#The Best Things to do on a Road Trip from Bristol, Connecticut and Berlin, Connecticut
Bristol and Berlin, located in close proximity to each other, offer some of the best road trip destinations in Connecticut. These towns are small but highly populated with great sights such as museums, parks, local delicacies, and scenic views that give you a sense of Connecticut's rich culture and heritage. The halfway point for this road trip is Farmington, CT, home to some academic institutions like the University of Connecticut, and the Hill-Stead Museum, known to be a hub of historical culture.
##1. Visit the Lake Compounce
Lake Compounce, an amusement park located in Bristol, is one of the state's oldest theme parks and the fifth oldest continuously operating amusement park in the country. It offers a classic design that has been a favorite of residents for over a century. The park has a combination of modern, high-tech rides and attractions such as the Wildcat roller coaster, Zoomerang, and more. As a matter of fact, it has won various accolades like the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride in 2019.
##2. Explore the Connecticut Science Center
The Connecticut Science Center, located in Hartford, is an award-winning museum that hosts various interactive exhibits that cater to all age groups. The museum offers an opportunity to discover rocks from outer space, meet an animatronic dilophosaurus, or stroll through a digital rainforest. There is a wide range of immersive activities like the permanent exhibits, live science demonstrations, and movies in 3D that will enrich your knowledge base on art, science, and technology.
##3. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
This art museum in Hartford, Connecticut is the oldest continually-operating public art museum in America. It features approximately 50,000 works of art, comprising of European, African, American, and Asian collections from the past 5000 years. The museum also offers live classical performances, film screenings, and gallery talks. A fact to know is that in 2015, the museum presented a rare show of theatrical costume design, which included costumes worn by Hollywood icons such as Johnny Depp and Marilyn Monroe.
##4. The Mark Twain House and Museum
Located in Hartford, Connecticut, the Mark Twain House and Museum is a National Historic Landmark that offers an interactive tour of the author's life and work. It is a pleasant and exciting place for literature enthusiasts, history buffs, and book lovers. Not only does it provide an opportunity to view the author's personal items and his workspace, but you can also experience the author's humor by taking a guided tour with an actor playing Mark Twain himself.
##5. Hike at the Lamentation Mountain State Park
Lamentation Mountain State Park, located in Berlin, covers 296 acres and includes the 720ft-high Lamentation Mountain summit. This park is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts to engage in various activities like hiking, picnicking, and bird-watching. A fact to know is that the historic "Powder House," an 18th-century stone building built for the storage of gunpowder and other weaponry, is at the foot of Lamentation Mountain.
In conclusion, this road trip route covers a 40-mile stretch of exciting tourist destinations that offer a wide range of immersive and enriching activities. Overall, visiting the Lake Compounce amusement park, exploring the Connecticut Science Center, touring the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and experiencing the Mark Twain House and Museum while hiking at Lamentation Mountain State Park would take an average of two to three days; depending on how much time you want to spend at each location.