What a powerful mix of beauty, creativity, respect, and awe. What a wonderful way to honor…read morefirefighters. This has to be seen to be believed. It really is a memorial garden, a winding path with sets of stairs takes you on a journey of monuments, plaques, artifacts, and sculpted gardens and decorative bricks to create an overpowering effect. The Memorial Garden was dedicated on September 11, 2002 to honor "ALL WHO ANSWERED THE FINAL ALARM". The garden is at the side of Manchester Fire Station No. 5, 331 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, CT, the garden is a mix of memorials and plantings adjacent to the American flag. The garden currently contains nine different memorials. The first New York memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2002 and is comprised of two retired twin alarm boxes depicting the North and South World Trade Center Towers, engraved in glass, are the names, ranks, and stations of all 343 New York Firefighters lost in the attacks of September 11, 2001. There is a planting of bushes that depict the numerals 9-11 and a grouping of bricks to form the numerals 3 4 3. There are also memorials to firefighters that died in the line of duty all over the country. Remember these catastrophes? A deadly 1999 warehouse fire in Worcester, MA that claimed six lives. A 2007 fire and collapse that took nine firefighters in Charleston, SC. The 2013 Arizona wildfire that consumed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew. They are all remembered here. There is a beam from the WTC. There are many individual memorials to CT firefighters who dies in the line of duty across the state. There are stones and flowers and plantings and trees. There is an eternal flowing fire hydrant. There's a memorial bench. There's a large memorial stone etched with aerial ladders. There is a bronze bell mounted in stone. Seriously, you could spend a full contemplative hour here, walking the garden, looking at all the exhibits, and reading all of the plaques and monuments.

This impressive monument to Manchester's Civil War veterans stands as a guardian to downtown, at…read morethe high profile intersection of Route 6 (Center Street) and Route 83 (Main Street). Dedicated in 1877, it depicts an 8' high bronze statue of a Union soldier standing on a granite base. The clean-shaven youngish looking soldier wears a cape, a long coat and a cap. He is holding the barrel of the rifle in both hands while the rifle's butt rests on the ground. On the front of the base are the Connecticut state seal and a shield with a US flag. An inscription reads: IN MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS OF MANCHESTER, WHO DIED IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 1861 - 1865. DEDICATED SEPTEMBER 17, 1877 A small plaque in front of the monument reads: SOLDIERS MONUMENT Dedicated September 17, 1877 Re-dedicated June 4, 2005 In honor of those who served in the Civil War of America 1861 - 1865 The monument is in excellent condition in a nice little town green decorated by floral arrangements.

Yesterday, I saw a marker in nearby Vernon boasting that their fabric was used for the inauguration…read moresuits of two presidents. Just four miles away from Vernon, I found a marker here boasting that blankets made at this mill were used by US soldiers in two wars. The plaque was dedicated by the town of Manchester as part of its sesquicentennial anniversary in 1973. The plaque can be found on the front wall of the building, just to the right of the main entrance at 642 Hilliard Street. It notes the historical significance of a woolen mill built on this site around 1780, possibly making it the oldest woolen mill in the nation. Blankets made here were used by soldiers during two 19th century wars. The huge mill building is just a shadow of what it once was. Today it has a few tenants operating several businesses. The Hilliard Mills are listed in the Unites States list of historic places. The plaque's full inscription reads: 1823 - 1973 One of the early woolen mills in the country was established here by Aaron Buckland in 1794. In 1832 he sold it to Samuel Pitkin who made Elisha Hilliard a partner in 1832. Later in 1871, Hilliard became sole owner. Blankets were made here for soldiers of the War of 1812 and the Civil War

This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background. Its situated on a small green right in front of Town Hall. The two sides of text cover the early history of the area starting with its first European settlement in 1673, and Hartford's purchase of the land from the Indians in 1682. The Town of Manchester was incorporated in 1823. Early business and industry included the manufacture of gun powder for the Revolutionary army, paper for the Connecticut Courant newspaper, and blankets used by the army during the War of 1812. Other accomplishments mentioned on the plaque are Manchester's heritage as a leader in the silk and firearms business, it's home to CT's second community college, and it's early churches and schools. Manchester's history was very interesting to read, but unfortunately the plaque is in a distressed condition and shows significant evidence of fading and weathering, especially on it's first side. Its a shame because the plaque is located in a very pretty location next to a gorgeously landscaped flower bed and a handsome brick sign for Manchester Town Hall

This very cool statue of a World War I Doughboy stands on the library green at the corner of Main…read moreStreet and Central Avenue, in front of East Hartford's Raymond Library. He is in full uniform and sports the distinctive combat helmet of his day. The monument was dedicated in 1929 to the men and women, from East Hartford, who fought in World War One; both the survivors and those who didn't survive. The inscription reads: 1917-1918 In Honor of the men and women of East Hartford who answered their country's call to service in the World War. To the dead a tribute to the living a memory to posterity a token of loyalty to the flag of their country The plaque is starting to show streaks from water damage, but is still readable. The statue is in excellent shape.

Nice little hiking trail with a loop in and back around Talcottville pond. There is plenty of…read moreparking with an easily accessible trail head We made it to the area JUST before the waterfall BUT there was only a wooden plank across the rock-side with slick conditions that allowed no clear sight of the rushing water/falls. Maybe the summer will yield a safer passage to the foot of the falls. We opted in for a after trail which allowed us to overlook them instead There are abandoned and decrepit building structures that lay hidden under the earth like runes in the jungle.

Beautiful trail to take a walk on. Any time of the year would be a good time to walk here. I alway…read moreenjoy coming here for a nice walk in nature. Also plenty of parking available here.

This place has continued to make great improvements over time! They've upgraded all the seats in…read morethe theatres, they upgraded the projectors, and they have first run movies now. This is still very reasonably priced compared to other theaters around. I don't go to as many movies these days (not as many as when I wrote my first review back in 2013) but I always check the Parkade's showings as my first go to option. Definitely recommend you check it out.

We went to see the new avatar movie $8 great place to visit and support smaller theaters the lounge…read morechairs are very comfortable we will go back again the concession stand had a great assortment and of course popcorn

If you're downtown in the vicinity of the Wadsworth Atheneum, you'd be excused if you did a…read moredouble-take upon seeing this very cool orange-red abstract statue of a stegosaurus. It sure does grab your attention. It sits in a courtyard between office buildings, and man oh man - is it huge ! It's a whopping 32 feet tall and has a footprint measurement of 50 feet by 32 feet. It's 40 tons of steel -a crazily creative work consisting of forty-five arced steel plates bolted in the shape of a stegosaurus. And that color ! Super bright red-orange that commands your respect. It was dedicated in 1973 as a tribute to Alfred E. Burr, the founder of the Hartford Times newspaper.

This sculpture sits on the grounds of the Wadsworth Atheneum, and it's the best work of art that…read moreAlexander Calder made.

My favorite pool to go to! Multiple pools which make it less crowded, super clean, you can bring…read moreyour own stuff to be comfortable like chairs, tables, etc! There's lap pools, snack shack, bathrooms, and diving boards!

Very nice pool in town that was redone not too long ago. We went on a hot Friday afternoon and it's…read morelarge so that it never feels too crowded. There are multiple different sections including swim lanes, diving boards, kid section with gradual walkin entry. There are plenty of lifeguards as well as a very small candy/ice cream concession stand. They also have a large pavilion for events. I would highly recommend it as a place to take your kids on a summer day. Our kids have a blast and always ask us to take them during the summer.