Free Things To Do In Connecticut

Silver Sands State Park offers salt water fishing, swimming and bird watching and has free parking and a free beach. The park is open from 8 a.m. until dusk. For more information visit the park’s website.

The Museum of Connecticut History, located in the Connecticut State Library, is opened Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m. Admission is free. Exhibits include Colt fire arms, portraits of Connecticut governors and the Mitchelson coin collection. More information here.   (Rick Hartford / Hartford Courant)

Take a free guided tour of the Governor’s Mansion in Hartford. Hour-long tours of the home’s interior and the outdoor sculpture garden are held on Tuesdays and reservations must be made in advance. 860-524-7355 or info here.

The Heublein Tower is free and open to the public. Hours are Thurs.-Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day and every day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Labor Day through the end of October. Hours and dates are subject to change. Contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at (860) 677-0662 to check the schedule. For more on the tower, visithttp://www.friendsofheubleintower.org/.<  (STEPHEN DUNN / Hartford Courant)

The New England Civil War Museum is opened the second and fourth Thursday of each month from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.newenglandcivilwarmuseum.com.

  (Rick Hartford / Hartford Courant)

Everyone typically visits public libraries for books, but many public libraries offer free movie rentals, audio books, magazines, education programs and more. Contact your local library to find out what they have available for loan. For a list of public library’s in Connecticut, visit http://www.publiclibraries.com/connecticut.htm.

Contact the Ancient Burying Ground Association, Inc. for guided tours. Visiting the cemetery on your own is free and and more information about the cemetery can be found at http://www.theancientburyingground.org/.
  (Rick Hartford / Hartford Courant)

Elizabeth Park is located at the corner of Prospect Ave. and Asylum Ave. The park can be enjoyed by foot or car. More information here.   (MICHAEL McANDREWS / Hartford Courant)

Sleeping giant State Park in Hamden has more than 30 miles of hiking trails, some of which are very steep and treacherous. The park is open from 8 to sunset. More information on Sleeping Giant here. For information on other parks, click here.   (STEPHEN DUNN / Hartford Courant)