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Connecticut:

Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007

It is known as one of the three smallest American states, but in spite of its size, Connecticut has been a consistent major player in the many changes happening in the US . Historically termed as the "Arsenal of the Nation" due to the large role that it played during the so-called Revolutionary War, Connecticut today is a highly industrialized area, but is nevertheless still a good place to visit when it comes to relaxation, holidays, and outdoor fun.

Unknown to many people, Connecticut happens to have several outdoor attractions, including excellent resort areas led by the famed Long Island Sound, a well-known channel linked to the Atlantic Ocean and which separates Connecticut from mainland New York . Along this 145-kilometer long channel lies many leisure boats offering visitors exciting ocean tours.

Connecticut also has several excellent campgrounds, making it another US state worth exploring for its outdoor potentials. With such a rich history ably complemented by many natural attractions, there is little doubt that Connecticut is still one camping paradise in the US .

A Tour of the Regions

There are at least five regions that make up the entire Connecticut state. These five regions has their own set of attractions and typically include Litchfield Hills, River Valley, Mystic Country, Fairfield County, and Greater New Haven.

Litchfield Hills

The region is set in the Northwest Hills and is renowned for its numerous museums highlighted by the Carousel Museum of New England in Bristol town where numerous collections of antique carousel items are displayed, said to be among the biggest in the world. Another landmark, the Timexpo Museum, offers a unique display of Timex pieces as they evolved in recent years.

For RV campers, the parks in the Litchfield Hills region ought to be quite exciting places. One of these, the Bristol-based Lake Compounce Theme Park, is considered as the largest Connecticut water park and houses the Boulder Dash which has recently been voted as the top wooden coaster in the world. Meanwhile, in Middlebury town, Quassy Amusement Park offers several exciting rides, including boat and carousel, apart from hosting a fascinating zoo.

When it comes to outdoor activities, though, the place to go to is the White Memorial Conservation Center, an outdoor wildlife sanctuary set in central Litchfield Hills. Covering more than 4,000 acres of land that includes woodlands, fields, and water areas, the center offers hiking trails, boating activities, and camping sites where tourists, including RVers, can spend time either enjoying the scenery or taking a dip in the crystal-clear waters nearby.

River Valley

This particular region of Connecticut is the official home of the historic Connecticut River and its nearby valley and may well be the ultimate camping paradise in the state. There are numerous parks and camping sites situated here and many of them offer great deals for interested campers. For example, the Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, boasts of a massive Connecticut Valley diorama that is approximately 30 feet tall. Meanwhile, over at East Haddam city, the Gillette Castle State Park stands atop the extreme southernmost area of the Seven Sisters hill chain. The castle, encompassing about 184 acres, is open to public tours and offers great picnic grounds.

The biggest attraction of the River Valley region, though, has to be Essex city. Apart from possibly exploring the city wonders aboard an RV, tourists can try boarding the Essex steam trains or their riverboat counterparts as they cruise along the waters of the Connecticut River. However, along the river banks, one can opt to park in an RV and observe wild birds fly across the Connecticut skies or stare at an American Bald Eagles or a Brown Eagles as they rest by the shore while waiting for fresh fish to come to their side.

Mystic Country

Situated in the eastern part of Connecticut, the Mystic Country region is a showcase of everything that the state has to offer. One can have a grand time selecting from outdoor attractions, romantic getaways, exciting nightlife, all-out family fun and an enjoyable stroll of quiet little Connecticut villages.

For RV owners, however, driving along Route 169 may be an interesting activity. The road, classified as among the National Scenic Byways of the US, affords riders a great view of several awesome Connecticut scenery.

Alternatively, RV campers can try the other outdoor adventures available in various other parts of the Mystic Country region. These can include hiking along the scenic 26-mile path of the Air Line State Park Trail in Willimantic town where another outdoor sport -- horseback riding -- can be enjoyed.

Fairfield County

On the southwest area of Connecticut lies this region filled with several prominent names in the business world that include Xerox, GE, and GTE, making it a bustling area and earning the tag "Gold Coast". The region also happens to be quite near New York City and has thus easy access to numerous opportunities for growth and development, making Fairfield County the richest region in Connecticut .

Apart from the many business establishments that it hosts, Fairfield County is also home to several natural attractions that emphasize its various outdoor wonders, areas that RVers will definitely want to explore. A good example of these is the Stamford Museum and Nature Center where picnic areas can be availed of aside from several hiking paths and natural playgrounds situated across its entire 118-acre expanse. An observatory is also found here which can be used during Friday evenings provided that there are clear skies.

Another Fairfield County area that might interest RVers is the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk town. Housing such marine animals as sea turtles, river otters, sharks, and jelly fish, the marine park offers educational public cruises aside from featuring marine movie clips through its IMAX theater.

Greater New Haven

Found on the south central portion of Connecticut state, Greater New Haven offers an array of cultural attractions and shopping opportunities, including numerous specialty stores and fine-dining restaurants. Of course, the region also has its share of outdoor attractions so RV-boarded guests will not necessarily feel out of place. Among the highlights are the bird-watching activities over at Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center in Milford.

Located on Long Island Sound, the center offers protected shelter to several distinct bird species that include egrets, piping plovers, ospreys, and herons. It also boasts of an exhibit room and a nature shop spread over an 8.4 acres of land that RV owners will definitely want to examine.

The Cities of Connecticut

There are several cities in Connecticut state that have special attractions and are specifically designed to meet the needs of particular types of travelers notably RV campers. Getting to identify what some of these cities are should effectively help RVers make their Connecticut visit an unforgettable one.

Barkhamsted

Barkhamsted city is set in the Litchfield Hills region of Connecticut, approximately 15 miles on the northwestern end of Hartford. It is largely a residential countryside village although some portions of the 39-square-mile area are made up of forest fields and state parks where majestic lakes and exotic wilderness areas make for excellent outdoor activities. For example, American Legion is a public park located along West River Road that is known for its long rows of pine wood trees where campers regularly avail of the approximately 30 camp sites existing within the area. A genuine historic Connecticut landmark, American Legion has been added in the list of the National Register of Historic Places.

There are several other popular Barkhamsted attractions that RV-boarded campers can try visiting although Barkhamsted Reservoir should prove to be highly fascinating. Its creation in 1940 led to the flooding and destruction of Barkhamsted Hollow, a small village within the town, and the eventual split of Barkhamsted and nearby Hartland.

Avon

Formerly referred to as Northington, modern-day Avon today rests along the Farmington River banks and is a scenic village whose name was taken from the England-based Avon River. It is a beautiful dynamic village that boasts of picturesque parks and easy access to the many attractions of the Connecticut state capital Hartford, including cultural landmarks like the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Bushnell Theater.

Considered as a fast-growing Connecticut town largely owing to its close ties to Hartford, Avon nevertheless has several attractions that are uniquely its own. One of these is the Talcott Mountain, standing 950 feet, located near the border of West Hartford. Another is Farmington River whose eastern waters flow through the lowland areas of Avon.

Avon also boasts of several recreational centers that tourists aboard their RVs will find worth visiting. These centers are usually in the form of state parks where various outdoor activities are popularly offered. One particular park is Alsop Meadows located between Waterville Road and Route 44. It covers 56.20 acres and lies next to Farmington River and although largely undeveloped, the area offers good grounds for camping and other related outdoor sports like hiking, jogging, walking, and canoeing.

Niantic

The town is more commonly known as East Lyme with the term Niantic derived from a tribal name of Nehantic Indians who were the early settlers of the area. Located in the heart of Old Post Road, Niantic was formerly a farming village when it was first created in 1640.

Eventually, the area experienced growth with the establishment of a textile industry in its midst, akin to that found in Belgium. Today, Niantic covers a land area that is approximately 34.8 square miles long variously categorized as fields, woodland, parks, ponds, lakes, and beaches.

For RV riders, the place to visit in Niantic should be Rocky Neck State Park where a crescent-shaped beach awaits them. It stretches for less than a mile but is famous for its boating and fishing ventures. It features several bath houses aside from other concessions. For tourists wanting to stay longer, there are several camping sites put up within the premises where picnicking and hiking are prominent activities.

Greenwich

One of the many towns found in the Fairfield County region of Connecticut , Greenwich should be seriously considered by many RV travelers as a Connecticut town worthy of their visit. The area boasts of acres of land principally devoted to parks and other recreational centers where both residents and visitors can have an enjoyable time. There are also special events regularly held in various areas of Greenwich that should prove to be quite interesting to many travelers as these involve a diverse set of subjects ranging from garden shows to car exhibits.

Nature lovers who drive into Greenwich aboard their RVs should particularly watch out for the Audubon Greenwich, a wildlife sanctuary located along Riversville Road. Covering around 646 acres, the center boasts of a hiking path that stretches for nearly 15 miles that outdoor buffs will find exciting to take on. Other than that, there are nature galleries, learning centers, and public programs scheduled regularly in the sanctuary. A hawk-watch area has also been designated and which comes to life from August to November of every year.

Guilford

Guilford is one Connecticut town where outdoor activities are definitely a welcome venture. RV-boarded tourists will have the time of their lives in this particular town that may well be deemed as the heart of the Greater New Haven region of Connecticut .

The secret lies in the strategic location of Guilford along the major shorelines of Connecticut state, making it a natural destination for many outdoor enthusiasts like beach lovers, swimmers, and bird-watchers. The vast expanse of the nearby forest has also caught the attention of hikers and bikers, adding to the attraction of Guilford as a preferred tourist destination.

In particular, the Audubon Guilford Salt Meadow Sanctuary along Meadowsland Road has a one-mile hiking path that should prove to be quite a challenge for most hikers. The area sits upon a unique tidal wetlands covering 200 acres that is also surrounded by local salt grasses.

Gillette Castle State Park

Of the many places that RV owners can see in Connecticut , Gillette Castle State Park has got to be on their list. Not only is the place among the popular destinations for tourists in Connecticut, it also happens to have designated areas for those wanting to hold a picnic within the castle premises. Aside from that, there are hiking trails available for those who are intent on seeing the outdoor wonders of Gillette Castle through a self-guided visit of the outer regions of the place.

Gillette Castle State Park encompasses 184 acres and is a historic landmark that sits on top of a hill where the celebrated Connecticut River can be seen. It was previously the official residence of William Gillette who gained national prominence via the Sherlock Holmes character that he portrayed on stage.

Natchaug State Forest

In the Mystic Country region of Connecticut lies this publicly owned forest site that has become known for its camping and picnicking areas. Located in Eastford city, the Natchaug Forest Park has 15 wooded areas, including picnic areas that face the nearby Natchaug river. All throughout the area, visitors are known to engage in a wide selection of outdoor sports like fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, horseback riding, and even cross-country skiing during the winter.

Presently, the entrance road to the park has been temporarily closed for structural repairs, but travelers who want to go on a camping or fishing expedition inside the forest can still have access to this particular route. Other visitors are advised to take alternate routes that will be provided to them prior to their visit of the area.

Connecticut Visiting Time

Connecticut showcases a wide set of outdoor fun for most RV travelers that there appears to be no perfect time to visit the state because this will largely depend on the kind of outdoor sport that one prefers to engage in. For example, if water-based activities like fishing are desired, then May should be an ideal month because this is the period when Connecticut experiences a salmon run, with the species following the smelt that comes out of many Connecticut lakes to basically serve as their primary meal. River flows during summer, meanwhile, are often good with water temperatures quite low, causing dry fly fishes to come out in numbers.

June to July are also good months for state park visits. East Rock Park, the largest in New Haven, has a rose garden that undergoes full bloom during these months, making for a refreshing and pleasurable tour.

Brialee RV and Tent Park

The most famous attraction of this Connecticut-based RV Park should obviously be the scenic Natchaug Forest that actually surrounds it. Sitting upon 120 acres of countryside land, the Brialee RV and Tent Park offers spacious sites that are said to be capable of accommodating even the biggest RV in the state.

The focus of the RV park is on pure family fun, that is why most of the activities found here involve group participation like bingo games, art and crafts classes, horseshoe games, and fitness sessions. Of course, natural outdoor events are likewise available with nature walks being the most common.

Nearby popular attractions include the University of Connecticut, the award-winning college that boasts of an outstanding sports program for its students where guided tours can be scheduled. There is also the Old Sturbridge Village, where Connecticut craftsmen continue the work that has shaped the early history of the state. A stroll across the 200-acre farmland should give one a good view of the traditions that Connecticut has effectively kept alive through the years.

Hemlock Hill Camp Resort

Frommers has rated this RV camp as the 2005-2006 "Best Family-Oriented Park", and it is not actually surprising because Hemlock Hill Camp Resort has the rare distinction of being just a mere one and a half drive away from the northern end of New York city. Additionally, its features of a picturesque mountain brook complemented by clear ponds and large pine trees amidst an enveloping countryside air can give the spirit a soothing feeling that makes one long for the simple uncomplicated life.

Found within the bosom of Litchfield Hills, the camp resort offers RV riders wooded sites for their vehicles apart from several tent areas. There are two swimming areas available for visitors with adults allowed to use the hot tub.

Children have access to the playground area while those who want to keep abreast of the developments in the outside world are afforded WiFi Internet access. Additionally, basketball and horseshoe games are available. Ditto for bingo games held during Friday nights.

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