Explore Eastern Connecticut
Rich in nature and quintessential New England charm
From the Comstock Covered Bridge and Air Line Trail, to Devil's Hopyard and Salmon River State Park, Colchester is an easy trip to Eastern Connecticut's scenic wonders. View eagles soaring above the Connecticut River or soak up the sun on the beaches of Long Island Sound. Enjoy the museums, theatres, nightlife, history and family fun that is central to life in Southeastern Connecticut; where there is truly something for everyone.
We are located in the heart of downtown Colchester - just a 2 hour drive from New York City, 1.75 hours from Boston and 1 hour from Providence. Locally, we're under 30 minutes from Hartford, beaches, and Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos.
Discover local activities and nearby attractions below.
In town
around Colchester
Air Line Trail State Park
.3 miles, 6 min walk
Scenic bike and walking trail that spans eleven CT towns, 55 miles in total, and is for non-motorized use only. At the bottom of Lebanon Ave. is the entrance to the portion of the Air Line Trail known as the Colchester Railroad Spur, which connects to the main trail in Hebron. The Air Line Trail and Spur includes more than 22 miles through the Southern Connecticut corridor. River Road Stone Arch Railroad Bridge and Blackledge River Railroad Bridge are scenic spots along the Colchester portion not to miss. The ALT also connects to Salmon River State Forest. View the map
Priam Vineyards
5.3 miles, 9 min drive
“40 acre sustainable farm with ten varieties of grapes in production. The winery tasting bar, tasting room and wine patio are open year round. Visit for wine tastings and tours, or simply to enjoy a drink on the patio with friends. The winery also hosts public events throughout the year, including Summer unWINEd Concert Series, Wine Dinners on the Patio, Local Artisan Cheese & Wine Tasting Seminars, and Paint and Sip night.”
Salmon River State Forest
8.3 miles, 13 min drive
Large State Park offering hiking trails in nature, fishing and picnic areas. Nature is peaceful and seemingly untouched, though the historic Comstock Covered Bridge, River Road Stone Arch Railroad Bridge and Blackledge River Railroad Bridge are scenic spots not to miss. On the south side, the Forest connects to Day Pond State Park, and the Air Line Trail runs through the northern portion.
Chanticlair Golf Course
1 mile, 3 min drive
9-hole golf course surrounded by scenic Colchester greenspace. Includes a putting green and driving range.
Hop Culture Farms & Brew Co.
4 miles, 7 min drive
“A family-friendly brewery featuring community tables, outdoor seating, and a diverse selection of cold beers on tap, Hop Culture Farms is a welcoming place for all to enjoy some of the best craft ingredients Connecticut has to offer.” The brewery offers indoor and outdoor seating space and features live music, food trucks, trivia nights, special events for kids and adults, fireside concerts and more. You are welcome to bring your own seating for outdoor hangouts.
Ruby Cohen Woodlands Town Park
2.5 miles, 7 min drive
Natural open space park totaling 206.21 acres that includes two ponds, marshland, marsh viewing area, small streams, hiking trails, gazebo, picnic tables, butterfly-pollinator garden and Colchester Children’s StoryWalk™.
Harry’s Place
.2 miles, 4 min walk
A 100-year-old Colchester institution that attracts visitors from all over the state. Order at the counter and enjoy lunch, dinner or ice cream on one of its plentiful picnic tables, or walk it back to enjoy on The O’Connell House front porch! Open seasonally, outdoor seating only.
Colchester RecPlex
1 mile, 3 min drive
Large open area featuring numerous ball fields for organized sports and casual use. Also includes tennis courts, basketball court, horseshoe pits, skate park, playground, pavilion with charcoal grills and picnic tables, children’s summer splash pad, concession stand, public restrooms and a 2/3-mile walking path. The large park also offers outdoor family movie nights in the summer.
Gallery Cinemas
1.2 miles, 4 min drive
Showcasing first-run movies, including the latest big Hollywood blockbusters, Colchester’s local, independently owned movie theater is a treasure. Offering all your favorite concession stand snacks and a diverse selection of films on its six screens, Gallery Cinemas is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon or a Friday night out.
Day Pond State Park
5.8 miles, 10 min drive
Public recreation area covering 180 acres and abuts the southern portion of Salmon River State Forest. The park offers opportunities for hiking, swimming, shoreline fishing, picnicking and mountain biking.
Cragin Memorial Library
.1 mile, 3 min walk
Built in 1905 (the original building that still stands today), this 20,000 sq. foot building bridges historic architecture with modern technology. Traditional book-borrowing, book readings, public computers and internet, board game rental, meeting rooms and educational programs/classes are all offered.
Colchester History Museum
.2 miles, 4 min walk
Open Sundays 11-2pm, June-December. “The Colchester History Museum offers two floors of exhibits featuring the history of Colchester, the people and the institutions associated with it." It is run by the Colchester Historical Society and housed in a beautiful, historical home within Colchester’s downtown. Be sure to also visit the nearby Replica School for Colored Children museum, part of Connecticut’s Freedom Trail.
Cold Spring Farm
5.3 miles, 11 min drive
“Cold Spring Farm is a year-round, full-diet farm with a lovely landscape comprising of 300 acres of pasture, hay, vegetable fields, and forestland above Lake Hayward, and is home to laying hens, cows, sheep, pigs, goats, turkeys, peacocks, dogs, cats, kids, and an abundance of local wildlife.” The Farm Stand market is open year-round offering the season’s best. They regularly feature events and pop-ups for the whole family, like arts and crafts; animal feeding, petting and photo-ops; and holiday markets with food vendors, shopping and live music. Check their website for upcoming events.
Colchester Town Green
across the street
Positioned conveniently across from The O’Connell House, the large public park holds numerous seasonal public events/activities throughout the year, including: Colchester Lions Club Carnival, Tag Sale on the Green, farmer’s market on Sundays (June-October), Antique Car Shows and Summer Concerts on the Green. It’s a wonderful place to have an afternoon picnic, have a catch on the baseball field, or catch up with a friend under the gazebo.
Lions Club Skating Pond
1.1 miles, 20 min walk
Located on Halls Hill Road, the park offers fishing, a picnic area and ice skating in the winter. The park is operated by The Colchester Lions Club and is open to the public year-round. Please note: skating is only permitted when posted.
A short drive
around Connecticut
Gillette Castle State Park
15.1 miles, 25 min drive
Completed in 1919, Gillette’s stone castle is a 24-room medieval-style [wood]work of art and full of fascinating quirks. It sits atop a large hill and was built by noted actor and playwright, William Hooker Gillette. It is especially popular to visit during the holiday season, when the home is festively decorated. Within the 184-acre estate and surrounding grounds, experience Gillette’s walking paths that followed his private gauge railroad, in addition to trails that include stone-arches, covered bridges, wooded trestles, tunnels and stonewalls that resembles something like nature’s playground. The grounds also include a picturesque goldfish pond, private ‘railroad station’ and breathtaking views of the Connecticut River. Take a tour of the castle and then wander the grounds in awe of this impressive 100-year-old stone work. Guided tours are offered seasonally and require tickets. Hiking trails are open year-round.
The Mark Twain House & Museum
26 miles, 27 min drive
“The Mark Twain House & Museum has restored the author’s Hartford, Connecticut, home, where the author and his family lived from 1874 to 1891. Twain wrote his most important works during the years he lived there, including ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ and ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.’ In addition to providing tours of Twain’s restored home, a National Historic Landmark, the institution offers activities and educational programs that illuminate Twain’s literary legacy and provide information about his life and times.” Guided tours are offered daily and require tickets. Seasonal, holiday and special events and tour information can be found here.
Mohegan Sun Casino
20.2 miles, 23 min drive
“Boasting two unique casinos, Mohegan Sun is also host to the Kids Quest/Cyber Quest family entertainment facility, two luxurious spas, world-class meeting facilities, a state-of-the-art Poker Room as well as three major entertainment venues with seating from 350 to 10,000. People from across the globe come to see live concerts with some of today's top headliners, along with major sporting events including Mohegan Sun's very own WNBA team, the Connecticut Sun. Every turn leads to a new adventure with the world's largest and most spectacular indoor planetarium dome and the awe-inspiring Wombi Rock, a glowing crystal mountain made of imported stone that serves as the focal point of Casino of the Sky.” Shop, dine, dance, play or catch a show. Whether you’re having an exciting night out or an afternoon of family fun, this casino has it all.
Foxwoods Casino
24.3 miles, 32 min drive
“As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in seven casinos, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, Topgolf Swing Suite, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, and exclusive retailers.” Family-friendly activities abound with a 33-story Zipline, scenic Pequot hiking trails, bowling, an arcade, escape rooms and go-karting all on premise. Shop, dine, dance, play or catch a show. Whether you’re having an exciting night out or an afternoon of family fun, this casino has it all.
CT Science Center
24.1 miles, 25 min drive
“A nine-story museum located on the Connecticut River in Hartford with more than 165 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events. The Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens, and adults. From physics to forensics, geology to astronomy, visitors have the sciences at their fingertips.”
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden
27.3 miles, 33 min drive
At the center of picturesque Elizabeth Park, a 100-acre greenspace full of walking paths, ponds, stone bridges, greenhouses and a cafe, sits the Helen S Kaman Rose Garden. This beautiful area offers visitors the opportunity to see over 15,000 rose bushes and 800 varieties of old and new roses, and the formal rose gardens are laid out with arches & pathways leading to a central gazebo. The original main garden, the “square,” is an acre in size and has 132 rose beds while the north and south gardens, which are semi-circular, make up a total of 2.5 acres of roses and 475 beds. It became the first official test garden in 1912 for the American Rose Society founded in 1892, with the idea to test and provide accurate information about roses to the public. It is the first municipal rose garden in the United States and now the third largest rose garden in the country today. Elizabeth Park Conservatory also hosts special events, outdoor concerts and tours regularly on its grounds.
The Dinosaur Place
11.8 miles, 18 min drive
60-acre nature park with trails and caves filled with animatronic life-sized dinosaurs plus attractions like a splash pad, maze, playground, mini golf and an ice cream shop. The main building “Art Village” houses a unique shopping experience for adults with an adjacent building featuring an antiques marketplace.
Rocky Neck State Park and Beach
21.9 miles 32 min drive
Public beach offering a scenic look at Connecticut’s coastline. Rocky Neck has something for everyone - saltwater swimming, sandy beaches, crabbing, fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping and even train watching.
Devil’s Hopyard State Park
8 miles, 15 min drive
Public recreation area located at the Eightmile River's Chapman Falls in the nearby town of East Haddam. The 1,000-acre state park includes facilities for hiking, fishing, bicycling, picnicking, and camping. Be sure not to miss the beautiful Chapman Waterfalls.
Goodspeed Opera House
13.2 miles, 20 min drive
Opening in 1963 as a professional musical theatre in a historic building on the banks of the Connecticut River in East Haddam, Goodspeed stands “at the forefront of producing and preserving the American musical, simultaneously reinventing the classics and inventing new ones. In our history, we have produced over 250 musicals, including over 70 world premieres, and exported 21 productions to Broadway.” It stands as the first regional theatre in America to earn two special Tony Awards, and is widely recognized as “The Home of the American Musical.”
Hammonasset Beach State Park
36.2 miles, 46 min drive
Connecticut's largest shoreline park that offers over 2 miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun. Also includes a boat launch, picnic areas, saltwater fishing, walking and bike trails, and 550 campsites.
Harkness Memorial State Park
23.9 miles, 39 min drive
1906 mansion of the Harkness family set on 230-acres of manicured lawns and landscaped gardens, with panoramic views of Long Island Sound. Meander through the formal gardens, take a guided tour of the mansion, picnic or fish; there is so much to enjoy.
Lake Compounce Theme Park
45.3 miles, 47 min drive
“Lake Compounce is the Premier Family Theme Park & Water Park in New England and the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America. Home to the top-rated wooden roller coaster in the world, Boulder Dash, as well as the best water park in Connecticut.”
Six Flags New England
46.3 miles, 48 min drive
“Experience New England’s most thrilling theme park with over 100 rides, shows, and attractions. From the highest heights to the gentlest adventures, we’ve got plenty of rides you can enjoy together. From large pools and lazy rivers to multi-passenger rafting adventures and speed slides, you’ll find water rides and experiences for everyone in your crew."
Gay City State Park
13.1 miles, 18 min drive
Scenic 1,500-acre park offering hiking and biking trails, freshwater swimming, picnicking, pond fishing, and exploration of historic mill-town ruins and stone foundations.
Hartford Yard Goats
24.4 miles, 25 min drive
Colorado Rockies Double-A affiliate. For a family-fun afternoon or evening, catch a minor league game at Dunkin Donuts Park.
Gardner Lake State Park
8.3 miles, 14 min drive
At only 9.75 acres, this park principally provides boating as well as swimming and fishing access to the 528 acre Gardner Lake. Its deepest point is 39 feet near Minnie Island State Park, which is both the only island in the lake and Connecticut’s smallest state park at only .88 acre.
Norwich Sea Unicorns
15.8 miles, 20 min drive
Detroit Tigers Single-A affiliate. For a family-fun afternoon or evening, catch a minor league game at Dodd Stadium.