Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Bristol is a city of about 60,000 people in central Connecticut, about 20 miles southwest of Hartford. Settled in the 1700s, it became famous in the 1800s as America's clock-making capital, and the city later produced ball bearings and springs. Today it is best known as the home of ESPN, the sports network.
The American Clock and Watch Museum displays thousands of timepieces in a historic house, and the New England Carousel Museum preserves beautifully carved carousel horses. The Imagine Nation children's museum and the historic Federal Hill district, with its large old homes, are favorite stops.
Lake Compounce, opened in 1846, is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America and is famous for its wooden roller coaster, Boulder Dash. Rockwell Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers, has trails and a lagoon, and the colorful foliage of the surrounding hills makes autumn a popular time to visit.
Opened in 1846, Lake Compounce is often called the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States. It has the wooden roller coaster Boulder Dash built on a mountainside, a water park called Crocodile Cove and family rides. It is open seasonally; buy tickets online to save money.
A hands-on children's museum in Bristol with interactive exhibits about science, art, nature and imaginative play for kids up to about age 12. Exhibits include building areas and pretend-play spaces. Check opening days before visiting, and plan for a few hours with young children on a rainy day.
A museum in a historic house in Bristol, once a major center of American clockmaking, with thousands of clocks and watches, many made in Connecticut, and exhibits explaining how they work. Hearing the clocks chime on the hour is a highlight. It opens seasonally, so check the hours before you go.
A museum in a former factory building in Bristol displaying antique carousel horses and figures, with a restoration workshop and exhibits on the history of carousel carving. The building also houses a fire history museum. Allow about an hour, and check the hours, which are limited on some days.
A local history museum housed in a historic building in Bristol, with exhibits on the city's industrial past, including clocks, bells and other products made in Bristol factories. Volunteers lead visitors through the collections. It opens on limited days, so check ahead before visiting.
A historic city park in Bristol with a lagoon, a splash pad, playgrounds, ball fields, picnic areas, walking paths and wooded areas on the edge of the city. It is a long-time favorite for family outings. It is busiest on summer weekends; parking is available along the park roads.
A nature preserve in Bristol with forest trails, a pond, fields and the Barnes Nature Center, which runs nature programs and exhibits for children and families. Short loop trails make it suitable for an easy walk. It is free to visit the trails; check the center's hours for indoor exhibits.
A historic baseball park opened in the early 1900s in Bristol, with a classic stone entrance and grandstand. Babe Ruth and other famous players appeared here in exhibition games. Today it hosts summer collegiate baseball and local teams, and a summer evening game is a fun, low-cost outing.
A residential historic district on a hill above downtown Bristol, with large homes built by the city's clock and industrial families, a town green and historic churches. It is a pleasant area for a short walk. Most homes are private, so enjoy them from the sidewalk and the green in the center.
The center of Bristol along North Main Street and the Pequabuck River, with local restaurants, shops, a new public green and a historic library. Redevelopment has added new spaces for events. It is easy to visit on foot; combine it with the nearby museums and Federal Hill for a half-day outing.
Top-rated local businesses in Bristol, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Bristol? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Bristol? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Radiant Luv, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Martin Lewison, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Radiant Luv, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Roller Coaster Philosophy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
