Complete Guide to Manchester

Completely Completing Manchester

May 2017 Update:

Completed!

Yes, you’ve read that correctly. I plan on “completing” Manchester… as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. After all, that is the ultimate goal of CTMQ.

I began writing this site in September of 2006 with one very young son and full head of dark hair. I have no idea when I’ll “complete” Manchester, let alone the whole state, but there’s no use worrying about that for now.

What do you know about the suburban former company mill town? You can scroll down for my list of things to do in town. Or, as always, you can click on the town’s tag to see what I’ve done.

If I’ve missed anything in Manchester or if anything has closed or changed, please let me know.

All The CTMQ Manchester Stuff (65)

If linked, I’ve visited/done and reported on it.

Museums

Cheney Hall
Cheney Homestead
Dehn Gallery
The Fire Museum
Hans Weiss Newspace Gallery at MCCC
Keeney Schoolhouse
Lutz Children’s Museum
Manchester History Center & Loom Room
Old Manchester Museum
PhotoSynthesis Gallery
Wickham Park Nature Center and Aviary
Woodbridge Farmstead Museum

Hikes

There are many entities that maintain the various properties and their trails in Manchester. Compiling them all here was no small feat.

Case Mountain Trails
Hop River Linear State Park
Wickham Park Gardens & Bird Sanctuary

Shenipsit Trail – Intro

Section 3

Hockanum River Trails (Intro) – I love these trails (listed south-to-north, generally):

Laurel Marsh
Verplanck
New State Road
Hilliard
Bigelow Brook (not yet trailed)
Hackett
Adams Mill
Pitkin
Union Pond
Oakland

Manchester Land Conservation Trust Trails (Intro) – Much research went into the below list; both online and in the field. This is the best list I came up with:

Barlow Park (partly in East Hartford)
Buckland Pond
Bush Hill Farm (partly in Glastonbury)
Cheney Rail Trail
Fairway Park
Purdy Nature Park Trail
Salters Pond
Spring St.- Hayden L. Griswold

Manchester’s Town Trails (Intro)

Center Springs Park & Trail
Globe Hollow
Porter/Howard Reservoir (Partly in Bolton)
Lake Street to Lydall
Nike Recreation Site
Northwest Park
Oak Grove
Union Park

Resources

Thank goodness for the town’s site
And Hockanum River Watershed Association
And Manchester Land Conseration Trust

Food & Drink

International Food Tour (French-Canadian): Chez Ben Diner
CT Chocolate Trail: Divine Treasures
Roadfood’s Best: Shady Glen Ice Cream
Roadfood’s Best: Shady Glen Burger
Esquire’s Best Burger
Unique Food: Shady Glen Fried Cheese
Hosmer Mountain Soda
Top Shelf Brewing Company (RIP)
Top Shelf Brewing Beer Reviews (RIP)
Parable Brewing
Labyrinth Brewing Company (future brewery)
2nd Bridge Brewing Company (possible future brewery)

Other Stuff, Often the Best Stuff

CT Freedom Trail: Walter Bunce House
CT Underground Railroad Trail: Hart Porter Homestead
CT Carousel Trail: Shoppes at Buckland Hills
National Historic Landmark: Cheney Brothers Historic District
Oak Grove Covered Bridge
Beacon Hill Apartments Covered Bridge
Possibly the largest cairn in CT
Oldest in US: Hilliard Mills
Railfan Depot: Time Machine Toy & Hobby
Railfan Depot: Wickham Park Sunday Trains
Railfan Depot:
The Former Pitkin Glassworks
Case Falls
Center Springs Falls
Wyllys Falls
BEARS! (Two entries from Manchester!)

Completion Celebration Meal & Manchester Wrap-Up

Cavey’s