Connecticut’s summer beauty evident from seaports to sky

Lake of Isles golf course at Foxwoods (Foxwoods Resort and Casino)

The southernmost New England state lacks the big peaks and rugged Atlantic coastline of some of its neighbors, but the opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless, from pristine state parks to the beaches on Long Island Sound. Connecticut is home to a vibrant urban center in Hartford, two of the world’s largest casinos and options to excite the entire family, from active outdoor pursuits to rainy-day diversions.

STATE PARKS

There are no rivals to Mount Washington in the Nutmeg State, but there is plenty of elevation change and scenic outlooks. Mount Tom State Park — not to be confused with Massachusetts’ Mount Tom State Reservation — offers one of Connecticut’s great views and has a 34-foot stone tower at its summit. The summit of Mount Tom is 1,325 feet above sea level, 125 feet higher than its Massachusetts counterpart. The tower trail is less than one mile long and rises some 500 feet.

Heublein Tower is the crown jewel of Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury. The tower was built in 1914 as the summer home of Gilbert F. Heublein, a food and beverage magnate, and it stands atop 875-foot Talcott Mountain like a Bavarian castle. Climb to the top (through six stories of former living quarters) and you’ll have deep views in all directions.

The formation of hills at Sleeping Giant State Park does indeed look like a sleeping giant. Climb along the Tower Trail through a series of switchbacks until you get to the Norman-style tower/castle that offers great views from its 800-foot-high perch.

A TRAIL FOR THE PADDLERS

For paddling enthusiasts, the Essex Canoe/Kayak Trail covers three river coves of the Connecticut River. After your two or three hours on the river, haul your vessel out of the water and spend a little time at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex. Here you’ll find art, artifacts and exhibits that tell the history of the river. Or hit the Old Lyme Canoe/Kayak Trail, which takes you out on the tidal estuary behind Great Island and Griswold Point. You’ll have a choice between the Southern Trail (90 minutes) and the Northern Trail (3 hours) and a great opportunity to get right up next to river and salt marsh life.

CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER

A visit to the Connecticut Science Center in downtown Hartford is a high-impact learning experience in a green, clean, bright and stimulating environment. Adults and children alike will find entertainment and educational value in hands-on, engaging and exciting exhibits and programs that emphasize current science and science you can use every day. 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.

GREAT GOLF

Connecticut is a mecca for golfers. Three of the best are the Great River Golf Club, a gorgeous layout on the east bank of the Housatonic River; Fox Hopyard Golf Club in East Haddam; and Lake of Isles at Foxwoods Resort & Casino.

Connecticut is a mecca for golfers. Three of the best are the Great River Golf Club, a gorgeous layout on the east bank of the Housatonic River; Fox Hopyard Golf Club in East Haddam; and Lake of Isles at Foxwoods Resort & Casino.

The front nine of Great River weaves through woodland, while the back nine is designed in links style; 12 holes offer a water challenge, six of which border the river. Great River has been ranked among the top 100 public courses in America by Golf Digest. Fox Hopyard has been named the No. 1 public-access course in Connecticut by Golfweek. The challenging course runs through woods, meadows, water and wetlands. And Lake of Isles is a Rees Jones design over 36 holes that was recently rated No. 1 in Connecticut by Golf Magazine.

MAGICAL MYSTIC

Soak up the charm of Mystic, a historic coastline town along with water views of Mystic River and a vibrant Main Street, with its famous drawbridge, boutiques, restaurants and popular ice cream shops. Mystic also offers iconic cultural destinations such as Mystic Seaport, the nation’s leading maritime museum, and Mystic Aquarium for a fun and educational experience with marine life. Renowned for its tall ships, maritime history and scrumptious seafood, Mystic is also close to the excitement and entertainment of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino, where you’ll find plenty of gaming, dining options and nightlife.

LIFE’S A BEACH

The beach life rules in Connecticut, with Hammonasset Beach State Park the king. Hammonasset, near Madison Center, serves up the largest shoreline of any beach area in the state, with two miles that line Long Island Sound. In addition to camping, fishing, picnicking, bicycling and walking trails, Hammonasset boasts a nature center that offers a variety of tours and programs.

Silver Sands State Park, Ocean Beach Park, Shady Beach Park, Sherwood Island State Park are other top choices, while Cockaponset State Forest and Pattaconk Lake Recreation Area is an inland beach favorite.

CHANNEL YOUR INNER ADVENTURER

Like its northern neighbors, Connecticut outfitters and resorts are embracing the adventure park craze. The Adventure Park at Storrs runs ziplines and aerial rope courses through five wooded acres. The regimen includes bridges, rope ladders and ziplines. You can devise your own course and proceed at your own pace.

The Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park in Portland and Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort in Middlefield offer activities designed to get you off your couch and into the air. Brownstone Park offers rides on its 14 ziplines, some of which end up splashing you into the quarry waters, while Powder Ridge features mountain-biking trails once the snow melts.

The Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport boasts 11 different color-coded trails, ranging from beginner to advanced, that invite you to devise your own way to get from tree limb to tree limb.

MARK TWAIN HOUSE AND MUSEUM

Explore the beautiful home of America’s favorite author. Take guided tours through Mark Twain’s historical home, visit his personal library, the children’s rooms, the servants’ wing and his famous Billiard Room where he wrote “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn.”

Enjoy informative exhibitions and documentaries held in the Museum Center, visit the museum store to discover one-of-a kind treasures, or grab a relaxed lunch in the Nook Farm Nook cafe.

House tours run daily beginning at 9:30 a.m., with the last tour leaving at 4:30 p.m., while the Museum Center is open for self-guided visitation during regular hours.

A ROBUST BIKE SCENE

Eastern Connecticut, in particular, is a haven for the bicycle crowd. The 16.2-mile Pomfret/Woodstock Loop will take you from Pomfret into Woodstock and back. Among the highlights is Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, a spectacular 1846 summer house, now preserved as a museum whose gardens and fascinating interiors give a good view into how high the high life was before the federal income tax came along.