Touring inside Mark Twain’s house in Hartford has been on my Connecticut bucket list for years. I decided to take matters into my own hands, instead of waiting for someone to come with me, and I booked a solo ticket for a Friday morning. I arrived at 10 a.m. for the 10:30 tour and was on property for an hour and a half. The house and grounds are stunning!

I explored the visitor’s center while waiting for my tour to begin. It was very cool seeing Clemen’s (his real name) notes, eyeglasses, items from his time in Hartford, even inventions he invested in. You are not allowed to take pictures inside the house and unbeknownst to me also inside the visitor’s center. I took some, sorry!

After my tour I drove about ten minutes to Elizabeth Park in West Hartford. A place I had only seen in pictures and knew I needed to wander around. I parked near the Pond Cafe and walked around for a bit. The path along the back of the cafe was beautiful and the mural around the side is a must see. I loved all the different places to sit and be.

Spending time alone with myself has become a mental health need for me. With my kids almost done with the school year I am soaking in the me time as much as I can since I know it won’t return until the end of August. I know there is a lot more wandering in Hartford I’d like to explore but these two locations were a lovely way to spend a morning!