This page will provide information on how to find attractions in Connecticut.

Connecticut has a population of 3,501,252 and is located in the northeastern United States. With an area of 5,018 square miles the state is the 48th largest state in America. http://www.city-data.com/states/Connecticut-Location-size-and-extent.html http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/09000.html

If you plan on visiting Connecticut, you will have to know which cities to visit, where to stay, where to eat and of course you want to know what sightseeing and tourist attractions are recommended. It's good to plan out activities before actually visiting Connecticut. You just have to know where to look for these activities.

An important factor that might influence your Connecticut visit is the weather and climate. Connecticut knows warm summers and mild winters. Temperatures vary depending on where you are. Coastal areas are usually warmer during the winter and cooler during summers. the opposites is true for inland locations. Connecticut receives 25 to 60 inches of snowfall on a yearly basis. The most snow falls in the northwest.http://www.city-data.com/states/Connecticut-Climate.html

When planning out your vacation you can always consult a travel agent. They can provide you with cheap air fare, hotel accommodations and/or a car rental. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, you can do this on travel websites such as Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Priceline.com, Hotwire.com and Kayak.com.

Please be advised that the various prices quoted on this page might change over time. Even though this page will be updated regularly, it's best to contact the attraction or product provider to check on current pricing. Hopefully the attraction information on this page will give you some ideas of what to do during your Connecticut vacation.

Books are one of the tools available to find attractions in Connecticut. You can look for guide books that provide information on all the top tourist attractions within the state. There are photo only books about Connecticut, some books focus on the activities you can do in Connecticut and others focus on the various places within Connecticut that you can visit as a tourist. If you are a camping, hiking or outdoor enthusiast, you can find books about these activities also. Choose the book that seems most suitable for your needs and that will keep you within your spending budget. You can purchase travel books online or at your local book store. If you don't want to spend any money, you can always look for books on Connecticut attractions at your local library. Some of the different books available include:

• ■ Connecticut (Explorer's Guides) by Andi Marie Cantele and Barnett D. Laschever. Price: $17.12 on Amazon.com. This guide gives information on what to do, what to see, what to eat and where to stay when visiting Connecticut.http://www.amazon.com/Connecticut-Explorers-Guides-Marie-Cantele/dp/0881508241/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267951273&sr=1-1
• ■ Connecticut Off the Beaten Path, 8th: A Guide to Unique Places (Off the Beaten Path Series) by Tom Bross and Joan Bross. Price: $10.17 on Amazon.com. This travel guide gives information on the best dining options in Connecticut and also tell you about tourist attractions that are out of the ordinary.http://www.amazon.com/Connecticut-Off-Beaten-Path-8th/dp/0762751312/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267951273&sr=1-6
• ■ Fun with the Family Connecticut, 7th: Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids (Fun with the Family Series) by Doe Boyle. Price $11.86 on Amazon.com. This travel guide is perfect for the mom and dad wondering where they can take their kids for a fun time in Connecticut.http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Family-Connecticut-7th-Hundreds/dp/0762747765/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267951273&sr=1-9

OFFICIAL CONNECTICUT TOURISM WEBSITE:

The Internet is one of the tools you can use to find tourist attractions in Connecticut. The convenience of the Internet is that it's 'open' 24/7 so you can access it at your own leisure. You can simply type in any search engine 'Connecticut tourist attractions' and various sources will show up. For complete information on any state, you can visit the state's official tourism website. This website for Connecticut provides information on various things including:

• ■ active adventures
• ■ arts & culture
• ■ Connecticut tourism
• ■ family fun
• ■ where to stay
• ■ what to do
• ■ events

For more information on Connecticut travel you can contact:

• Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism
• One Constitution Plaza
• 2nd Floor
• Hartford, CT 06103
• Phone: (860) 256-2800

AAA:

Another good source of information is AAA. Triple A centers are located nationwide. One AAA location within Connecticut is:

• 827 Bridgeport Avenue
• Milford, CT 06460
• Phone: (203) 765-4222

Visit the AAA website for AAA branch locations in other Connecticut cities. If you are a member of AAA, or are planning on becoming a member, you can visit the AAA location when you are in Connecticut. AAA is not just handy when it comes to roadside assistance, they also provide full service when it comes to travel including providing information on tourist attractions. A membership to AAA can come in handy because you can get many discounts on various items including certain car rentals.http://www.web.aaasne.com/sne/membership/branches-milford.php

Connecticut has many attractions for the whole family to enjoy. This page wouldn't be complete without some of the top Connecticut attractions. Following you will find a summary of some of them with a short description

• Mystic Aquarium & Institution For Exploration
• 55 Coogan Boulevard
• Mystic, CT 06355-1997
• Phone: 1 (860) 572-5955

This aquarium will show you beluga whales, Steller sea lions, African penguins, blue tongued skinks and more. Besides ocean wildlife there will also be a bird exhibit. Admission is $23 (adults), $17 (ages 3 - 17) and admission is free for children ages 2 and under.http://www.planetware.com/mystic/mystic-aquarium-institution-for-exploration-us-ct-ma.htm

• Mystic Seaport
• 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Box 6000
• Mystic, CT 06355-0990
• Phone: 1 (860) 572-5315

Mystic Seaport does not just provide this nautical museum, but it's also a re-creation of an historical seaport village. Admission is $17.50 (adults), $12 (ages 6 - 17) and admission for children ages 5 and under admission is free.http://www.planetware.com/mystic/mystic-seaport-us-ct-msp.htm

• Peabody Museum of Natural History
• Box 208118
• New Haven, CT 06511-8118
• Phone: 1 (203) 432-5050

This museum provides various exhibits including exhibits on biology, paleontology, botany, geology, and anthropology. Admission is $7 (adults), $5 (ages 3 - 18) and children ages 2 and under are free.http://www.planetware.com/new-haven/yale-university-peabody-museum-of-natural-history-us-ct-nhyp.htm

• Gillette Castle State Park
• 67 River Road
• East Haddam, CT 06423-1462
• Phone: 1 (860) 526-2336

This estate lies on 184 acres and is known for being the 1919 home to William Hooker Gillette, the actor who played the original Sherlock Homes. Admission costs $7 (adults), $5 (ages 6 - 17) and admission for children ages 5 and under is free.http://www.planetware.com/east-haddam/gillette-castle-state-park-us-ct-ehgc.htm

• Beardsley Zoo
• 1875 Noble Avenue
• Bridgeport, CT 06610-1646
• Phone: 1 (203) 394-6565

This 33 acre zoo is home to over 300 animals. Tickets to the zoo cost $9 (adults), $7 (ages 4 - 11) and tickets for children under 3 are free. http://www.planetware.com/bridgeport/beardsley-zoo-us-ct-bbz.htm