Mizzou fan looking for advice

[Showballot]

By Oct 28th, the foliage will be past peak and the ag fair season over.

But the good news is that all the rural parts of CT are less than a hour from Hartford. Just stay out of the southwestern corner.

Heading east to the UConn campus is the obvoid one, a little further and it is classic New England farm country.

If you head west towards Litchfield you have the Vineyard trail, parks, lakes and rivers. It's more hilly but plenty rural. If you want to drive more than an hour you can continue out to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville. There is a bunch of fancy antique shops there and the race track. But it is a difficult place to access as there is one two lane road in and out.

South is New Haven and some overrated (yeah I said it) thin crust pizza that people consider famous along with the Yale campus.

South east coast is the Casinos and Mystic. The submarine base is also down there.

You can Google the rest but as far as day tripping goes, those are the basic compass points.

Pretty sure it's Brick oven not thin crust.

 

[Hamms30]

I appreciate the helpful response. Away-game logistics can be a real pain sometimes, particularly with my dad's walking issue.

We usually don't tailgate at away games that we fly to because we can't bring our stuff. Plus, we're wimps when it comes to northern winters.

We're looking forward to the trip. Let's hope for a more exciting game this time.

End of October is typically the only part of the year that makes living in New England worth living in New England It's pretty nice right now too though, so I can't complain too much.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

My family is planning a trip into Hartford this October. My dad is almost 70 and doesn't walk as well as he used to, but does still enjoy his booze.

So I'm looking for advice on where to stay and how to get around. I see there's a bus that will take us to the stadium from Main St/Antheneum. Is that a convenient way to travel on game days? Also, thinking about booking the Residence Inn, but if there's a better option for bars/transportation, please let me know. And one last question: what is the Uber/Lyft situation like on game days?

Thanks!
JP

Come back and check in here before your trip. The tailgaters in this forum are a generous bunch, your family would be welcomed.

 

[Waquoit]

I think the Residence Inn is a great choice. Easy ride to the game, right next to City Steam.

 

[uconnphil2016]

Thanks for coming to visit! Hope you have fun. Since you're staying in Hartford, here are some recommendations for eats (I'm not sure what you're into, so I'll list stuff from several categories):
-BBQ: Bear's on Front Street
-Pizza: Not much in Hartford that's worth your while. Blind Pig isn't bad (Front Street), but I'd recommend going down to New Haven for this
-Spanish: Costa del Sol
-Thai: The King and I
-Grinders (a sub sandwich): Franklin Ave Giant Grinder...the ladies who work behind the counter are really mean, but it's worth it.
There are several good places to go drink. Someone previously mentioned City Steam which is a stone's throw from your place, and there are also a few newer breweries. Hog River Brewing Co and New Park Brewing are both supposed to be good as well.
-Sights...Elizabeth Park is really pretty, though you did say that your father had a tough time getting around and this would involve walking. If you want to see the countryside, I personally think that northwestern CT is prettiest, but it is certainly different from eastern CT by UConn. Eastern CT will be a bit flatter, very agricultural, northwestern CT is rolling hills (you're at the foothills of the Berkshires) and also a lot of small scale farming. Very beautiful area...Appalachian Trail cuts through northwestern part of state
-Game: not sure if you bought tickets, but the best seats are second tier of the stadium near the 50 yd line. Don't buy tickets on StubHub...they'll be overpriced. Either buy direct from UConn or wait until game day and buy from a scalper.

I hope you have a wonderful time...what a treat to go on a road trip with your dad! Also, if I may ask, how is Missouri looking this year? Should you guys be good? We are under a new coach, so there is a lot being digested now in terms of scheme changes. I hope for a good, competitive game!

 

[BlueMAB]

Thanks for all the helpful info in this thread. Just booked rooms at the Residence Inn.

We probably won't get to the cemetery - my dad has his heart set on spending Friday afternoon or Saturday morning (depending on game time) driving around rural CT.

This is a Missouri pig farmer's idea of a good time. So if y'all have any recommendations as far as nearby country things to see, please let me know that as well.

Looking forward to the game and our visit. Thanks again.

Apple Orchard Middlefield, Connecticut | Lyman Orchards - A little late in the season, but it's a nice farm.

If you're into wine tasting, you can go from there to Paradise Hills Vineyard Paradise Hills Vineyard & Winery | Connecticut Winery Featuring A Tuscan Style Tasting Room

find a wine you like, and bring it to Gouveia (5 minutes away) Gouveia Vineyards they have some excellent views (but the wine is just meh).

There's this place Action Wildlife - About Us out in Northwest CT. Goshen, Kent, Cornwall, etc have some very scenic drives. West Cornwall Covered Bridge - Wikipedia

Another underrated area is Barkhamsted/New Hartford...there is parking at the top of the Saville Dam Saville Dam - Wikipedia and some more scenic areas.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Take the road(s) less travelled ... it's CT, it's small, hard to get too lost or too far astray, see far more of the beautiful countryside.
Pig farming father: maybe he'll want to compare pigs in Storrs, plenty of 'em in the Ag school's facilities.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

You can visit distilleries: Hartford Flavor Company (my company) and Onyx Spirits. We're both just a couple of miles from downtown and we both have fun tasting rooms.

 

[B1GEast]

Texas Mark the cuse fan.

Thanks TRest, he still has a UConn link

TexanMark's Tailgate Guides: Connecticut Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Thanks TRest, he still has a UConn link

TexanMark's Tailgate Guides: Connecticut Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

Wow that is quite the write up.

 

[TheDrifter75]

Grinders have been mentioned here. Please don't think of them as just another sub sandwich. I live in Illinois but make sure to hit any dive when in the area to get one. People here will have good local suggestions. Same with the pizza, it's fantastic. My fav is Johnny's in Brooklyn, (eastern Ct) though that would be a bit of a drive just for that.

About game time, we already know it's at 11:11, we just don't always tell everyone. I'm jealous you get to go out for a game. Have fun!

 

[Marty Jackson]

University of Connecticut Animal Barns Self-Guided Tours

 

[Northbound]

Pizza in CT is infinitely better than Shakespeare's in Columbia so please do yourself that favor and have a decent pie.

I know that Columbia isn't KC or STL, but goodness the state in general has some ridiculously good BBQ - if you're eating BBQ in CT and you're from Missouri you're doing it wrong.

 

[BlueMAB]

Pizza in CT is infinitely better than Shakespeare's in Columbia so please do yourself that favor and have a decent pie.

I know that Columbia isn't KC or STL, but goodness the state in general has some ridiculously good BBQ - if you're eating BBQ in CT and you're from Missouri you're doing it wrong.

The owner of Bear's, Jamie McDonald, is from KC, learned how to BBQ in KC, and brought that training/style to CT. So if you're in CT and you're looking for KC style BBQ, Bear's is the place to go.

That said, I generally agree. If you're coming here, try something we're good at, like pizza, grinders, and italian food. Pasta Vita is a great place down at the shore.

 

[Husky25]

You can visit distilleries: Hartford Flavor Company (my company) and Onyx Spirits. We're both just a couple of miles from downtown and we both have fun tasting rooms.

@Jumbo Pinkel

Connecticut and Hartford in particular is...well not necessarily Car-dependent, but it does help immeasurably. CTFastrak had buses going from downtown to The Rent last year, and I can't imagine they would stop the service this year, but we won't know for sure for a few months.

There's a special right now on Groupon for Onyx.

Pizza: It's not the original site for either, but there is a Frank Pepe and Wooster St. by Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester, which about 10 minutes East of downtown and 5 or so minutes East of Rentschler Field.

It's not going to be too cold in October. Of course there are outliers, but the average high/low is 60's/mid 40's. A light jacket should be sufficient, unless it is raining.

 

[tiger8mush]

and people complain there is nothing to do in CT!!

 

[methodology]

South is New Haven and some overrated (yeah I said it) thin crust pizza that people consider famous along with the Yale campus.

Yes new haven pizza is about as overrated as Babe Ruth

 

[jostar1]

State of Connecticut Tourism:

tourism

CCT: Tourism Division

 

[MilliniumPrince]

My family is planning a trip into Hartford this October. My dad is almost 70 and doesn't walk as well as he used to, but does still enjoy his booze.

So I'm looking for advice on where to stay and how to get around. I see there's a bus that will take us to the stadium from Main St/Antheneum. Is that a convenient way to travel on game days? Also, thinking about booking the Residence Inn, but if there's a better option for bars/transportation, please let me know. And one last question: what is the Uber/Lyft situation like on game days?

Thanks!
JP

The Fast Pass is a great option. Takes about 8 minutes to get to the stadium. I recommend staying at either Goodwin Hotel or Residence Inn Hartford to make the walk shorter for your dad. The Hartford Marriott is a decent option, but it is a longer walk to the bus. They may provide shuttle service to the Rent. If so, that would be my first choice.

 

[jostar1]

Visit Connecticut:
Visit CT

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Also, don't expect a fake field goal attempt on the final play of the game this time.

 

[uconnell]

The owner of Bear's, Jamie McDonald, is from KC, learned how to BBQ in KC, and brought that training/style to CT. So if you're in CT and you're looking for KC style BBQ, Bear's is the place to go.

That said, I generally agree. If you're coming here, try something we're good at, like pizza, grinders, and italian food. Pasta Vita is a great place down at the shore.

Pasta Vita food is great, but it's take out only. Need to reheat it .

 

[ZOOCONN]

Thanks TRest, he still has a UConn link

TexanMark's Tailgate Guides: Connecticut Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

Great right up

 

[Waquoit]

Great right up

Right up to what?

 

[ZOOCONN]

Right up to what?

........ ill be taking my lap.