Connecticut Car Rental

Guide to Connecticut

Geography

Although Connecticut is a small state, it has a handful of varied landscapes: marshes, beaches, mountains, coastal villages, and farmland. Its access to the Long Island Sound and the Connecticut and Thames Rivers allowed it to become a major naval hub in the past.

Climate in Connecticut

The northern part of Connecticut experiences a humid continental climate, while the south experiences a humid subtropical climate. Most tourists visit in early fall (September/October) when the state is most beautiful. Visit then, or if you’d prefer to avoid crowds, in late spring (May/June).

Culture

The largest metropolitan hub in Connecticut is at the Connecticut River Valley. In the rest of the state, you’ll find plenty of old colonial towns and seaports. The state is often called conservative but, interestingly, it was the second state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage.

Things to do in Connecticut

Explore Yale University

Yale University is one of the country’s top Ivy League schools and a micro-city in itself. Located within New Haven, the university has galleries, museums, and other tourist buildings that you will love to explore. And the best part? The architecture feels straight out of the Middle Ages.

Browse through rare writings

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, in New Haven, is not only the largest library of rare books in the world but also an architectural marvel. Shaped like a cube and designed to diffuse the natural light that comes in through its opaque windows, the library is a delight for budding scholars.

Visit Mark Twain’s house

Samuel Clemens, popularly known as Mark Twain, was a classical American writer famous for his stories set on the Mississippi River. The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford is an excellent tribute to his writing genius. It also displays his favorite art pieces, collected from India, China, Turkey, Morocco, and Japan. The most popular museum exhibit is a six-foot-tall LEGO statue of the man himself.

Eating out in Connecticut

If the placidity of Connecticut makes you want to reconnect with your artsy side, plan a date night at Muse Paintbar in Hartford. Here, you can work on paintings at your leisure, with a trained artist – and some wine – to boost your spirits. While at Yale, check out Sally’s Apizza, an 83-year-old pizzeria that bakes smoky crusts in coal-fired brick ovens.

For another throwback to Connecticut’s maritime history, visit The Engine Room in Mystic, where you can enjoy scrumptious burgers in the refurbished Lathrop Marine Engine building. Walrus+Carpenter in Bridgeport makes amazing seafood, but its maple pork belly and craft beer are pretty great, too.

Connecticut Transport

Airports

Connecticut’s largest airport is the Bradley International Airport (BDL) near Hartford.

Public transport

Buses are the main means of public transportation in Connecticut. If you’re traveling anywhere between Hartford and New Britain, take the CTfastrak rapid transport shuttles.

Driving

To visit the attractions beyond the routes covered by public transport, having a car would be ideal. Reputable car rental companies serving Connecticut include Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise.