MARCH 2019 globaltravelerusa.com 63
with skills in data analytics and code writing. Infosys partnered
with the city’s Trinity College to create educational programs
that prepare liberal arts students and employees for the digital
workplace of the future.
As Connecticut strives to attract and keep professional,
creative millennials, Metro Hartford makes strides in the lifestyle
assets that appeal to this demographic. These include the
successful Lime bike-sharing program and a Complete Streets
initiative, as well as the return of commuter rail with the opening
of the Hartford Rail Line connecting to New Haven and
Springfield. Professional sports get a boost with the arrival of
the Hartford Yard Goats Double-A MLB team and the Hartford
Athletic United Soccer League team. Visitors and residents
enjoy a growing arts, craft brewery and restaurant scene as well
as new neighborhood parks and communities in this vibrant,
walkable city.
Facing bankruptcy before a controversial state bail-out kicked
in, Hartford now works to change from a 9-to-5 city, attracting
people to live downtown and encouraging daily commuters to
stay to enjoy its offerings. Look for the June opening of Parkville
Market, a vibrant food hall reminiscent of Manhattan’s Chelsea
Market, boasting more than 50 curated, owner-operated shops
in the emerging arts enclave of Parkville.
Over the past 18 months, a dynamic entrepreneurial move-
ment also emerged, with organizations providing support and
space for innovators to connect and collaborate. Innovation
Destination, TechStars and Upward Hartford all launched
operations to empower entrepreneurs, and Makerspace CT will
open soon.
Don’t look to the skyline for dramatic changes. Rather
than erecting new structures, developers focus on renovating
historic factories and office towers into apartments. Since 2015
the downtown added 885 rentals receiving funding from The
Capital Region Development Authority, with occupancy averag-
ing 95 percent. Another 551 units are in progress, with 110 more
on the drawing board.
Business visitors find Hartford a compact, convenient city.
Bradley International Airport, 16 miles from downtown, boasts
convenient parking, plentiful charging stations, free WiFi,
restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere. All of these and direct Aer
Lingus flights to Dublin make it an attractive alternative to New
York and Boston gateways.
The 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center —
the largest between New York and Boston — hosts trade shows,
conventions and business events in a dramatic riverside setting.
The exciting news on the hotel scene is the reopening of the
landmark Goodwin Hotel with a renewed cosmopolitan vibe in
the heart of downtown. Maintaining its historic architectural
details, The Goodwin excels at modern luxury in its guestrooms,
duplexes and suites; J.P. Morgan called it home on his stays in
Hartford. At its Restaurant Porrón, Chef Tyler Anderson goes
all in with Spanish-inspired meals.
In a state that once hummed at the center of historic indus-
trial revolutions, Hartford looks to transform with a new wave of
technology companies and entrepreneurs, living up to the state’s
tourism motto: “Connecticut: Still Revolutionary.”
Hartford shines with cultural gems like Elizabeth
Park, America’s oldest public rose garden; the
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art; the Mark Twain
House; and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. Enjoy
great performances at The Bushnell, XFINITY Theatre
and Hartford Stage.SCENIC DRIVES
Connecticut’s name derives from the
Algonquian Quinnehtukqut, meaning
“beside the long tidal river.” The 410-mile
Connecticut River flows from the Cana-
dian border, passing through Hartford on
its way to Long Island Sound. A charming
ride takes you across the river on the
Hadlyme-Chester Ferry, in operation
since 1769, to Gillette Castle State Park.
William Gillette, Hartford native and an
actor renowned for his stage portrayal of
Sherlock Holmes, built the 24-room castle
in 1914 on his 184-acre estate that offers
woodland hiking trails. Head south on I-91
to Exit 22S to merge onto CT-9S toward
Middletown/Old Saybrook. Take Exit 7 for
CT-82E; follow to CT 431 to CT-148W and
follow the signs for the ferry. The ferry
operates April 1–Nov. 30.
Enjoy a day in the coastal village ofMystic, about an hour’s drive, where you
can stroll among shops and restaurants
and savor some of the best seafood in
New England. Mystic Aquarium’s indoor
and outdoor exhibits feature rescued
seals, beluga whales and endangered
African penguins. Mystic Seaport Museum
recreates a 19th-century seaport village
with a collection of whaling ships and
period crafts. Take I-91S to Exit 22S to
merge onto CT-9S, from which you can
pick up I-95N in Old Saybrook. Take Exit
90 and continue on Frontage Road to the
aquarium, or turn right on Route 27 S to
reach the seaport.CITY CHARACTER:
Mark Twain House, where the author and his
family lived from 1874 to 1891
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