Recreation
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Trip Ideas
- Where to Go
- The Best of Vermont
- Rumblings of Revolution
- New, New England Dining
- Boston’s Artistic Expression
- Vermont Leaf Peeping
- Into the Wild
- Vermont Skiing at Its Best
- Visit Vermont’s Maple Sugar Shacks
- Connecticut for Kids
- Vermont’s Covered Bridges
- A Shore Thing
- Vermont with Kids
- Portland Maine Art Galleries
- Small-Town Flavor
- Connecticut’s Wine Trails
- New Hampshire’s Farmers Markets
- A Weekend of Vermont Art
- Family Matters
- Maine Wilderness Camps
- Vermont Cheddar Houses
- Connecticut Spas
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Hiking and Biking
Perched high up on the Metacomet Ridge west of Hartford, the 165-foot Heublein Tower makes a tantalizing goal for hikers in Talcott Mountain State Park (Rt. 185, Bloomfield, 860/242-1158, www.ct.gov.dep, noon–2 p.m. Thu.–Sun., free). Reached by a moderate 1.5-mile stretch of the Metacomet Trail, the tower is done in the Tyrolean style, and has a rich history including a visit by President Eisenhower. The Metacomet Trail stretches for 40 miles up the ridge and is also accessible from other parks in the region, including Peak Mountain in Granby.
Another good spot for some outdoor exercise is the Windsor Lock Canal (Bridge St., Windsor Locks to Canal Street, Suffield, www.ct.gov/dot), which has five miles of level trails overlooking the river and its ingenious series of locks.
Boating
Mark Twain would surely approve of the relaxing river trips offered by Huck Finn Adventures (21 Waterville Rd., Collinsville, 860/693-0385, www.huckfinnadventures.com, $55 per canoe, launch times vary based on trip type), a canoe-and-kayak outfitter that leads trips on the Farmington River. Additionally, paddlers can strap on headlamps and enter the tunnels beneath the city of Hartford for eerie and historical “lost city tours.”
© Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall from Moon New England, 2nd Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.