Category: Connecticut Travel

If you like beer and a walk in the woods, the Woodcock Nature Center in Wilton has dreamed up a one-of-a-kind hike on Saturday, April 24, from 12 pm to 5 pm. The “Frothy Forage” hike and beer tasting experience is fun for the whole family. A good walk, a good beer, and a good soft drink should be savored and enjoyed…and what better way than to do this than at a “forage party!”

Hike to secret locations along the Woodcock trails, they will feature a unique craft brew from our partner Nod Hill Brewery plus soda tasting with Hosmer Mountain Soda!

Nature Center Staff will delight the senses along your trek with everything from animal encounters, to live music and food for purchase from Taproot Restaurants On the Fly food truck. Furry family members will enjoy some sips and goodies along the way, courtesy of Ridgefield Pet!

For your tickets that go on sale April 10, 2021, click here.. The raindate for this event is April 25, 2021.

The Litchfield Historical Society is hosting a program via Zoom on Thursday, March 25 at 6 pm about the Law of Slavery and the Alumni of the Litchfield Law School, the first in the United States.

After attending Tapping Reeve’s law school, graduate Eugenius Nisbet traveled home to Georgia, where he used his legal education to uphold the institution of slavery. The work done by alumni of the Litchfield Law School brought them into direct contact with the law of slavery. Join the Litchfield Historical Society for a special virtual lecture, “The Law of Slavery and Alumni of the Litchfield Law School” with Professor Justin Simard on Thursday, March 25th at 6:00pm. In his talk, Simard will explore the legacy of slave law, the involvement of graduates from Tapping Reeve’s Litchfield Law School, and how slave cases continue to be a part of modern judicial decisions.

Justin Simard is an assistant professor at Michigan State University College of Law, where he teaches Professional Responsibility, Legal History, and Commercial Law. He received his bachelor’s degree in History from Rice University, and he completed his J.D. and Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. Justin’s research focuses on the relationship between lawyers and economic development. His recent work analyzes how the commercial role of lawyers brought them into direct contact with the law of slavery and how this encounter supported slavery and shaped the development of the profession and the law.

To register, email registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org

Not many people can tell their story to such acclaim that they get invited to be a presenter for the MOTH, have a play written about it, and now have a movie deal in the works! And that is just how the beginning of Mary Lou Piland’s 2ND ACT story begins! On April 20 at 3:00pm, come meet the effervescent author of For the Love of Spumoni (with12 a million FB Fans & counting!) and hear her tell her own story firsthand with a brand new (and surprising) epilogue!

Tickets are $20 and available for either in-person or virtual streaming of the event and may be purchased online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St, Waterbury. Hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to noon. Box Office doors remain locked. Please ring the doorbell for entry. Masks are required. To ensure the safety of all during the presentation all COVID -19 safety guidelines will be adhered to.

ABOUT 2NDACT
2ND ACT is a storytelling series featuring ordinary people sharing the extraordinary things they are doing in the 2ND (half) ACT of their lives! Inspirational, experiential, and comical, these after-50 life stories will ignite your own imagination to join the growing community of 2ND ACTers!

About the Palace Theater
The Palace’s primary purpose is to revitalize the Greater Waterbury community through the presentation of the performing arts and educational initiatives in collaboration with area cultural and educational institutions. Its mission is to preserve and operate the historic Palace Theater as a performing arts center and community gathering place that provides a focal point of cultural activity and educational outreach for diverse audiences.

Escape rooms are the new medium for learning, storytelling, and play. In December 2020, Wigwam Escape located at The Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut won the coveted escape room “2020 Golden Lock Award” by the Room Escape Artist. They were impressed by Wigwam Escape’s unique take on learning through play, with their innovative and interactive puzzles allowing for problem-solving and critical thinking from multiple perspectives.

“We are thrilled that Wigwam Escape has won this award – it is truly an honor. It is really rewarding to have Wigwam Escape recognized not only for its educational value but also for the fact that it is fun,” said Lauren Bennett-Dionne, Manager of Wigwam Escape.

The Wigwam Escape journey begins in the year 1518 – players leave all modern-day devices like watches and cell phones behind, learning to take cues from the world around them. The room itself has hand-painted murals of New England forests, fields, streams, ponds, and gardens that allow players to be immersed in the pre-contact environment of Connecticut’s woodlands. The centerpiece of the room is a to-scale wigwam, crafted using traditional methods from local bark and trees. Players learn that a nearby fishing village has requested help, so they must hunt, forage, and gather supplies for a journey ahead. This unique, hands-on approach connects players to the ways Native peoples lived and the skills they relied on 500 years ago in their daily lives. Some of these lessons are timeless, allowing for an even broader takeaway from the experience of Wigwam Escape.

If you have friends and family members that are puzzle lovers, history buffs, story seekers, and enjoy immersive experiences, this adventure will definitely challenge and delight them! Wigwam Escape is committed to keeping visitors and staff safe by having each escape room be a private experience, with only one group playing at a time and strict sanitation of all touchable game surfaces and waiting areas between groups.

This spring from March 15th – April 25th, Wigwam Escape is offering players a special deal. 20% off your ENTIRE booking with discount code DEERANTLER

If you are looking for a safe and exciting outing that is sure to chase away the winter doldrums, call Wigwam Escape at 860-868-0151 or book online at https://wigwamescape.org/book-now

On Thursday, March 25 @ 5:30 pm tune into the Zoom lecture presented by the Norwalk Historical Society of Witches and Witchcraft in Early New England with guest presenter Dr. Leslie Lindenauer of WestCONN.

Mention Salem Massachusetts and most people will make an immediate connection to the witch trials of 1692 when the courts sentenced 19 people to hang for the crime of witchcraft and tortured a 20th to death. Salem unofficially calls itself “The Witch City.” Less known is that dozens and perhaps hundreds of people were tried for witchcraft in New England beginning over four decades before the events in Salem. At least sixteen people were executed for the crime, most of them women.

This lecture will explore witchcraft and witch-hunting in New England in the seventeenth century, with special attention to the role that gender played in accusations and trials, and in Puritan culture in general. Q & A will follow the lecture. Tickets: $5.00 per household. To register click here. The Zoom link will be included at the bottom of your confirmation email under Additional Details. Zoom link will also be emailed to you 24 hours and 1 hour before the event.

About the Presenter
Leslie Lindenauer is a Professor in the Department of History and Non-Western Cultures at Western Connecticut State University, where she teaches courses in early American history, gender studies, public history, and American Studies. Her book I Could Not Call Her Mother: The Stepmother in American Popular Culture, 1750-1960 was published by Lexington Books in 2014. Before her career in academe, Leslie worked for a couple of decades as an educator and administrator at a number of history museums in the Northeast.

The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) is pleased to announce the debut of new, nonstop service from Bradley International Airport (BDL) to Miami International Airport (MIA) on JetBlue. “This is great news for both business and leisure travelers who utilize Bradley Airport,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “Bradley International Airport is a vital asset for our region, serving as a convenient option for businesses and families, and seeing JetBlue commit to yet another route builds confidence in our residents and our economy. We are proud to see JetBlue expand at Bradley.”

“Connecting customers in the Northeast and South Florida has been a hallmark of JetBlue’s success for more than 20 years and offering our award-winning service and low fares between Hartford and Miami means we can attract new customers and grow in both regions,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue. “We appreciate Governor Lamont’s leadership and focus on safely driving Connecticut’s recovery to benefit residents and visitors to the Nutmeg State.”

“The announcement of new Miami service via JetBlue is a positive development for Bradley Airport as the aviation industry continues on its road to recovery,” said CAA Board Chair Thomas A. “Tony” Sheridan. “We thank JetBlue for their partnership, and we look forward to continuing this progress together so we can keep providing the vital services that the state’s tourism, meetings, and conventions industries rely on.”

“We welcome JetBlue’s expansion at Bradley International Airport and the addition of new, nonstop service to Miami,” said Kevin. A. Dillon, A.A.E., Executive Director of the CAA. “This new route, which follows JetBlue’s other recent route launches, is a significant vote of confidence in our airport and the market we serve. We appreciate JetBlue’s continued investment in our region and are confident that our strengthened partnership will provide major benefits for our travelers.”

The new, daily service to Miami will commence on June 24, 2021 and will operate year-round as follows:

BDL to MIA: Departs 9:25 a.m. – Arrives 12:30 p.m.

MIA to BDL: Departs 1:15 p.m. – Arrives 4:10 p.m.

JetBlue recently commenced new service from Bradley International Airport to four popular, nonstop destinations. Nonstop service to Cancun launched in November, and nonstop service to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco launched in December.

The new Miami route complements JetBlue’s existing nonstop flights to other Florida destinations. The airline also offers nonstop flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

About Bradley International Airport
BDL Cares about your safety. In response to COVID-19, the airport has implemented new precautions, and was one of first airports in the nation to open an in-terminal COVID-19 testing site. Recently, the airport’s efforts were recognized with a health accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) World. Bradley International Airport is the second-largest airport in New England. The award-winning airport is operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority, and its operations are entirely self-funded. The airport contributes nearly $3.6 billion to the regional economy. For more info, visit http://www.flybdl.org.

About The Connecticut Airport Authority
The CAA was established in 2011 to develop, improve, and operate Bradley International Airport and the state’s five general aviation airports (Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham). The CAA Board consists of 11 members with a broad spectrum of experience in aviation-related and other industries, as well as government. The goal of the CAA is to make Connecticut’s airports more attractive to new airlines, bring in new routes, and support Connecticut’s overall economic development and growth strategy.