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Connecticut
Unique adventure tours by land and by sea allow you to see Connecticut in an entirely new and exciting way. Huck Finn Adventures in Collinsville offers the Lost Park River Tour, an underground canoe trip through the dark tunnels of Hartford. As you travel the miles of spacious tunnels buried under Hartford as part of a flood-control project, you'll learn the rich history of the capital city.
Along the shoreline, Thimble Island Cruises in Branford embarks on seal watch cruises aboard the Sea Mist on weekends in March. Passengers can learn about the history and residents of the Thimble Islands – an archipelago of 23 inhabited islands and hundreds of smaller islands off the coast of Stony Creek – while keeping an eye out for one of many seals that make Long Island Sound their home during the winter and spring.
In nearby Guilford, you can glide through town on a guided tour with Shoreline Segway. The tour begins with a lesson on maneuvering the electric two-wheeled, self-balancing transporter and continues with a trip through historic Guilford. Along the way, you'll see 17th- and 18th-century homes, the scenic Guilford Green – featuring a variety of restaurants, art galleries and specialty shops – and the Guilford Fairgrounds.
Further south along the coast, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk combines science with sailing aboard its 40-foot research vessel Oceanic. The 2.5-hour Marine Life Study Cruises, which take place April through June, provide up-close-and-personal encounters with Long Island Sound's marine life. Participants learn sampling techniques, such as biodredge and plankton tow, that bring fish, lobsters, crabs and other sea creatures to the surface. An onboard video microscope and touch tank are also used for observation.
Extreme Sports
Give an extreme nod to the warmer weather with thrill-inducing sports in the water, on the racetrack and even in the air! Navigate the Bulls Bridge Gorge's surging rapids with Clarke Outdoors in West Cornwall. Skilled guides will maneuver your raft through the water's Class IV and V rapids, among the most challenging in the east.
For the fainter-hearted, Mountains Unlimited Whitewater Adventures in Waterbury brings groups through the Housatonic River's Class I to III rapids during a seven- to 10-mile trip flowing through the historic foothills of Northwestern Connecticut.
Those who prefer to discover what's under the water can find scuba diving for all levels at the Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park in Portland.
Divers can take the plunge into the 27-acre freshwater quarry with depths up to 85 feet and visibility ranging from 10 to 30 feet. Beneath the surface, you'll encounter large mouth bass, carp, bluegills, perch and an occasional American eel. For a truly unique scuba adventure, try the underwater navigation course featuring training platforms at various depths and surface and underwater markers for practicing compass skills.
Cure your need for speed at Skip Barber Racing School in Lakeville, and join the ranks of Indy 500 drivers (a third are Skip Barber graduates), as well as celebrities including Al Pacino, Jerry Seinfeld and Tom Cruise. The country's leading school for competitive racing provides instruction on several levels – road racing, high-performance driving and a three-day Mazda MX-5 Cup Racing School – and encourages graduates to put their skills to the test in six different championship races ranging from intro to professional.
For the ultimate thrill – and a great birds-eye view of Connecticut – go airborne with Connecticut Parachutists Inc. at the Ellington Airport. After a training session, beginners take a tandem jump with experienced instructors from two miles above the ground. Those who get bit with the sky-diving bug can take one of two courses at CPI: the Conventional Training Program or the Accelerated Freefall Program. After completion, graduates can jump with experienced divers and join in freefall formations. The Boston/Hartford Skydiving Center at Danielson Airport also offers tandem skydives with USPA-certified instructors.
Hit the Links
Freshly cut grass, warm sunshine and the excitement that the perfect swing of the club brings…what better way to spend a spring day? With more than 70 public courses designed for a range of skill levels, Connecticut fits golf enthusiasts to a tee.
Named one of "America's Best Courses You Can Play" by Golfweek and one of "America's Top Courses" by the Zagat Survey, the 900-acre Lake of Isles at Foxwoods Resort Casino was designed by renowned golf architect Rees Jones and includes rolling terrain, island greens and tees and breathtaking views. The public Resort Course offers 7,300 yards of championship tees, as well as multiple tee locations to accommodate all levels. Beginners and those who want to hone their swing or all-around game can take one- to three-day classes taught by PGA professionals at the on-site Lake of Isles Golf Academy.
In Middlefield, Lyman Orchards Golf Club features 36 holes against a backdrop of rolling hills and orchard trees. The two golf courses – one a qualifying site for the Buick Championship of the PGA Tour and the other designed by world-renowned golfer Gary Player – are ranked among Connecticut's "Top 10 Public Golf Courses" and were recognized as some of the best courses to play in the United States by the Zagat Survey and Zagat.com. Special programs are available for beginners, juniors, women and advanced golfers at the Lyman Orchards Golf Academy. After working up an appetite on the course, indulge in the orchard's signature Hi-Top Apple Pie, voted "Connecticut's Best Apple Pie" by Connecticut Magazine.
Overlooking the Meshomasic State Forest and Connecticut River, Quarry Ridge Golf Course in Portland offers 18 holes on varied elevations. The course, designed by golf course architects Al Zikorus and Joe Kelley, is accompanied by the Quarry Ridge Restaurant, which serves up casual, grilled fare on weekdays and creative American cuisine Friday through Sunday evenings.
Golfers can test their swing at Tunxis Plantation Country Club's 45 championship holes or at the on-site driving range. The club, located in Farmington, features two 18-hole courses and one nine-hole course – all with pristine greens and small ponds featuring waterfalls – to meet various skill levels.
Along the shoreline, Thimble Island Cruises in Branford embarks on seal watch cruises aboard the Sea Mist on weekends in March. Passengers can learn about the history and residents of the Thimble Islands – an archipelago of 23 inhabited islands and hundreds of smaller islands off the coast of Stony Creek – while keeping an eye out for one of many seals that make Long Island Sound their home during the winter and spring.
In nearby Guilford, you can glide through town on a guided tour with Shoreline Segway. The tour begins with a lesson on maneuvering the electric two-wheeled, self-balancing transporter and continues with a trip through historic Guilford. Along the way, you'll see 17th- and 18th-century homes, the scenic Guilford Green – featuring a variety of restaurants, art galleries and specialty shops – and the Guilford Fairgrounds.
Further south along the coast, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk combines science with sailing aboard its 40-foot research vessel Oceanic. The 2.5-hour Marine Life Study Cruises, which take place April through June, provide up-close-and-personal encounters with Long Island Sound's marine life. Participants learn sampling techniques, such as biodredge and plankton tow, that bring fish, lobsters, crabs and other sea creatures to the surface. An onboard video microscope and touch tank are also used for observation.
Extreme Sports
Give an extreme nod to the warmer weather with thrill-inducing sports in the water, on the racetrack and even in the air! Navigate the Bulls Bridge Gorge's surging rapids with Clarke Outdoors in West Cornwall. Skilled guides will maneuver your raft through the water's Class IV and V rapids, among the most challenging in the east.
For the fainter-hearted, Mountains Unlimited Whitewater Adventures in Waterbury brings groups through the Housatonic River's Class I to III rapids during a seven- to 10-mile trip flowing through the historic foothills of Northwestern Connecticut.
Those who prefer to discover what's under the water can find scuba diving for all levels at the Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park in Portland.
Divers can take the plunge into the 27-acre freshwater quarry with depths up to 85 feet and visibility ranging from 10 to 30 feet. Beneath the surface, you'll encounter large mouth bass, carp, bluegills, perch and an occasional American eel. For a truly unique scuba adventure, try the underwater navigation course featuring training platforms at various depths and surface and underwater markers for practicing compass skills.
Cure your need for speed at Skip Barber Racing School in Lakeville, and join the ranks of Indy 500 drivers (a third are Skip Barber graduates), as well as celebrities including Al Pacino, Jerry Seinfeld and Tom Cruise. The country's leading school for competitive racing provides instruction on several levels – road racing, high-performance driving and a three-day Mazda MX-5 Cup Racing School – and encourages graduates to put their skills to the test in six different championship races ranging from intro to professional.
For the ultimate thrill – and a great birds-eye view of Connecticut – go airborne with Connecticut Parachutists Inc. at the Ellington Airport. After a training session, beginners take a tandem jump with experienced instructors from two miles above the ground. Those who get bit with the sky-diving bug can take one of two courses at CPI: the Conventional Training Program or the Accelerated Freefall Program. After completion, graduates can jump with experienced divers and join in freefall formations. The Boston/Hartford Skydiving Center at Danielson Airport also offers tandem skydives with USPA-certified instructors.
Hit the Links
Freshly cut grass, warm sunshine and the excitement that the perfect swing of the club brings…what better way to spend a spring day? With more than 70 public courses designed for a range of skill levels, Connecticut fits golf enthusiasts to a tee.
Named one of "America's Best Courses You Can Play" by Golfweek and one of "America's Top Courses" by the Zagat Survey, the 900-acre Lake of Isles at Foxwoods Resort Casino was designed by renowned golf architect Rees Jones and includes rolling terrain, island greens and tees and breathtaking views. The public Resort Course offers 7,300 yards of championship tees, as well as multiple tee locations to accommodate all levels. Beginners and those who want to hone their swing or all-around game can take one- to three-day classes taught by PGA professionals at the on-site Lake of Isles Golf Academy.
In Middlefield, Lyman Orchards Golf Club features 36 holes against a backdrop of rolling hills and orchard trees. The two golf courses – one a qualifying site for the Buick Championship of the PGA Tour and the other designed by world-renowned golfer Gary Player – are ranked among Connecticut's "Top 10 Public Golf Courses" and were recognized as some of the best courses to play in the United States by the Zagat Survey and Zagat.com. Special programs are available for beginners, juniors, women and advanced golfers at the Lyman Orchards Golf Academy. After working up an appetite on the course, indulge in the orchard's signature Hi-Top Apple Pie, voted "Connecticut's Best Apple Pie" by Connecticut Magazine.
Overlooking the Meshomasic State Forest and Connecticut River, Quarry Ridge Golf Course in Portland offers 18 holes on varied elevations. The course, designed by golf course architects Al Zikorus and Joe Kelley, is accompanied by the Quarry Ridge Restaurant, which serves up casual, grilled fare on weekdays and creative American cuisine Friday through Sunday evenings.
Golfers can test their swing at Tunxis Plantation Country Club's 45 championship holes or at the on-site driving range. The club, located in Farmington, features two 18-hole courses and one nine-hole course – all with pristine greens and small ponds featuring waterfalls – to meet various skill levels.
