Cabela's in East Hartford, CT

[jodiey]

Has anyone been, or live near the Cabela's in CT? We are from upstate ny and are planning on going there on Saturday and I was wondering if there was anything else nearby that we could see or do while we are there. If we can find something else to do we may even find a hotel to stay overnight but if not we will just drive home. We have a 17 month old daughter who hates being in the car so if we can break the drive up over 2 days it would probably be better.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Can't help you with CT Cabela's as we go to the one in PA. but wanted to comment that Cabela's rocks We can spend hours there and then we treat the kids to Cracker Barrel or 5 Guys

 

[pat fan]

I can't help you with Cabella's, but kinda in the same neighborhood is Bass Pro Shop at Patriot Place in Foxboro, Ma. There are a lot of other shops, restaurants and stuff there. A hotel too!

http://www.patriot-place.com

Check it out!

 

[jodiey]

Ooh, great, thanks. Yeah I was looking at the website for cabela's and it looks pretty cool with the animals and it even said it has an aquarium, so I think my daughter will enjoy it

 

[Mkebound]

Where are you coming from?

In downtown Hartford there is a large park in front of the Capitol building called Bushnell Park, in the park is an old, beautifully restored carousel. About a buck a ride. There is a playground nearby perfect for your 1.5 year old. http://www.bushnellpark.org/attractions/carousel-rides/


You might not think of it, but the Capitol building is open to visitors. Just walk in and walk around. Lots of exibits and information - free

Also in Hartford there is a fairly new Science Museum. It's a bit pricy, but good. However, it might not be worth it for a 1.5 year old. In truth it's very pricy. Check their websit for prices before you go. http://ctsciencecenter.org/

There is a very good art museum in Hartford; the Wadsworth. http://www.thewadsworth.org/

There is a couple of decent Children's museums within 15 minutes of Cabela's. Search the web for the Lutz and the Hartford Children's Museum.

There is a VERY cool trash and recycling museum within 5 minutes of Cabela's, and it's very cheap - $2 per person. Did I mention this is VERY cool! Big viewing windows where your child can watch the trash being dumped, the recycling being sorted, etc. http://www.crra.org/pages/Trash_Museum.htm

If you are into history, Mark Tawin's house is open for tours. http://www.marktwainhouse.org/

About 20 minutes away from Cabela's is the New England Air Museum. Lots and lots of planes and some decent hands on stuff for a 1.5 year - little pedal airplanes, etc. http://www.neam.org/

 

[Mkebound]

I reread your original post again and see you are coming from upstate NY.
In that case you will take the Mass pike and then get off to take 91 South to Cabela’s. When you exit the Pike you will pass though Springfield, MA which isn’t that great of a town, but they have a couple of places worth visiting:

The Basketball Hall of Fame (if you are into that sort of thing) I have no idea about the cost or even what there is to see there since that’s not my sort of thing!

The Dr. Seuss Sculpture garden. Theodor Gisel aka Dr. Seuss was from Springfield, and there is large sculpture garden that is free to visit that includes Horton, the Lorax, Sam-I-Am, the Cat in the Hat and more. The garden is surrounded by the four Museums that make up the Quadrangle. These are worth a vist too, but have an admission charge – but the admission charge does get you into all 4 museums.
http://www.catinthehat.org/memorial.htm
http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/

The Springfield Armory run by the National Park Service – free to visit. http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm
The Armory in Springfield made guns for the US military from the days of George Washington all the way to the Vietnam war.