Best Things to do in Bristol CT, Stuff todo + to see near Bristol Connecticut
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Best Things to do in Bristol CT Connecticut

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Attractions + Things To Do in Bristol
Things To Do in Bristol: Lake Compounce Theme Park #1 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Lake Compounce Theme Park
822 Lake Avenue Bristol CT
~2.28 miles from Bristol city center
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A family theme park with many rides and attractions for the whole family including the Anchor Bay Water Park.
Things To Do in Bristol: ESPN #2 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
ESPN
935 Middle Street 935 Middle Street CT
~2.88 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Briarwod College #3 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Briarwod College
2279 Mount Vernon Road Southington CT
~3.21 miles from Bristol city center
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Briarwood College is a private, for-profit associate's college. A co-educational residential school with an enrollment of 637, Briarwood College is located in Southington, Connecticut. Briarwood is known for its mortuary science, occupational therapy assistant, dental hygiene, and criminal justice programs. As of the Spring Semester of 2007, Briarwood is the only institution in Connecticut offering a mortuary program. Mortuary science has the highest number of students, followed by criminal justice studies. There is an average of three mortuary students for every criminal justice student per semester. Briarwood had offered computer science classes, but discontinued this focus. Briarwood College offers a total of 27 degree programs now to students including legal assisting, medical assisting, and clinical assisting. The tuition for Briarwood is, on average, approximately $16,400 per year with additional fee's averaging $300. The on-campus housing offers housing for up to 300 students, with average room prices around $3,600 per year per student.[1] ^ http://www.american-school-search.com/briarwood-college.html Unfortunately, Briarwood College does not offer distant education opportunities.
Things To Do in Bristol: Tunxis Community College #4 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Tunxis Community College
271 Scott Swamp Rd Farmington CT - 860-677-7701
~4.39 miles from Bristol city center
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http://tunxis.commnet.edu
#5 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Mount Southington Skiing
396 Mount Vernon Road Plantsville CT
~6.27 miles from Bristol city center
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From their website: Welcome To Mt. Southington Night and day we are the one. Mt. Southington is Connecticut’s convenient location for both skiing and snowboarding for all ages and for all ability-levels. Novice trails that gently glide down sloping hillsides as well as down-hill runs that challenge and excite are just some features of this popular ski area. Mt. Southington is a must-do winter sport for the entire family. We start young with our children’s learning area staffed by outstanding instructors to school ski clubs and competitive high school racing teams. Our Terrain Park for high-flyers is a favorite and our Flex Ticket makes it possible for skiers and boarders to choose their ski time at Mt. Southington.
Things To Do in Bristol: Lily Lake Inn #6 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Lily Lake Inn
66 Central Ave Wolcott CT
~7.49 miles from Bristol city center
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The picturesque gardens and fountains provide the perfect backdrop for your day. The Lily Lake has been catering special events for twenty-five years. We pride ourselves in our newly remodeled banquet rooms, excellent food, and superb service. We want your experience to be remembered fondly for years to come.
Things To Do in Bristol: Aqua Turf Club #7 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Aqua Turf Club
556 Mulberry St Plantsville CT
~7.79 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Barker Animation Art Gallery #8 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Barker Animation Art Gallery
1188 Highland Ave Cheshire CT
~10.08 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Westfarms Mall #9 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Westfarms Mall
Farmington CT
~10.37 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Hubbard Park #10 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Hubbard Park
199 Notch Road Meriden CT
~10.46 miles from Bristol city center
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Hubbard Park, located in the Hanging Hills of Connecticut, is a wooded, mountainous park located just north of downtown urban Meriden, Connecticut. It comprises approximately 1,800 acres (7.3 km2) of carefully kept woodlands, streams, dramatic cliff faces, flower gardens, and the James Barry bandshell and picnic spots, as well as its showpiece, Mirror Lake. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Things To Do in Bristol: Noah Webster House #11 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Noah Webster House
West Hartford CT
~11.77 miles from Bristol city center
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The Noah Webster House is a historic house museum located at 227 South Main Street, West Hartford, Connecticut. It was the home of American lexicographer Noah Webster, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962.Yet, has been reportingly haunted. The house was probably built circa 1748 as part of a 120-acre (0.49 km2) farm, and is a typical New England wooden-frame residence of that era. It has since been extended and is now 2.5 stories in height with an irregular shape. In 1758 it was the birthplace of Noah Webster, author of the first American dictionary (1828). His father mortgaged the farm, including this farmhouse, for Noah to attend Yale University. The house was continuously occupied until 1962, when it was given to the town. In 1966 it opened as a museum. It currently contains several items with Webster associations, including early editions of Webster's Dictionary of the American Language and Blue-backed Spellers, as well as china, glassware, a desk, and two clocks that Webster owned as an adult.
#12 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Cheshire Academy
10 Main St Cheshire CT
~12.06 miles from Bristol city center
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Cheshire Academy is a college preparatory school located in Cheshire, Connecticut. Founded in 1794 as the Episcopal Academy of Connecticut, it was the tenth private academy founded in the United States. The school has students from roughly 30 countries around the world, and a total student body of 387 students enrolled, 140 girls and 247 boys. It is divided into the Middle School (grades 6 though 8) and the Upper School (grades 9 through 12 and post-graduate). The school is directed by an 11 member Board of Directors and a 7 member Council of Overseers, all of whom are alumni.
Things To Do in Bristol: Hartford Children's Museum #13 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Hartford Children's Museum
West Hartford CT
~12.58 miles from Bristol city center
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The Children’s Museum provides rich learning experiences in science and nature for all ages. Exploration of our multi-level museum captures imaginations and develops a sense of curiosity about the natural world. Outdoors Conny the Whale Conny meets you out front before you enter The Children’s Museum. Climb inside this 60-foot long sperm whale replica, hear whale sounds, and get sprayed by water from his blow hole when he spouts during the summer months. Lobby Level Kids’ Corner Kids’ Corner is an exploration of light, sound, touch, and bubble science through interactive experiences and role playing. This area is engaging for children of all ages. Pendulum Staircase The Foucault Pendulum, a classic museum exhibit, hangs 45 feet from the tip of our glass spire to the lowest level of The Children’s Museum. As you descend the Pendulum Staircase, you can view breathtaking astronomy photographs. Upper Level Critter Crossing Critter Crossing, a whimsical play space, is where our youngest explorers and their caregivers can make big discoveries. This area provides a toddler-friendly setting for adventure and creativity in a nature-themed environment. Excavation Station Excavation Station has been unearthed in the upper exhibit hall. This earth science exhibit includes three dig pits, a mining sluice, live alligator, rock and mineral samples, and life-size Dinosaur models. There is a small Dino Café with tables and vending machines.
Things To Do in Bristol: Bowtie Palace 17 and Odyssey Theater #14 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Bowtie Palace 17 and Odyssey Theater
Hartford CT
~13.29 miles from Bristol city center
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Growing up in Newington, I found this gem during my early high school days when it was down as Crown. I still call it that half the time. Anyway, it is really a top notch facility. Yes, it is over priced like every other movie theater in America...but college students do get a discount (it used to be $5 but now it isn't as good). The theaters are pretty big and comfortable too. Always clean. I don't know exactly what an Odyssey theater is, but it is huge and pretty awesome. However, word of warning: if you know your show is going to be in there, make sure you get there early so you can grab a seat in the back. You do NOT want to be in the front half of that theater. The only downside is that once in a while you are in a show where there are some disrespectful people talking, celling, etc. Racist people would say they are 'locals,' and while that may be the fact, I find that jerks show up in any theater you try to go to eventually. This is the nicest theater in the Newington area...hands down.
Things To Do in Bristol: Elizabeth Park #15 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Elizabeth Park
Hartford CT
~13.92 miles from Bristol city center
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Elizabeth Park is a city park located in Hartford and West Hartford, Connecticut. It is covers 102 acres (41 ha) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site was previously owned by financier Charles M. Pond of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and Hartford National Bank, and a treasurer of Connecticut (1870-71). In 1894 he bequeathed his estate to the City of Hartford with the stipulation that it be named for his deceased wife, Elizabeth. The city took possession in 1897 and engaged the famed Olmsted and Son for landscaping. In 1904 the park's first superintendent, Theodore Wirth, created its renowned Rose Garden (2.5 acres/1.0 ha). In the 1970s the city decided it could no longer afford the garden, and in fact determined to plow it under; however volunteers banded together and came to the rescue. It is the oldest municipal rose garden in the United States, and currently contains about 15,000 bushes of 800 rose varieties. In 1977 volunteers banded together with Vic Jarm (Park Superintendent at the time) to form the Friends of Elizabeth Park and save the Rose Garden. Their first mission was to raise $10,000 to replace many of the rose bushes that died from lack of care. Since then the Friends of Elizabeth Park have assisted the City of Hartford in maintaining the Rose Garden as well as the other horticultural gardens in the park and have raised funds for the restoration of the historic greenhouses and the Elizabeth Pond Memorial in 1997, also known as the Pond House Cafe. Most of the financial support for the park through the efforts of the FEP comes from individuals, the Ethel Donaghue Trust and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Today the park encompasses many garden areas, pathways, century-old Lord and Burnham greenhouses, lawns, bowling greens, tennis courts, a picnic grove, and a scenic pond. The border between Hartford and West Hartford has moved since the park was established, with the odd result that one of Hartford's largest parks is now located primarily within the Town of West Hartford.
Things To Do in Bristol: Governor's Residence #16 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Governor's Residence
Hartford CT
~14.23 miles from Bristol city center
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The Connecticut Governor's Residence serves as the official home of the Governor of Connecticut. It is located at 990 Prospect Avenue in Hartford. The Connecticut Governor’s Residence has served as the official residence since 1945. The house was originally built in 1909 for George C.F. Williams, a Hartford physician and industrialist. It was designed in the Georgian Revival style by the Boston-based architectural firm of Andrews, Jacques & Rantoul and built at a cost of $337,000. In 1916, Hartford architects Smith & Bassett designed the north and south wing additions. The three-story home originally stood on 14 acres (5.7 ha) that included a grass tennis court, a greenhouse and a number of out buildings. It remained in the Williams family until 1940. The property was acquired by the State of Connecticut in 1943. Today, the 19-room residence sits on 4 acres (1.6 ha) and has 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) of living space with nine fireplaces, nine bathrooms, a pool and a pergola. The Governor’s Residence is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Things To Do in Bristol: Trinity College #17 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Trinity College
300 Summit Street Hartford CT - 860-297-2000
~14.24 miles from Bristol city center
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http://www.trincoll.edu
Things To Do in Bristol: Pope Park #18 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Pope Park
Hartford CT
~14.28 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Cinestudio #19 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Cinestudio
Hartford CT
~14.33 miles from Bristol city center
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Cinestudio is an independent film theater located on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The theater is a single-screen venue with a seating capacity of approximately 500. Regionally, it is known for its large screen, 70 mm film projection capability, and classic movie palace atmosphere. Cinestudio’s signature features are its operational gold screen curtain, balcony seating, and gold lion insignia. History Cinestudio was founded in 1970 by a group of students at Trinity College. The students converted a large lecture hall in the college’s Clement Chemistry Building into a recreation of a 1930s film house. The theater was created as a cooperative, with students overseeing all aspects of the theater’s operation. Cinestudio made its mark early by showing controversial films and debuting future cult classics, including The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Cinestudio has continued largely as a cooperative operation. Two founding members, James Hanley and Peter McMorris, have guided the theater since its inception and now manage its day-to-day operation, including all nightly projection. A staff of approximately 50 student and community volunteers run showings seven days a week. In 2002, Cinestudio incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts organization. The theater now is independent of Trinity College, although it still occupies space in the college’s chemistry building. In 2007, the theater’s ticket booth was renamed the Fred Pfeil Memorial Ticket Booth in honor of late Trinity College professor and long-time Cinestudio volunteer and board member, Fred Pfeil.
Things To Do in Bristol: Mark Twain House #20 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Mark Twain House
Hartford CT
~14.43 miles from Bristol city center
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The Mark Twain House and Museum was the home of Mark Twain (a.k.a. Samuel Langhorne Clemens) from 1874 to 1891 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Before 1874, Twain had lived in Hannibal, Missouri. The architectural style of the 19-room house is Victorian Gothic. The house is also notable for the major works written during his residency, including The Gilded Age, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, Life on the Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, A Tramp Abroad, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Poor financial investments caused the Twain family to move to Europe in 1891. When they returned to Connecticut in 1900 he lived in a house built for him in Redding, Connecticut named Stormfield, where he died on April 21, 1910. His home in Hartford functioned as a school, an apartment building, as well as a library. In 1962 the building was declared a National Historic Landmark. Since 1974 it has had a multi-million dollar renovation and an expansion dedicated to showcasing his life and work. The house is facing financial troubles stemming in part from an overestimation of the number of visitors it would receive yearly.
Things To Do in Bristol: Harriet Beecher Stowe House #21 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Hartford CT
~14.44 miles from Bristol city center
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The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a historic home in Hartford, Connecticut that was once the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The Stowe Center’s mission is to preserve and interpret Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Hartford home and the Center’s historic collections, create a forum for vibrant discussion of her life and work, and inspire individuals to embrace and emulate her commitment to social justice by effecting positive change. The house was once part of a community called Nook Farm and former neighbor to Mark Twain. In this Victorian house, Stowe lived with her husband Calvin, a theologian, and her oldest twin daughters, Hatty (Harriet) and Eliza. They moved into the house in 1873 and were residents there until Stowe's death in 1896. The house contains period antiques and also items that belonged to the Stowe Family. The Nook Farm Grounds were designed by the partnership of Stevenson, Fuoco, and Canning. This site at the western end of Hartford was originally a compound of houses of artists and writers including Mark Twain, Charles Dudley Warner, Francis Gillette, et al. Harriet Beecher Stowe had a large mansion called 'Oakhome' at the South portion of Nook Farm. She later moved to the smaller Nook Farm Cottage at 77 Forrest Street. The first restoration of the site was accomplished by landscape architect Katherine (Mrs. Holly) Smith Stevenson assisted by landscape architect Jaquie Canning. Kitty Stevenson's grandmother had been a friend and neighbor of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Kitty Stevenson was a friend of Beecher descendant, early presevationist Kathy Day. In the 1970s Rob Camp Fuoco joined this firm of landscape architects. Following the retirement of Stevenson and Canning , Fuoco did much historic research and accomplished the 1978 and 1990 redesigns of the historic grounds which resulted in the historic site and gardens that we see today. During this second stage many Victorian, historic, and educational elements were added. These include the color theme gardens, the inclusion of Harriet's beloved wildflowers, the inclusion of three typically high Victorian gardens, the scented garden, and the meadow garden.
Things To Do in Bristol: Connecticut Historical Soceity Museum #22 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Connecticut Historical Soceity Museum
Hartford CT
~14.47 miles from Bristol city center
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The Connecticut Historical Society is a non-profit museum, library, and education center. Our mission is to inspire and foster a life-long interest in history through exhibitions, programs and Connecticut-related collections because examining and understanding the past, and connecting the past with the present, provides a guide for the future. Established in Hartford in 1825, The Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) is one of the oldest historical societies in the nation and houses one of the most distinguished museum and library collections in New England. The museum’s collections include more than 242,000 prints and photographs and 38,000 objects, with strengths in 17th and 18th century furniture; costume and textiles; portraits and landscapes; tavern and trade signs; decorative arts; and toys and tools. The library holds more than 125,000 volumes, 1,300 maps, 3,700 broadsides, and three million manuscripts, including one of the nation’s finest genealogical collections.
Things To Do in Bristol: Webster Theater #23 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Webster Theater
Hartford CT
~14.66 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Cathedral of St. Joseph #24 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Cathedral of St. Joseph
Hartford CT
~14.91 miles from Bristol city center
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The present modern cathedral was opened in 1962 replacing a gothic structure that burned in 1956. The new cathedral is noted for its huge expanse of spectacular stained glass windows crafted in Paris, the ceramic tile mural behind the altar that is the largest of its kind in the world, and its majestic four manual Austin pipe organ. The sturdy U-shaped structure is suggestive of a modern day version of Paris's famous Sainte-Chapelle with walls of breathtaking faceted stained glass windows. The cathedral seats 1,750 people in an awesome contemporary space including the two side chapels. The structure is of reinforced cast concrete sheathed inside and outside with limestone. The tower contains a set of 12 cast bronze bells ranging in weight from 225 lbs. to 3,850 lbs. and is topped with a 25 foot high stainless steel cross.
Things To Do in Bristol: University of Hartford #25 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
University of Hartford
Hartford CT
~15.06 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Museum of Connecticut History #26 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Museum of Connecticut History
Hartford CT
~15.16 miles from Bristol city center
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At the Museum of Connecticut History, you'll find exhibits that trace the growth of the State and its role in the development of the nation. The Museum focuses on Connecticut's government, industrial and military history. Visit their website at: www.museumofcthistory.org
Things To Do in Bristol: Connecticut State Capital #27 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Connecticut State Capital
Hartford CT
~15.18 miles from Bristol city center
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The Connecticut State Capitol is located on Bushnell Park in the Connecticut capital of Hartford. The building houses the State Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, and several legislative leaders.
Things To Do in Bristol: Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts #28 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Hartford CT
~15.24 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Bushnell Park #29 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Bushnell Park
Hartford CT
~15.34 miles from Bristol city center
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Things To Do in Bristol: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch #30 of 30 Things To Do in Bristol
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
Hartford CT
~15.37 miles from Bristol city center
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