screenings and galleries at Hartford’s charming arthouse. Join their monthly events, too, such as the Creative Cocktail Hour every third Thursday of the month! This is the place where interesting minds meet and come together!

While its independent films are always a treat, its theater shows are also pure bliss. You can celebrate date night or casually watch these shows alone or with friends.

Meanwhile, their art galleries contain eclectic exhibits, such as the local concept Joe Bun Keo’s display.

While there, take a few minutes to visit the art space’s Loading Dock Lounge for a coffee, refreshing drinks, or wines.

Connect with people and support local artists at Hartford’s “Real Art. All Ways!”

Address: 56 Arbor St, Hartford, CT 06106, United States

The Bushnell Performing Arts Center

Catch a tour of Hartford’s performance art venue to see Broadway shows and world-class concerts in Connecticut.

The city boasts its dynamic 21st Century performing arts center in Downtown Hartford. There are many things to discover and learn in The Bushnell, including a tour of its historic venue.

Look behind the curtain for The Bushnell’s “Behind the Scene” tours, marveling at the halls and the luxurious Belding Theater. Examine various backstage spaces and areas where the real magic happens!

If you’re lucky, you may have a close encounter with celebrities backstage!

All facilities and performances in this Hartford art center are accessible to all its patrons. Make your visit as fun as possible with its community offerings and entertainment opportunities onstage and backstage.

Your tour will encompass The Bushnell’s history and interesting stories from its founding to the present. So prepare your notes and pen if you want to take note of this!

With more than 350 events each year, it’s impossible to miss a show at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center. The completion of its expansion project paves the way for a bigger, better stage and seating you can comfortably enjoy!

Your perspective on life may never be the same after watching a show at The Bushnell!

Address: 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT 06106, United States

The Mark Twain House & Museum

Glimpse the fruitful life of America’s greatest author, Samuel Clemens, through a walk around his home in Hartford, Connecticut.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known as “Mark Twain,” live in this sanctuary for 17 years with his family. He wrote some of his best-selling and world-known novels in his Hartford home. His great works include “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, “The Prince and the Pauper,” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

Discover much about his life as a literary author and nobleman through a guided tour of the house museum. The 25-room Victorian home “with a heart and soul” is a fine example of gothic architecture in the 80s.

The entrance leads you to a “dramatic” grand hall with a simple interior, just as Twain and his wife imagined.

One of the home’s main attractions is the Billiard Room, where Twain mostly did his writing. Other intriguing features are the grand library, the ticket desk at The Webster Bank Museum Center, and the Aetna Gallery.

If you find the house a muse, its lovely grounds, gardens, and greenhouse on the lawn are breathtaking!

Address: 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105, United States

Trumbull Kitchen

Style your dining options in Hartford, Connecticut, just as the Trumbull Kitchen would.

This hip restaurant delivers a “globally eclectic menu” for residents and visitors of downtown Hartford. Its contemporary design, casual atmosphere, and lively bar scene make it a perfect night-out destination.

The Trumbull Kitchen serves cross-cultural dishes on large plates to offer variations to every customer. Wherever city you are from originally, this is the place to munch on your comfort food you can’t find elsewhere.

From beautifully-lit ceilings and leathery walls to glass windows and colorful floor tiles, the Trumbull seems a premier location to dine.

The kitchen never stops cookin’ to get everyone what they came here for. The selection varies from mouth-watering appetizers to a chef’s kiss dinner. Deserts are good for sharing and a plus for every sweet tooth.

Some crowd favorites are flavorful tasters and Happy Hour tapas, Chinese chicken salad, and the Trumbull version of mac & cheese. Their meatloaf, Hanger steak, and short ribs are also worth waiting for.

You can’t go without trying their refreshing selections of seasonal cocktails and wine list. For healthier options, the Trumbull Kitchen offers a vegetarian and gluten-free lunch menu as well.

Overall, Trumbull Kitchen never fails to offer delicious food, service, and accommodation. You’ll leave the restaurant with a positive Max experience and two thumbs up!

Address: 150 Trumbull St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

Note this art museum as a place to visit in Hartford, Connecticut. It offers amazing collections of European, French, Classical Egyptian, and American Impressionist artworks.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art connects people with its nearly 50,000 collections of artworks. It’s the oldest public art museum in Hartford and throughout the country. Gallery spaces vary from Greek and Roman antiquities and European Baroque art to Surrealist paintings.

Its famous portraits include John Singer Sargent’s “Ruth Sears Bacon” and the “Cecilia Beaux” portrait by George Dudley Seymour.

More variations are available to suit your every taste. Besides being the oldest, Wadsworth Atheneum is the nation’s first public museum to display Hudson River School paintings and landscapes.

Its Pilgrim-style furnishings and American art are also the center of attention once you’re inside. The art gallery also hosts art activities for kids on certain schedules alongside its art programs.

Looking at the bigger picture, the museum showcases spectacular collections on every corner. Similarly, it provides a good kind of peace and calm, making every visit seems like therapy.

The museum grounds feature a delicious snack bar and a wide patio. Nothing a Chicken Salad sandwich and a cup of coffee can’t fix!

The Wadsworth Atheneum also promotes diversity in its art through various exhibitions, including the iconic “Glass Exhibit.”

Plan your visit now and book a ticket in advance if you want to see a specific collection or artwork. Its special exhibits emulate a powerful placement, lighting, and flow of information.

Spend at least a few hours to have an extensive museum experience you don’t see often.

Address: 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States

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