About Town: Hartford
By Ceri Mobley, PGATOUR.com Associate Site Producer
This week, the PGA TOUR makes its first of two season stops in New England for the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, near Hartford, Conn. Connecticut is a pretty small state, but there'll be no lack of entertainment this week -- that's if you can handle any activity after the fantastically draining 108th U.S. Open Championship. And you don't even have a bum knee.
SOMEWHERE TO SNOOZE
Some of that New England class: This region of the country has a reputation for being stylish, wealthy and a little bit better than you. So why not indulge in being better at the Marriott Hartford Downtown Hotel? This 22-story four-star tower rises above the Connecticut River and is one of the newest luxury hotels in the city. It's only about a 15-minute drive from TPC River Highlands, and rates start as low as $159 a night.
Other options
• The elegant Goodwin Hotel has the old-America air about it that people love so much about New England. It's a three-and-a-half-star hotel with turn-of-the-century décor and architecture that's less than 20 minutes from the course. With the Expedia.com special right now, rates start as low as $90 a night.
• When you think New England, you normally think of a quaint little town with a quaint little inn, and that's what you'll find at the Avon Old Farms Hotel. Located around half an hour away from the tournament host, Avon Old Farms will set you back $139+ a night.
SOMETHING TO SNACK ON
Julia Roberts likes it: Just under an hour's drive from Cromwell, Conn., (the location of TPC River Highlands), you'll stumble across the little town of Mystic, Conn. Yes, the very same Mystic that Mystic Pizza -- the small-town pizzeria and 1988 Hollywood hit -- calls home. If it's good enough for everyone's favorite pretty woman, then it's worth the drive.
Other options
• We missed the blues and BBQ last week in San Diego after the spoiling Memphis laid out, so that's why Black-Eyed Sally is a must-hit restaurant in Hartford. Live music and good food -- what else could you ask for?
• There's a lot of fine Italian dining in these parts -- especially so close to New York -- so put Vito's by the Park on your list this week and add a little alfredo to your life.
• Like you could really come to New England and not eat seafood? Max's Oyster Bar in West Hartford has some of the best seafood in the region, so get fishy.
SOMETHING TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT
There should be something to keep you occupied when you're not at the golf course this week no matter what you're into. Here are a couple of suggestions:
• Olde Mistick Village: If you're headed to Mystic for the pizza, you might as well stop in for some history, too. If New England's famous for anything, it's famous for being old, and you can certainly experience that here. Olde Mistick Village takes you back to early America -- the 1700s, when Tiger Woods was merely a prophecy. Get a taste for the colonial times in the picturesque shops and restaurants scattered about this charming little haven.
• Mark Twain House: One of America's greatest literary pioneers called Hartford home, and today that very home is an extensive museum that pays homage to Twain's life work and legacy. Get a feel for the place where Tom and Huck were born.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe Center: You can't go to Uncle Tom's Cabin, but you can visit the home of the writer who created it. Another famous author to hang her hat in Hartford, Stowe's groundbreaking novel will forever be intertwined with the American anti-slavery movement. Learn more about Stowe and her work right here in Hartford.
• Basketball Hall of Fame: It's not technically in Connecticut, but only a 30 minute drive from Hartford, the hall of fame sits just across the state line in Springfield, Mass. If you're a basketball fan -- college or professional -- then this is your No. 1 stop. Dick Vitale is among the 2008 inductees along with Patrick Ewing and Pat Riley. See what else you can learn (or test your knowledge with) in this hardwood-lovers heaven.
STICKING AROUND?
• Hit the sand trap: You've no doubt heard about how wonderful the New England coast is, so set aside some time to see it for yourself this week at Connecticut's Ocean Beach Park. A boardwalk, a swimming pool, waterslides, a deck bar and lounge and -- of course -- beaches will keep you busy, or you can just work on your tan and ignore the rest. Your choice.
• Have some cheese with your wine: The Connecticut Wine Trail comprises 16 vineyards divided into two sections, both of which take a good day to explore. Not only will you get to sample the good old grown-up grape juice, you'll also drive through some of the most scenic and historic towns in Connecticut.
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