10 Things to Do in Windsor That You Shouldn't Miss

December 17, 2017 Janette Largent

Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population of Windsor was 29,044 at the 2010 census.
Restaurants in Windsor

1. Northwest Park

145 Lang Rd, Windsor, CT 06095-1550 +1 860-285-1886
Excellent
68%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 66 reviews

Northwest Park

Reviewed By kzsull01 - Windsor, Connecticut

We have visited Northwest Park and Nature Preserve in Windsor, Connecticut many times over the past 30 years and have always enjoyed it. The park is a diverse habitat with forests, fields, streams and a lot of scenic views. The many trails in the park vary in length, are well-marked and maintained and are nice to hike. The park offers a nice detailed map/guide of their trail system. Some of the trails even provide a good view of Rainbow Reservoir on the Farmington River and the associated boating activities happening on the river.

The park’s Nature Center has an interesting assortment of wildlife, including snakes, turtles, frogs and fish as well as additional exhibits on the species of animals native to the park, all with good write-ups and is educational. Exhibits on the weather associated with the park and the center’s geothermal heating and cooling system are also included as well as a gift shop.

The multiple types of gardens, including the butterfly and organic demonstration gardens are interesting and so is the maple sugar house, which is seasonal. The animal barn is quite nice with various types of heritage breed farm animals, including a donkey and a goat, sheep, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, pigs, and ducks. Two separate areas in the park include a pasture with the park’s cow, Strawberry, and another large section with a mule and a hinny, all quite unique. There is also a pond with turtles and multiple types of fish that children really enjoy.

The park even has a tobacco museum (Luddy Tobacco Museum and Archives) which is housed in two separate buildings. One of the buildings has exhibits of the early and modern types of equipment and the process used in growing and harvesting the cigar tobacco crop. The other building is an archive exhibiting paintings, photographs, writings and other artifacts related to tobacco. Both buildings provide a good representation of the history associated with the park and of the tobacco growing industry in the Connecticut River Valley.

The park could be used for picnicking as well as group functions, having multiple picnic areas, including a picnic pavilion, a warming shed and a group of picnic tables under trees. Some of the picnic areas require a permit in order to use them.

The park could be enjoyed by children as well as adults, and includes a playground with multiple activities for children. It is a nice place to walk a dog and includes a fenced in Dog Park with benches with two separate sections, one for small dogs and another for large dogs. The only thing is dogs are not allowed in most of the buildings in the park. The park is a hidden gem in Windsor, a great place to get away for a while, relax and enjoy nature as well as the exhibits on display. The park has changed throughout the many years that we have been going there, with many improvements. It has a lot to offer with something for everyone and changes with the seasons with several events throughout the year, including a country fair, coffee houses and day camps. It’s a great place to visit for the whole family.

2. Puzzle Theory, LLC

46 Kennedy Rd, Unit 1, South Windsor, CT 06074-1267 +1 860-925-6800
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 125 reviews

Puzzle Theory, LLC

Puzzle Theory is a Connecticut Escape Room. We thrust you and your group into a thematic and sometimes absurd story for 60 minutes! Explore the room, find clues, and solve all the riddles. Some of the puzzles are straightforward and simple. Some will require intense analytic skills and deductive reasoning. Communication and teamwork is extremely important. Solve everything within 60 minutes!

Reviewed By mensign912 - Willington, Connecticut

3 of us decided to try one of the rooms here Friday night. WE HAD A BLAST! We picked the room based on our group size of just the 3 of us. The puzzles were awesome- and Nick did a great job of explaining the procedure of the room to us. We should have asked for more hints, i think we would have made it out if we did...or we needed 15 more minutes! lol Even though we didn't make it out-we would definitely come again and try a different room.
Highly recommend this place!
Thanks NICK!

3. Hartford Stage

50 Church St, Hartford, CT 06103-1201 +1 860-527-5151
Excellent
78%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 209 reviews

Hartford Stage

Hartford Stage, located in Hartford, Connecticut, is one of the nation's leading resident theatres, known for producing innovative revivals of classics and provocative new plays and musicals, including 68 world and American premieres, as well as offering a distinguished education program, which reaches more than 20,000 students annually.

Reviewed By gersty - NYC

This is our 15th year attending this production. We have loved this production since we first saw it with our 4 year old daughter in 2003. Attending this production is a family holiday tradition that always puts us in the Christmas spirit. While we lament the retirement of Bill Raymond from the production, Michael Preston's Scrooge was a deft and more than acceptable replacement. We hope to come back for our 16th year in 2018.
Bravo Hartford Stage!

4. Wickham Park

1329 Middle Tpke W, Manchester, CT 06040-1805 +1 860-528-0856
Excellent
70%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 178 reviews

Wickham Park

Reviewed By Geno1015 - Manchester, Connecticut

This is a great picnic spot for couples, parents and children or whole family groups. It is well maintained with flowers, duck ponds, mini-zoo with various birds and a children's play scape. Schools use the grounds for cross-country races and at Christmas time they have a Santa visit at the log cabin. All year round, the scenery and views are special.

5. Elizabeth Park

1561 Asylum Ave, I-84 Exit 44, West Hartford, CT 06106 +1 860-722-6543
Excellent
70%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 332 reviews

Elizabeth Park

This walkers' haven, with several gardens along its wildflower trail, a lovely pond and sports and concert facilities, is best known for its magnificent rose garden, with 800 varieties of roses.

Reviewed By Otis_108 - San Diego, California

What a lovely treasure in the middle of the city. Was such a treat to walk through it. We happened to be there in October when they had a lot of Halloween things up and that was really a bonus. Loved our time here!

6. New England Air Museum

Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT 06096 +1 860-623-3305
Excellent
70%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 253 reviews

New England Air Museum

The New England Air Museum houses over 80 aircraft in three large hangars and outdoor display area, as well as an extensive collection of engines, instruments, aircraft parts, uniforms and personal memorabilia. Plan a visit today to check out exciting aircraft, displays, exhibits and programs that are perfect for all ages!

Reviewed By Amberjack03 - Brooklyn, Connecticut

Once you've paid the very reasonable admission fee, you enter the first room where right in front of you are all kinds of Viet Nam era warplanes and various helicopters. The second room provides you with more aircraft to view and in some cases, stand right up next to the cockpits for a good birds-eye view of what the pilots would see. The third room houses only a few planes but is the best example I've ever seen of a pristine condition B-29 Bomber and a couple of other propeller driven small planes. Overall, a great place to spend a couple of hours viewing the flying machines. The gift shop is quite filled with books, souveniers, and other memorabilia of the machines and military.

7. Thomas Hooker Brewery

16 Tobey Rd, Bloomfield, CT 06002-3522 +1 860-242-3111
Excellent
60%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 72 reviews

Thomas Hooker Brewery

Connecticut's beer. Beer tasting and brewery tours every Saturday from 12-5pm $5, and the first and third Friday of each month from 5-8pm for $10 (includes pint glass to take home). Brewery gift shop and growler filling open Monday through Friday from 9-5. Now Pouring Pints! Sun/Mon: 12-5, Thurs 12-8, Fri 12-5

Reviewed By Daniele A - Blumenau, SC

I think we were the only people out in the middle of this snow storm that happened in Feb 12th. Turned out to be a great call to go out that day: besides meeting my love, I was able to have one of the greates beers I've ever had in CT. The funniest memory is that there was a super friendly dog that kept sitting between us on the couch. I am back in my country now (Brazil) and will carry this memory in my heart: hope I can visit you again anytime soon!

8. Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut

115 Pierson Ln, Windsor, CT 06095-2050 +1 860-683-2903
Excellent
79%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 36 reviews

Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut

Visit Connecticut's newest cultural attraction and learn how communications technology has changed our lives. It's fun, educational and entertaining! Tune radios over 80 years old... talk over candlestick telephones like your grandparents used... send a message in Morse Code... crank a phonograph and listen to 100-year-old records... see what television was like when the only color choices were black and white. Learn about the telegraph, telephone, mechanical sound recording, wireless telegraphy, radio and television, and the seeds of computers, satellite communications and the Internet.

Reviewed By BobbyP009 - West Brookfield, Massachusetts

About once a year I return to this wonderful museum of sound.I think everyone with a hobby must visit museums of their choice annually. The collection or radios, record players rings my chimes! The attendant docents will guide you in your interests.

As our technologies advance it is important, in my opinion, to he hip. At age 74, and as an auctioneer, I feel I am. History is personified here in Windsor. Vintage is just the beginning of your next visit!

9. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103-2911 +1 860-278-2670
Excellent
72%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 458 reviews

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

The first public art museum in the United States features 50,000 pieces ranging from ancient to contemporary, the largest collection of Hudson River School paintings in the world, an impressive array of Pilgrim-era furnishings and European and American art.

Reviewed By Carlton M - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

We had so much fun with Sez Zion, Lamont Williams and group were incredible. The buffet was wonderful as usual with fresh orange juice (PLUS). Quiche Lorraine, Tomato and Spinach Quiche, Challah French Toast, Bagels & Cream Cheese, Breakfast Potatoes, Assorted Pastries, Fresh Fruit, Sausage and Bacon. Great coffee and wonderful service. Mimosas or Bloody Mary complimentary. The new Edward Gorey Exhibit ends May 6th. If you love PBS/Masterpiece Mystery, he did the art work, drawings and more. Don't miss it! It is inspiring and emotional for some of us who remember the beginnings of "Mystery".

10. The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk

501 Evergreen Way, Suite 503, South Windsor, CT 06074-6969 +1 860-432-3398
Excellent
53%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 100 reviews

The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk

Whether shopping, dining, or strolling down the vibrant main street, The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk has quickly become South Windsor’s go-to lifestyle destination. With 374,000 SF of highly coveted retailers, restaurants, and amenities, it’s easy to see why. Shoppers have access to the best stores in the area and can relax in front of the cozy fire pit in the Village Green, enjoy concerts and events in Evergreen Walk Park, experience pet-friendly shopping, and take advantage of storefront parking. No matter what brings you to The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk, it is sure to please.

Reviewed By Wayne K - South Windsor, Connecticut

Great shopping mail with excellent high quality stores and restaurants. Great for everyone in the family. Parking in front of the stores, including Handicapped Parking, with additional parking lots behind the stores. Easy in and out shopping without the "maze" of most large shopping malls. Great restaurants with Burton's Grill, Ted's Montana Grill as two of my favorites. Outside music makes the area very relaxing and a joyful place to visit. Don;t forget to stop at Ben & Jerry's for an ice-cream treat!

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