Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Cromwell, CT

This southern suburb of Hartford lies on the west bank of the Connecticut River, offering stunning views of the water from locations such as the elevated areas of River Highlands State Park.

Cromwell is also conveniently located just a short distance from the city of Middletown via the Central Connecticut Expressway, providing easy access to restaurants, shops, and the esteemed Wesleyan University.

This section of the Connecticut River features rich brownstone geology, which has supplied building materials for major cities in the Northeast, while also preserving 200-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at Rocky Hill’s Dinosaur State Park.

In June, the PGA Tour arrives for the Travelers Championship held at the private TPC River Highlands.

1. River Highlands State Park

At this state park overlooking the Connecticut River, visitors are treated to views that compete with any in Connecticut.

Previously open farmland, the area is now cloaked in woodlands, providing a natural sanctuary amid encroaching urban development.

The highest elevations are located at the northern extremity, rising to 45 meters, where one can appreciate the scenic beauty of the river and its eastern bank framed by oaks, white pines, and beech trees.

A stream runs west to east through River Highlands and can be followed along the yellow-blazed trail.

This trail intersects with the main white trail, which starts from the parking area on Field Road and ultimately traces the edge of the Connecticut River.

2. Main Street Historic District

This district, primarily situated along Main Street in Cromwell, showcases the evolution from an 18th-century village center to a 20th-century town.

Covering 130 acres and including two greens (Valour Green and Memorial Green), it features examples of various architectural styles from 1750 to 1935, including Colonial and Colonial Revival.

The majority of this transformation occurred during the 19th century, when numerous Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne houses were built or owned by influential figures in Cromwell’s industrial and agricultural sectors.

Make a stop at the Stevens-Frisbie House (395 Main Street), under the stewardship of the Cromwell Historical Society, which offers a well-curated museum open on weekends during July and August.

3. Forest City Brewing

A family-operated craft brewery housed in a historical brick factory in northern Middletown boasts a strong local following.

Forest City Brewing specializes in a variety of offerings, including IPA’s, chocolate stouts, and sour ales. Patrons can explore their social media to discover the current selections on tap during their visit.

The taproom welcomes guests from Friday to Sunday for pints, flights, and growler refills.

As of September 2019, the brewery offered an assortment of two IPAs, a Kolsch, a sour ale, a chocolate milk stout, and even a guest cider from New England Cider Co.

4. Middletown Upper Houses Historic District

Nestled within the streets that lie between Cromwell’s Main Street and the Connecticut River is a district replete with historic residences.

More than half of the 72 contributing buildings date back to before 1820 and exhibit Colonial and Federal styles.

During the mid-19th century, this riverside region, known as Upper Houses, was a crucial shipbuilding hub and a river port for brownstone export.

Today, remnants of its maritime past are hard to find, except for traces of a former dock.

This once-bustling trade area has transformed into a serene residential neighborhood, providing an ideal place for a scenic detour while traveling along Main Street.

5. Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park

Remarkable landmarks and historic structures in cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia were constructed using brownstone extracted from the Connecticut River in Portland.

These quarries operated from the late 17th century until a flood followed by a hurricane ended the work in the 1930s.

In recent years, this expansive site has been transformed into an activity center featuring 14 zip-lines, an inflatable water obstacle course, an exhilarating rope swing, kayaking, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, and rock climbing on walls reaching heights of up to 25 meters.

Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park is accessible from mid-June until the start of September, operating daily throughout the school summer break.

6. Dinosaur State Park

Approximately two million years ago, a carnivorous dinosaur related to the dilophosaurus roamed the sandy shores of a lake at what is now Rocky Hill, leaving tracks that were preserved in sandstone until their discovery in the 1960s.

Following this discovery, the site was converted into a state park, where about a quarter of the tracks (around 500) are housed beneath a geodesic dome, while the remainder have been re-buried.

This impressive structure allows visitors to examine the footprints, view dioramas of Mesozoic-era flora and fauna, and explore a variety of other dinosaur-related artifacts from the region.

The remainder of the 80-acre park features an arboretum populated with an extensive collection of coniferous species, designed to evoke the Mesozoic woodland setting.

7. Davison Art Center

Wesleyan University, a distinguished liberal arts college, is located in Middletown and houses an art museum open in the afternoons from Tuesday to Sunday.

The Davison Art Center should be on every itinerary due to its remarkable collection of art on paper, encompassing nearly 25,000 pieces.

This print collection ranks among the finest found at any American university and features works by renowned artists such as Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Manet, and contemporary American figures like Jim Dine.

Additionally, the museum houses significant collections of mezzotints, lithographs, and approximately 600 Japanese ukiyo-e woodcuts by masters including Utamaro.

8. Van Vleck Observatory

Wesleyan University’s astronomical observatory, established in 1914, opens to the public on Wednesday evenings throughout the academic year.

Weather permitting, guests will have the opportunity to stargaze using two of the observatory’s three telescopes.

Prior to the viewing session, there is a captivating half-hour presentation by faculty members, focusing on a recent discovery or a current space-related topic.

On the first and third Fridays of each month, there are family-friendly activities on “Kids’ Nights,” guided by undergraduate and graduate students.

9. Kidcity Children’s Museum

Kidcity is the perfect destination for parents with children aged 1 to 7, offering three floors dedicated to imaginative play, with exhibits conceptualized, designed, and constructed by an in-house team.

Children can enjoy activities such as shopping on Main Street, building castles in a medieval village, farming, encountering aliens on Route 66, and catching fish with pulley baskets and conveyors.

Moreover, traditional playtime favorites such as dress-up costumes, toy trains, puppets, dolls, and building blocks are available throughout the museum.

10. Still Hill Brewery

This 10-barrel craft brewery benefits from over a decade of brewing expertise and features a cozy taproom located nearby in Rocky Hill, offering pints, flights, and growler fills.

The brewery’s offerings include a selection of year-round varieties, like the flagship Still Hill American Pale Ale, which showcases a balance of citrusy American hops and hearty malt.

Guests can also discover seasonal brews and unique one-off offerings that range from IPAs to stouts, pilsners, saisons, and English-style ales.

Food can be easily ordered from the many nearby restaurants, and there is usually a food truck present on Saturdays.

11. Wadsworth Falls State Park

This state park in Middletown features two stunning waterfalls, both easily accessible via well-marked trails.

Big Falls, situated on the Coginchaug River, showcases a striking drop of nearly 10 meters over a ledge of Hampden basalt, while Little Falls, located on Wadsworth Brook, offers a picturesque 12-meter descent over dark sandstone.

A designated swimming area is available away from the waterfalls, and visitors are encouraged to bring a packed lunch to extend their stay.

Colonel Clarence C. Wadsworth (1871–1941) was instrumental in conserving this remarkable area, donating the land to Connecticut upon his passing. His Classical Revival mansion, completed around 1911, is now available for events such as weddings and celebrations.

12. Harbor Park

Another excellent location to observe the Connecticut River is the linear Harbor Park in Middletown.

The sunrise at this east-facing site is particularly beautiful, making it the ideal location to enjoy Middletown’s Fourth of July fireworks.

From this vantage point, visitors can appreciate a clear view of the Arrigoni Bridge, which connects Middletown to Portland. Upon its completion in 1938, it was the most expensive bridge ever built in Connecticut, valued at $3.5 million.

Located at the park’s southern end, the Mattabesett Canoe Club offers cocktails and refreshments that complement the relaxing riverside atmosphere.

13. General Mansfield House

A striking Federal-style brick house featuring a grand Doric porch can be found on Middletown’s Main Street—this is the General Mansfield House (1817).

Constructed by the parents of the wife of Joseph K Mansfield (1803-1862), a Union general mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam, this building stands as one of the few historic structures remaining on the street.

Since 1959, the house has served as the headquarters of the Middletown Historical Society, housing an impressive collection of decorative arts and Civil War artifacts.

The enchanting gardens located in both the front and rear of the house include a formal herb bed and a meticulously maintained boxwood garden, alongside a 150-year-old ginkgo tree in the back.

14. Travelers Championship

A significant portion of northern Cromwell’s riverside is occupied by TPC River Highlands, a prestigious private golf club with a legacy spanning more than 90 years.

Since the early 1980s, this course has been under the ownership of the PGA Tour, operated by their Tournament Players Network.

Access to the course is reserved for members and their guests, yet it has served as the venue for the Travelers Championship since 1984, held in June and won by notable players such as Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson (who has claimed victory three times).

Tickets for the event can be acquired from the PGA Tour site at a reasonable price, especially for those attending the pre-qualifiers earlier in the week.

During the main tournament days from Thursday to Sunday, attendees will not pay more than $30 for a full day of elite golfing action.

15. Adventure Rooms

This award-winning escape room brand features two locations, one in New Jersey and the other conveniently situated in Middletown.

If you enjoy solving puzzles, this experience offers an engaging way to spend an hour, requiring effective teamwork.

Visitors can choose from six themed rooms of varying difficulty, with some having a notably low completion rate (one room only has a 7% success rate). The minimum team size typically consists of two players, though it can vary.

Each environment is fully immersive, as seen in the theme “Remedy,” which immerses participants in a deserted town 25 years post-nuclear event. As players discover objects and solve codes, new clues are cleverly revealed in surprising forms.