Capital: Hartford
Population: 3,200,000+
State Parks: 92
Major Points of Interest:
Whitney Museum of Modern Art (Stamford);
Charles Ives Center (Danbury);
Marine Life Aquarium (Mystic);
U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London);
Mark Twain House (Hartford)




The Connecticut Office of Tourism, Department of Economic and Community Development (800-CT-BOUND) publishes a variety of free guides to the state and a giant official state fold-out road map that explains the public transportation services throughout the state (in case you find yourself camping in high traffic areas), driving tips, public recreation facilities, ferries, emergency numbers, a mileage chart and more. The big book everything-you-want-to-know-about-the-state is The Connecticut Vacation Guide which divides the state into four major areas that are colour-coded to ease your planning. Included is information on more than a thousand attractions. You can get a free copy from The Office of Tourism (505 Hudson Street, Hartford CT 06106 - 850-270-8080). On pages 158-159, you’ll find a detailed list of campgrounds listed alphabetically by city with address, number of sites, telephone number and open dates.

The Connecticut Special Events Calendar will introduce you to things to do, see and experience during your visit. The calendar is published periodically and covers events around the state.

Connecticut has over 1,400 campsites in a variety of settings including shadowy woodlands, sandy shoreline beaches, inland lakes, and secluded islands. The official camping season begins on the third weekend in April and ends the last weekend in September. Off-season camping is available in designated areas from October 1st through December 31. Showers, toilets and drinking water are provided in most areas. Sewer connections and electrical hookups are not available at any of the areas. For reservations, visit on-line at www.reserveamerica.com/camping/ or call toll free (1-877-668-CAMP).

The Connecticut Campground Owners Association (14 Rumford Street, West Hartford CT 06107) offers a Camping Coupon Book ($19.95US) that’s good for discounts at over 27 member campgrounds, free nights, free weekends, discounted trailer and cabin rental, free firewood, discount parts, etc. The books are good for this year's campground season. They also publish a Connecticut Campground Directory, 62-pages of information on campsites and facilities. It’s available from the state tourist office.

There are 92 state parks in Connecticut and information on where they are located is in the literature you'll receive from the tourist office. Here’s some tips from the experienced travel park visitors. They say you can find the best views at Talcott Mountain State Park on Route 185 in Simsbury (860-242-1158). For the best camping, check out Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic (860-739-5471). The best picnic areas can be found at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth (860-663-2030). If you like to hike, check out Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden (203-789-7498). Because Connecticut says they have everything, check out the waterfall at Kent Falls State Park in Kent (860-927-3238). Traveling with kids? Take them to Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill (860-529-5816). The best canoeing areas in the state can be found at Lake Waramaug State Park in New Preston (860-868-2592) and for loafing on the beach, head for Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison (203-245-2785). The two-mile stretch of the Housatonic River that passes through Housatonic Meadows State Park is known for it’s fly fishing.

If you camping outside the major populated areas, public transportation is your best solution on getting from where you’re camping to where you want to be. In Bridgeport, it’s the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (203-333-3031); in Hartford it CTTransit (860-523-9181); in Waterbury it’s the CTTransit (203-753-2538). The rest of the areas are covered in the literature provided by the tourist office.

Little known Connecticut fact: State routes are numbered between 2 and 999; however, those above 399 are secret routes, maintained by the state but not signposted. The highest route with a sign is 372, the highest secret route is 919. The state does not allow a state route with the same numbers as a U.S. or Interstate route.

If you ever wondered why the leaves change color in Connecticut and points to the north during Fall Foliage season, it’s because they get their green color from chlorophyll, a pigment found in plant leaves that enables them to process sunlight. Fall's shorter days and cooler temperatures causes the chlorophyll to move from the leaves to the branches, trunk, and roots, and the yellow and orange pigments that are always present become visible. Other chemical processes produce the brilliant reds, purples and bronzes. On warm fall days, sugar is produced in the leaves of some trees, and then trapped by the chill of night. As sugar accumulates, the leaves turn brighter red. Factors that influence the amount of fall colour the leaves will wear each year include the rain, the amount of sugar in the leaves, the wind and the temperature.

If you find yourself in Connecticut during the fall foliage season, check out State Route 169, a National Scenic Byway and historic road that winds its way through an area with 189 structures dating back to the 1800s. The Merritt Parkway (Route 15) and 169 are considered two of the best scenic routes and best leaf-viewing areas.

Visit New England Beaches - You’re In The Neighbourhood

Connecticut and New England has always been loved for its beaches. From smooth sand to rocky coasts, high ocean waves or cool fresh water lakes, this part of the country has a beach for just about everybody. More than just beautiful scenery, a summer day on a New England beach brings out fishermen, swimmers, sun worshipers, surfers, water-skiers, naturalists, birdwatchers, boaters -- the list could go on and on!

Long Island Sound offers beach-goers a calm experience: very little waves and undertow for bathers, and big, sandy beaches like you find on the ocean. This part of Connecticut offers visitors the most beaches of any part of the state, including state parks and small community beaches set on little inlets and coves. Since the boating community is very active here, you will find plenty of easy opportunity to reach the region by boat, as well as by more traditional means.

Where Long Island Sound ends and the Atlantic Coast begins in New England, South County is probably the region's best kept oceanfront secret. Swimmable water, high ocean waves and 17 sandy beaches await visitors. Those who prefer the entertainment of a busy summer spot will enjoy Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, with its boardwalk attractions, nightlife and numerous hotels. Smaller community beaches and state parks along the shoreline offer smaller crowds, picturesque dunes, and great opportunities for bird-watching.

Newport is so well known for its other attractions and historic sites, that the beaches there are often overlooked. Visitors will enjoy sand and surf along Narragansett Bay and directly on the Atlantic. Of particular note is Fort Adams State Park, which features a beach alongside a tourable 19th century fort.

Connecticut Campgrounds

Ashford

Brialee RV & Tent Park 203-429-8359

Bozrah

Acorn Campground, 135 Lake Rd., Bozrah, CT 06334

Odetah Campground, 38 Bozrah Street, Bozrah, CT 06334 860-889-4144

Clinton

River Road Campground, 13 River Rd., Clinton, CT 06413 860-669-2238

Eastford

Charlie Brown Campground, 100 Chaplin Rd., Eastford, CT 06242 860-974-0142

East Lyme

Aces High RV Park, 301 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333 (860) 739-8858

Higganum

Little City Campground, 741 Little City Rd.. Higganum, CT 06441 860-345-8469

Mystic Area

Seaport Campground, PO Box 104, Mystic, CT 06372 860-536-4044

North Stonington

Highland Orchards Resort Park, P.O. Box 222, North Stonington, CT 06359 800-624-0829

Preston

Hidden Acres Family Campground, 47 River Rd., Preston, CT 06365 860-887-9633

Strawberry Park, 42 Pierce Road, Preston CT 860-886-1944

Safford Springs

Mineral Springs Family Campground, 135 Leonard Rd. Stafford Springs, CT 06076 860-684-2993

Sterling

Sterling Park Campground, 177 Gibson Hill Rd. Sterling, CT 06377 860-564-8777

Woodstock

Beaver Pines Campground, 1728 Rt 198, Woodstock, CT 06281 860-974-0110