What Makes Hartford, Connecticut, a Great Summer Destination

The Connecticut River flows through the heart of Hartford, and its shoreline provides the city with some of its favorite summer pastimes for families. Four public parks are connected by riverwalks. Mortensen Riverfront Plaza is at the center, with a riverfront stage and a hillside of grassy terraces where as many as 2,500 people gather to watch the dragon boats during the annual Riverfront Asian Festival in August.

Riverside Park, to the north, includes miles of walking trails, a boat launch, fishing access, picnic tables and a playground. South of Riverfront Plaza, Charter Oak Landing also has picnic tables, a boat launch and a playground. The Charter Oak Bridge crosses the river to East Hartford, where Great River Park is an outdoor performance area with an amphitheater.

For kids, the highlight of Bushnell Park, next to the capitol grounds, is the 1914 Stein and Goldstein carousel, with 48 hand-carved wooden horses and two chariots circling a Wurlitzer band organ. It’s one of only three surviving Stein and Goldstein carousels in existence, and it is one of the city’s most popular places for families.

While you’re in Hartford, it would be a shame for kids to miss Connecticut Science Center, a hands-on science museum filled with D.I.Y. activities. Each section explores some facet of the world around us, with kid-pleasing exhibits such as Forces in Motion, where they can make and test flying devices. Kids will find more hands-on experiences in Engineering Lab, Energy City, Science Alley, Exploring Space, Health Lab, Invention Dimension, Genome in Me, Changing Earth and Sports Lab.