"These new, free travel resources are fun and easy to access and are innovative ways to help prospective visitors discover the wonderful appeal of our state," explains Anne Lee, Executive Director of the Central Regional Tourism District. Lee's office covers 65 Connecticut towns and cities including the Greater Hartford, Greater New Haven, and Connecticut River Valley regions. "There's no better way to show people what we have to offer than to 'bring' them there, and our new web videos do just that! In addition, our new coloring book can be downloaded for the immediate pleasure of kids of all ages." Lee serves as the host of the first two "Non-Stop Connecticut" Travel Web Videos, each of which is less than six minutes in length. The "River Valley Destinations" web video showcases a variety of outdoor experiences including Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park, the Blue Oar Restaurant in Haddam, RiverQuest operated by Connecticut River Expeditions in Haddam, the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa in Old Saybrook, Downtown Essex, the Griswold Inn and nearby the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. The "Summer Shoreline Destinations" web video features the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange, Downtown New Haven including Yale University, Louis Lunch and Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Thimble Island Cruises in Branford, Bishop's Orchards and The Place Restaurant, both in Guilford. The new CenterofCT.com Coloring Book includes illustrations of the following attractions: Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park in Portland; The Bushnell Park Carousel in Hartford; Connecticut Science Center; The Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor; Connecticut Whale Hockey (AHL); Essex; Steam Train & Riverboat in Essex; Hartford's Riverfront Plaza; Kidcity Children's Museum in Middletown; Lake Compounce Theme Park in Bristol; Lady Katharine Cruises on the Connecticut River; Lutz Children's Museum in Manchester; Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford; New Britain Rock Cats Baseball (AA); The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks; The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University in New Haven; the PEZ Visitors Center in Orange; Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven; and the Sensory Garden at Wickham Park in Manchester. Provided are discount coupons good at many of the attractions in the book. The entire coloring book can be downloaded from www.centerofct.com, or people can call (860) 787-9640 for a free copy to be mailed. The new Travel Web Videos and the CenterofCT.com Coloring Book complement the Central Regional Tourism District's selection of online and print materials that include the 2012 Visitors Guide to Greater Hartford & Connecticut's River Valley, a guide to Central Connecticut's Gardens and Farmers Markets, and special brochures about the region's Burgers & Brews and Bed & Breakfasts. The Central Regional Tourism District (CenterofCT.com) covers 65 towns and cities located along the Connecticut River, which winds its way from Greater New Haven and the Long Island Sound over hills and rolling valleys, through the capital city of Hartford, and up to the Massachusetts border. Its goal is to increase the number of visits to River Valley/Connecticut and Greater New Haven/Connecticut regions, thereby resulting in revenue growth. The Tourism District covers: Andover; Avon; Berlin; Bethany; Bloomfield; Bolton; Branford; Canton; Cheshire; Chester; Clinton; Cromwell; Deep River; Durham; East Granby; East Haddam; East Hampton; East Hartford; East Haven; East Windsor; Ellington; Enfield; Essex; Farmington; Glastonbury; Granby; Guilford; Haddam; Hamden; Hartford; Hebron; Killingworth; Madison; Manchester; Marlborough; Meriden; Middlefield; Middletown; Milford; New Britain; New Haven; Newington; North Branford; North Haven; Old Saybrook; Orange; Plainville; Portland; Rocky Hill; Simsbury; Somers; South Windsor; Southington; Stafford; Suffield; Tolland; Vernon; Wallingford; West Hartford; West Haven; Westbrook; Wethersfield; Windsor; Windsor Locks; and Woodbridge. The Central Regional Tourism District's new "Non-Stop Connecticut" Travel Web Videos can be viewed at www.CenterofCT.com and at www.YouTube.com/CenterofCT. The free Coloring Book can be viewed and downloaded at www.CenterofCT.com, or call (860) 787-9640 for a free copy to be mailed. To be added to the Tourism District's free e-newsletters, go to www.CenterofCT.com and click on the "Email Newsletter" icon. |