"Well, cuddle up, angel, cuddle up, my little dove And we'll…read moreride down, baby, into this tunnel of love" (Bruce Springsteen) You'll find it on the Wilbur Cross Parkway near New Haven, CT. Driving on the Parkway, it's become a Connecticut landmark - a welcome and familiar sight. It was blasted through a 1,200-foot-long hole through the West Ridge Mountain in 1949. It carries approximately 77,300 vehicles daily. It was originally named the West Rock Tunnel. It was renamed the Heroes Tunnel in 2003 to honor "heroes of all kinds" in the post-September 11 era. The Tunnel and Wilbur Cross Parkway are vital connectors between New York and Hartford.

The Heroes Tunnel (formerly known as the West Rock Tunnel)…read more "the former name of this tunnel was provided by fellow YELPER Jim C. from Wallingford, CT and represents "historical" information that can not be confirmed or denied by this reviewer but much appreciated" The tunnels are located along the Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15) in the Town of Woodbridge and the City of New Haven, near the Town of Hamden border. The Heroes Tunnel is a 1,200-foot long tunnel, which passes through West Rock Ridge in New Haven and Woodbridge. The existing tunnels were constructed between spring 1948 and fall 1949 and consists of two 28-foot wide by 19-foot high barrels with horseshoe cross-sections. The northbound and southbound barrels of the tunnel consist of two 11-foot wide travel lanes with 6-inch shoulders and a 2-foot 6-inch wide raised maintenance walk on each side. The centerlines of the barrels are approximately 63 feet apart. It is debatable that this is the only tunnel to pass beneath a natural land feature in the State of Connecticut and is eligible for listing on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. It seems the renaming of these tunnels weren't well received - this challenge to leave the tunnels name in tack was not in anyway meant to take away from the many heroic efforts by any of the participants the name "Heroes Tunnel" may reference whom have sacrificed it all helping humanity, it's more about renaming history and the cancel culture that continues to identify and change historical significance landmarks that aren't offensive and was in no way meant to be prejudice against any culture, creed or the oppressed. These tunnels were engineering marvels through the time of their inception and construction and are monumental feats that reflect the pride of those that worked and sweated to make travel in the area convenient and safe for those that transverse America's highways...

Hidden gem of a museum highlighting not just the history of New Haven but the culture and…read moreuniqueness as well. The display about Long Wharf Theatre was mesmerizing in its depth and design. The section covering the Ah-beetz factions and the background about the Amistad history was fascinating and humbling. Even the little bookstore had something for everyone. Worth an afternoon of walking through what makes this city what it is!

This place is absolutely out of this world. If you want to know about New Haven from his beginnings…read moreto yesterday there is no better place to see the history of the city laid out in artifacts. As a native New Haven'er I love the place and will bring my friends here who want to get to know something about the history of the city.

We had a little trouble finding this museum since signage was lacking on the front of the building…read more We went on a weekday and this museum was pretty empty. Free admittance and free lockers are provided in the basement for our big purses, coats, and water bottles. We took their recommendation and started at the top on the 4th floor and made our way down. There are a lot of paintings so it took us awhile and we ran out of time. The museum closes at 5pm and we were only there for 90 mins.

WOW. As a bit of an architecture nerd, I made a point to visit the Yale Center for British Art when…read moreI was in New Haven a week or so ago, and I'm so glad I did. The museum was designed by Louis Kahn, and the building is incredible. It's built around two interior courtyards and has a spiral staircase hidden inside a concrete cylinder. Its design includes travertine, white oak, and concrete. As with his other museum that I love (the Kimbell in Fort Worth), the lighting is incredible (the skylights are designed in such a way as to allow in the most possible light, but diffused to protect the art). I knew when we walked in that we didn't have long in the museum, so I asked a docent for the architectural highlights, and he was kind enough to steer us to the most special aspects and rooms of the building's design. But so you don't think the museum is just an empty building, I should mention the art!! Their permanent collection is interesting - the largest and most comprehensive collection of British art outside the UK. When we visited, the museum also had some interesting temporary exhibits: "Tracey Emin: I Loved You Until the Morning" and "J. M. W. Turner: Romance and Reality." It's a really beautiful museum - both the architecture and the art. I'd love to return when I have more time - to really enjoy the collection and not just the architecture next time! What a museum!

What a beautiful 19th century home--the architectural detail inside and out is rare and…read morefascinating. I attended a benefit brunch on the first floor, so cannot speak about the rest of the home, but I was enchanted the entire two hours I was there by the intricate design in the molding as well as the decor. The nice young owners are personable.

Chetstone is a Gothic Victorian mansion built on the highest ridge of Fairhaven Heights in the mid…read more19th century. After an almost 2 decades long effort to restore this historic home, it is now in fantastic condition. My family rented this beauty for a 4 day stay in New Haven on Air BnB. The Chetstone is also currently listed on the CT Film Commission, and is used for photography and videography, as well as a workshop and performance space. As a bed and breakfast, it would be hard to imagine a more amazing home to stay in. The Chetstone has 4 stories: the kitchen and living rooms on the first floor are warm (ambient heat in the kitchen and bathroom floors is awesome) and cozy. Three of the four bedrooms on the second floor come with working sinks! I felt like I was sleeping in a restored, totally livable adjunct to the Mark Twain house (didn't hurt that I had just recently watched Ken Burns' fantastic documentary on Twain.) The magic comes in from all angles with ancient glass refracting the sunlight in beautiful directions. The third floor is unfinished with whimsical rabbit art dating to 1919 exposed on the walls. The fourth floor is a beautiful lookout over Fairhaven Heights. This neighborhood used to be called "Dragon" because the harbor seals that hung out at the mouth of the Quinnipiac River resembled dragons: on a clear day, you can almost still seem them from the fourth floor. Thank you to all involved in the restoration of this Connecticut architectural gem!

This a beautiful, scenic park on a mountainous top outside of downtown New Haven and it offers…read moreopportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, leisurely strolls, etc. It's a big area and on the day of my visit, the paved road going inside the park was closed, so we had to walk a decent amount to get to spots like Soldiers and Sailors Monument and scenic overlook vista points. The hike to the monument and scenic vista point on the paved road trail (one-way) can take up to 30 minutes if not longer. There is a (sort of short-cut) trail that goes through the woods that has rocky steps and is a rigorous hiking route. It was a nice weather day and a perfect way to work-off the delicious New Haven pizzas we ate beforehand. We enjoyed our visit here while checking out the beautiful scenic views and the monument. I am not giving it full five stars because the park lacked proper direction signage for the trail(s) and as far as I could tell, I did not find any bathrooms or port-o-potty services.

Large, BEAUTIFUL park near downtown New Haven. Unclear GPS directions/signs make it a BIT tough to…read morenavigate, but we eventually found where we wanted to be, and were rewarded with scenic trails and a challenging (whew!!) hilly walk up to the not-to-be-missed Soldiers' monument and overlook of the city. We were lucky to hit the last of peak leaf season, but I'm sure ANY time of year is great for a visit to this wonderful oasis. Didn't see very much during our quick visit, but hope to return to check out more trails and waterways. GREAT spot for locals and visitors alike. Hope to return with more time to explore SOON!!

"Make Us Free" I…read morelearned about the Amistad story from Steven Spielberg's 1997 movie. In 1839, a Spanish slave ship called La Amistad was carrying African slaves to Cuba. Under the leadership of Joseph Cinque (the central figure of the Amistad story), there was a prison break on the ship and two of the Spanish crew were killed. The ship ended up in New Haven, CT where a Supreme Court trial took place to decide the destiny of the slaves. Were they Spanish property? Were they free men? Were they criminals? What exactly were they? You will find this powerful memorial in front of the New Haven City Hall. It's a striking three sided sculpture with a trio of sculpted panels depicting Sengbe Pieh, also known as Joseph Cinque. Each panel shows him at different stages in his life -as a free African, as a defendant in the Supreme Court trial, and as a free man ready to return to Africa. The gorgeous sculptures of Cinque are 9 feet tall, resting on a 2 foot granite base. The three-sided base contains a large inscription that tells the story. The full inscription reads: Make Us Free This monument is a memorial to the 1839 Amistad Revolt and its leader, Sengbe Pieh, also known as Joseph Cinque. Sengbe Pieh was one of the millions of Africans kidnapped from their homes and transported in bondage to the Americas. Sold into slavery in Cuba, he and forty-eight other men, and four children were bound aboard the schooner La Amistad. During a storm, Sengbe Pieh successfully freed himself and his fellows. The Africans seized the ship, but their offers to steer La Amistad homeward were thwarted. After futile weeks at sea, they were captured off Long Island by the U.S.S. Washington. On this site, the Amistad Africans were jailed awaiting trial for piracy and murder. To aid their struggle for freedom, the Amistad Committee formed, counting in its number ministers Simeon Jocelyn, Joshua Leavitt, and James Pennington; merchant Lewis Tappan; professor Josiah Gibbs; and lawyer Roger Baldwin. The Africans were tried twice prior to their ultimate triumph before the United States Supreme Court, where former President John Quincy Adams courageously defended them. Sengbe Pieh and his fellows were declared Free Persons. The Africans sought to return home. To raise funds for their voyage and to further the anti-slavery cause, they engaged in a series of speaking tours. In 1841, after a sojourn that profoundly influenced the abolitionist movement, they set sail, free at last. To commemorate the heroism of the Amistad Africans and those who shared in their quest for freedom, the 1989 Amistad Committee commissioned his sculpture by Ed Hamilton and dedicated it on September 26, 1992. Erected 1992 by the 1989 Amistad Committee One of the best movie courtroom scenes I have ever seen has the great Anthony Hopkins as an elderly John Quincy Adams arguing for the freedom of the slaves before the US Supreme Court. If this doesn't give you goose bumps, go check to see if you are breathing. Check this out.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZFr4VLPW9Q

The Amistad memorial has been on my list for some time. It commemorates the fight to establish the…read morefreedom of those slaves who took control of the slave ship The Amistad. After two trials, it was announced that they were in fact Freemen and allowed to return to their homes in Africa. It is a cornerstone in the abolitionist movement, and crucial case to abolishment of slavery in the USA.

Ah, Toad's! I haven't been to this venue is ages…read more I caught the SiR show and it was great. I love the acoustics and intimacy of the venue. As someone who's 6'3, general admission never bothers me. In Toad's I can see the stage from anywhere I'm standing. Parking is always a nightmare so it's definitely worth taking the CT Rail down and bar hopping around New Haven before the show.

Went to Bingo Loco. The event wasn't worth the money but Toads provided great drinks. They were…read morepricey but good. Parking is terrible but it's New Haven.