The Best Towns in Connecticut, From Quaint Seaside Villages to Cozy Rural Retreats

"If you find yourself up in Hartford, New Britain is worth swinging through in large part for the New Britain Museum of Art. Request a tour, or at least a comment, from intrepid veteran docent Judy Silver (she has 20 years at the museum under her belt) and take in a fabulous collection that tracks American art history from the Colonial-Federal period and the Hudson River School to the present day following the influx of European surrealists. The museum sits right on the 98-acre Walnut Hill Park, a typical Olmsted (as in, from the office of the landscape architect that also did New York’s parks Central and Prospect) with scenic overlooks and winding walkways just beckoning to be strolled upon and looked out at and appreciated. There’s a bevy of breweries round these parts, such as Alvarium and Five Churches Brewing, if all this ambling has whet your thirst or appetite. Where to stay: Far and away the best place in the proximity, albeit not directly in New Britain, is the Delamar in nearby West Hartford. Book now with Expedia Book now with Booking.com"