City: Hartford, CT

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (860) 232-6710

Address: 1 Jewell St.

Description: This is actually the first park in America taken by eminent domain for that use, and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who did Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn, among many others in Connecticut. There are monuments throughout the park, but the most impressive is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Arch, which used to span the Park River (since routed underneath the city). The 1914 Bushnell Carousel still revolves here, and you can still try to spear the brass ring, like the knights of old. It only operates from May to Sept, but the park is open year-round. Don’t miss the Stone Field Structure along Gold Street between Main and Lewis, an arrangement of 36 boulders installed in 1977 by artist Carl Andre. Bushnell Park is a great central location in Hartford from which to walk to all the downtown sights and activities, but is certainly a destination itself.