Location: Hartford
Top Things to do in Hartford
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What to do and see in Hartford, Connecticut (CT): The Best Shopping
From its origins as a Connecticut River trading post in 1633, Hartford has become not only the state capital but also the insurance capital of the world, with a slew of historical attractions, a thriving arts and entertainment center, a revitalized riverfront and beautiful parks and public gardens. It was here that the lovable Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer were born in the imagination of celebrated author Mark Twain and immortalized on paper during the writer's Hartford years. Twain's home and those of fellow literary figures Harriet Beecher Stowe and Noah Webster are open to the public. The Wadsworth Atheneum, the oldest public art museum in the U.S., houses Pilgrim-Century furniture, the Amistad collection and a special treasure hunt system to entice kids to explore the museum's works. If your timing is right (end of June, beginning of July), you'll catch the Elizabeth Park rose gardens in bloom, but fall is also great for brilliant leaf colors, and spring yields colorful gardens and blossoming trees. For a bird's-eye view of the city, visit the observation deck of Travelers Tower, where you might also spot two resident falcons.
Restaurants in Hartford
1. Real Art Ways
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Real Art Ways is one of the leading contemporary arts organizations in the United States, with a record of linking artists, innovation and community. Programs include visual arts, with exhibitions, public art projects, and artist presentations; cinema, with independent and international films 7 nights a week; music; performance; literary events; community and educational programming.
Reviewed By mollys180 - New Britain, United States
My husband and I were impressed with all that RAW has to offer, and charmed by the small scale and neighborhood feel of the place when we came to see Loving Vincent. Lots of people came early to enjoy the cafe and several art exhibits before the movie. Do choose your seat carefully, as there is not a lot of slope to the theatre floor and your view could be blocked by someone taller sitting in front of you. Clean bathrooms, plenty of free parking.
2. Hartford Downtown Farmers' Market
3. Pump House Gallery
Overall Ratings
2.0 based on 1 reviews
Reminiscent of an English, Tudor-style cottage, this building serves both as a functioning pump house and a quaint gallery featuring exhibits by local artists.
4. Hartford Prints!
Hartford Prints! is an urban goods brand that is all about handmade and homegrown love. Addy (Older Sister), Callie (Middle Sister), and Rory (Younger Sister) joined forces in 2012 to create letterpress stationery that is modern and fun. Embracing the idea that a company can both make and do good things, we opened our flagship store in downtown Hartford in 2013 and the Hartford Prints! brand was born. Retail with real purpose, Hartford Prints! offers letterpress stationery, urban streetwear, and locally-sourced goods. We continue to be an active retail space, using the power of our press to create positive vibes about our local community. Shop online or in-store.
