September 27, 2006
Short Connecticut travel plan: Essex & Hartford
As usual, I'm going to New York this winter to spend Christmas with my parents and other family. New York is great fun, but there's more to do in America and I need to experience more than one city. So after visiting the big Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center (which we do every year) or celebrating the end of our vegetarian days with a trip to a NYC steakhouse, this winter my wife and I will head to Essex and Hartford Connecticut, to visit two places featured in 1,000 Places To See Before You Die.
First we'll drive from New York to Essex (120 miles north) where we'll stay at the Griswold Inn for two days. The Griswold Inn opened in 1776 and is a tourist attraction in itself. There's one room full of maritime memorabilia and the hotel is decorated for the Christmas holidays. We have to be there for Sunday morning's "Sunday Hunt breakfast" which was started during the War of 1812 when the British took over the hotel.
The town of Essex consists of wonderful examples of early colonial and federal architecture. We'll spend our time touring the town, admiring architecture and looking at antiques.
We'll then head 35 miles north to Hartford where we'll visit Mark Twain's Victorian style house also made up for Christmas. A guided tour will put the different things in Twain's old house in context before we head over to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Gothic cottage.
That's it, then it's back to New York. What do you think? Anyone know a restaurant in Hartford we need to experience or should we just eat anywhere?
Posted by James Trotta at September 27, 2006 12:27 AM | TrackBack
I may be dating myself, but we always enjoyed Carbone's on the Berlin Turnpike (if Italian fare is interesting to you).
Posted by: Clare at September 27, 2006 8:53 AMYes. . . if you like Italian. . . In Wethersfield, CT just south of Hartford on the Silas Dean Hwy, a little place called "Vito's."
Owned and operated by Vito's daughters using all of mama's recipes. If fish is your fancy, go another 4 miles south and you will find The Old Say Brook Fish House. . . Fish to die for.
Mike
Tuscan Kitchen one of the famous Max Restaurants in Hartford, CT is fabulous. Very eclectic mix of tapas and gourmet American fare. Wonderful cocktails and trendy atmosphere!
Posted by: Jody at September 28, 2006 8:16 AMTrumbull Kitchen one of the famous Max Restaurants in Hartford, CT is fabulous. Very eclectic mix of tapas and gourmet American fare. Wonderful cocktails and trendy atmosphere!
Posted by: Jody at September 28, 2006 8:17 AMThanks for the recommendations everyone. My wife likes fish but I don't. Does The Old Say Brook Fish House have only fish or can I get a burger or steak there?
Is it Tuscan Kitchen, Trumbull Kitchen, or both?
Posted by: James Trotta at September 28, 2006 2:10 PMSpris Restaurant
10 Constitution Plz, HTFD
First & Last Tavern
939 Maple Ave, HTFD
Sorry, it's Trumbull Kitchen
Posted by: Jody at September 29, 2006 8:58 AMNo problem - Trumbull Kitchen - thanks! I wasn't really expecting so many suggestions. I got so many I still don't know where to eat!
Posted by: James Trotta at September 29, 2006 3:55 PM