Connecticut

Introduction

Day 61 - Mark Twains House

© All Rights Reserved jl98584

Connecticut is a state in the northeastern US region of New England. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south.

Geography

Cities

• Bridgeport is the state's largest city.
• Bristol
• Danbury
• Greenwich
• Hartford is the state capital.
• New Britain
• New Haven is home of the famous Yale University.
• Norwalk
• Stamford
• Waterbury

Sights and Activities

Events and Festivals

Weather

Summers last from June to September and are nice and warm, between 25 and 30 degrees during the day and between 15 and 20 degrees at night. Winters last from December to March with average daytime temperatures mostly around zero or slightly above, though more inland to the north temperatures are lower. Nights are well below zero during this time. Precipitation is quite evenly distributed throughout the year, with sometimes very heavy snowfall in winter. During summer, heavy showers can occur, especially after periods of hot weather.

Getting There

By Plane

By Train

A number of Amtrak trains stop in Connecticut:

• The Acela Express travels between Boston and New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia, stopping in New London, New Haven and Stamford in Connecticut.
• The Northeast Regional travels between Newport News and Boston, stopping en route in many places in Connecticut.
• The Vermonter travels between New York and Vermont, stopping in a number of places in Connecticut as well.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

Connecticut has a number of National Scenic Byways which offer a great way to explore the state crossing beautiful landscapes. Mostly, there are lots of national parks, state parks or monuments along the way and it's generally a better alternative than the faster but boring Interstate Highways.

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Hotel and Motel Chains

There are dozens of hotel and motel chains, ranging from budget to top end. Allthough they are not the most charming accommodations, they usually have a very decent midrange service with good rooms and are generally good value. At least you know what to expect and in some cases they are either the only or the best option in the area. Some of them include:

• Motel 6
• Super 8
• Days Inn
• Quality Inn
• Red Roof Inn
• Howard Johnson
• Best Western
• La Quinta Inns and Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Econo Lodge
• Travelodge
• Hilton
• Choice Hotels
• Ramada
• Radisson
• Starwood Hotels
• Marriott Hotels