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Hartford, Connecticut
By Joan Russell

Hartford is the state capitol of Connecticut, and is a quaint, urban town that offers a wide range of interesting activities for adults and children. There are museums, sporting events, parks, entertainment such as music, ballet and theater, history, shopping and fine dining. Hartford is a four season destination and an ideal place to visit for one day or for an extended trip.

Union Station, located on Union Place and Spruce Street, is centrally located near downtown. It is a well-built old-fashioned brownstone station. The Amtrak Acela Regional is the train that primarily serves this station. Union Station is a combination train and bus station. It has Amtrak Quick Ticket Express machines as well as the regular Amtrak ticket counter. The station has several pay phones, vending machines and a snack bar, public restrooms, ATM machine, and a 24-hour parking lot on Spruce Street that offers hourly and daily rates. The station has Hertz Worldwide Reservation for car rentals and Connecticut Limo Service. Several bus companies, including Peter Pan, Greyhound and Bonanza, offer transportation to destinations within New England and New York. The station has two levels and a large enclosed waiting area for travelers with ample wooden benches to sit on.

The Hartford Civic Center, located not far from the station at One Civic Center Plaza, has shopping, entertainment, and food. For information about sporting and other events at the civic center, call (860) 728-6789 or (800) 446-7811. The Hartford Convention and Visitor's Bureau is at the same location. You may want to make this your first stop since you can pick up brochures and information at the HCVB and get some additional ideas about what to do in downtown Hartford.

The State Capitol, located at 210 Capitol Avenue, offers a variety of guidedtours. This beautiful building was designed by Richard M. UpJohn and designated a national historic landmark in 1971. Tours are given year-round, Monday thru Friday and Saturdays, except on major holidays. From many parts of Hartford, you will be able to see this building's unusual gold leaf dome.

The oldest state house in the country, The Old State House at 800 Main Street, is open Monday through Saturday, and admission is free. The Old State House was completed in 1796 and designed by Charles Bullfinch. The staff are very knowledgeable and will also provide suggestions about what to visit while in Hartford.

Not far from the Old State House you will find the oldest public art museum in the U.S. The Wadsworth Atheneum at 600 Main Street, features an outstanding art collection and a Museum Cafe for dining. Open Thursday through Sunday, call (860) 278-2670 for more information.

Within walking distance of the Wadsworth is Bushnell Park on Arbor Street, one of the oldest, most beautifully landscaped parks in the region. It features a carousel, fountains, a memorial and many interesting trees and plants. Tours are available May through October. For information call the Bushnell Park Foundation at (860) 232-6710. Elizabeth Park is located on the corner of Prospect and Asylum and is open year-round. Elizabeth Park is known primarily for the beautiful rose gardens that bloom during the warmer months. The Pond House Cafe in Elizabeth Park is open Tuesday through Saturday, for lunch and dinner.

The Bushnell, at 166 Capitol Avenue, is Hartford's performing arts center, offering concerts, musical performances and ballet. Guided tours are available at varying times, and current information is available on the web site. The Hartford Stage, at 50 Church Street, offers quality theater year-round. Call the box office at (860) 527-5151 for more information. The Real Art Ways, at 56 Arbor Street, is an innovative arts organization that offers a series of year-round art programs as well as an on site coffee house. For more information call (860) 232-1006.

For a unique lunch or dinner dining experience try Max's Downtown at City Place, 185 Asylum Street, (860) 522-2530. Max's features Pacific Rim dishes and regional fare. Head over to No Fish Today, located at 80 Pratt Street, (860) 244-2100, (800) 856-3603, nofish80@yahoo.com, for the best of fresh seafood. Black Eyed Sally's, at 350 Asylum Street, (860) 278-7427, is noted for the barbequed Cajun and Creole specials. Check out these restaurants and some of the best downtown eateries in the Hartford Downtown Dining Guide.

If you have time to venture outside downtown Hartford, the Science Center, 950 Trout Brook Drive in West Hartford, (860) 231-2824, is a nice trip. Open Tuesday through Sunday, The Science Center features a planetarium and wildlife sanctuary that are geared towards children.

Explore the Hartford homes of two of America's famous literary figures. The Mark Twain House, located at 351 Farmington Avenue, was home to one of the greatest American writers and social commentators of all time. The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, located at 77 Forest Street, is a quaint brick cottage with Victorian gardens. It was the home to the author best known for writing Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Hartford's stately Goodwin Hotel, at One Haynes Street, (800) 922-5006, has an entirely rebuilt interior with 124 gracious and elegant guest rooms and suites. The walls feature art borrowed from the Wadsworth Atheneum and although the Goodwin is rather pricey, the rooms are more reasonably priced on weekends.

Hartford has something unique to offer people of all ages and tastes, so take the time to stop and explore.