Day Trips From Hartford And Tolland Counties: Fascinating Museums

CONNECTICUT — During summertime, most people like to participate in outdoor activities, but some days are just too hot, like the recent heat wave which struck Connecticut. On those occasions, a visit to an interesting museum can occupy patrons for hours, and today we feature three, each less than a two and a half hour drive from any town in Hartford and Tolland counties.

American Museum of Natural History, New York City

The Big Apple is loaded with museums - the Met, the Guggenheim, Madame Tussaud's and far too many others to list. Our choice today is the Museum of Natural History, located at 79th Street, Central Park West.

Among the vast collection of artifacts and exhibits are skeletons of dinosaurs and other extinct creatures, the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution, the Hall of Meteorites, numerous gemstones and a planetarium.

Specially customized public and group tours may be arranged, as well as educational programs and trips, enabling visitors to explore the exhibits in detail.

Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven

Established in 1832, this treasure is the oldest university art museum in the Western Hemisphere. It emphasizes early Italian Renaissance painting, African sculpture and modern art.

An expansion into a fourth floor, including space for a rooftop sculpture garden, was completed in 2012. More than 200,000 objects are currently on display.

Located at 1111 Chapel Street, between York and High streets, the gallery is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. There is no admission charge.

Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, Springfield MA

Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum is one of five adjacent world-class museums. The newest addition on the Quadrangle, it is devoted to Springfield native and renowned children's author Theodor Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss.

The second floor recreates Geisel’s studio and living room, with the furniture and art materials he actually used. It features art, family photographs and letters that had never been previously displayed to the public, and the original Geisel Grove sign which used to hang in Forest Park.

Among the new interactive stations ready for visitors are the Giant Marble Maze, the Seuss Bakery, Whoville with Ball Wall and Light Wall and the Lorax Recycle Game.

Travel Distances and Times

Here are the approximate travel distances and times to drive to each museum from three outlying communities in the region - Mansfield, Southington and Granby.

American Museum of Natural History
from Mansfield - 136 miles (148 minutes)
from Southington - 101 miles (108 minutes)
from Granby - 131 miles (138 minutes)

Yale University Art Gallery
from Mansfield - 62 miles (67 minutes)
from Southington - 27 miles (31 minutes)
from Granby - 57 miles (58 minutes)

Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum
from Mansfield - 50 miles (59 minutes)
from Southington - 44 miles (51 minutes)
from Granby - 19 miles (30 minutes)