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Hamden is a town of about 61,000 people just north of New Haven in southern Connecticut. Settled in the 1600s and incorporated in 1786, it is where Eli Whitney set up his famous factory, which pioneered interchangeable parts, along the Mill River at the foot of East Rock.
Hamden's best-known landmark is Sleeping Giant State Park, where a chain of trap rock hills is shaped like a reclining giant. Its popular Tower Trail climbs to a stone observation tower with views over Long Island Sound. Quinnipiac University sits at the foot of the Sleeping Giant, and the Eli Whitney Museum explores his inventions with hands-on workshops.
The town has a lively center around Whitney Avenue, with restaurants and shops, and the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail runs through town on an old canal and rail line. Brooksvale Park offers farm animals and trails, and downtown New Haven, with Yale University, is just minutes away.
A ridge of traprock hills that looks like a reclining giant from a distance, with more than 30 miles of marked trails, picnic groves and a stream valley. The Tower Trail is the easy route, while the blue trail is rocky and steep. Arrive early on fall weekends, the lot fills fast.
A four-story stone observation tower built in the 1930s on the Giant's left hip, reached by a wide gravel path of about 1.6 miles from the park entrance. From the top you can see New Haven, Long Island Sound and the hills to the north. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
A quiet lake in the Hamden section of West Rock Ridge State Park, circled by a flat loop trail of about two miles under hemlocks and oaks. Side trails climb to the ridge for views over the valley. It is a good choice for an easy walk with kids or dogs on a leash; there are no swimming areas.
A reservoir created by Eli Whitney's dam on the Mill River, along the Hamden and New Haven border, with a walking path on its eastern shore and views of the old dam spillway. Nearby is the striking Whitney Water Center designed by Steven Holl. It is a calm spot for birdwatching and a short walk.
A town park in the north of Hamden with a small farm of goats, sheep and chickens, a playground, picnic areas, sports fields and wooded walking trails that connect to the Farmington Canal Trail. It hosts seasonal events and maple sugaring demonstrations. Visiting the animals is free.
A paved rail-trail that follows the route of the 19th-century Farmington Canal straight through Hamden, from the New Haven line north to Cheshire. It is flat and popular with cyclists, runners and families with strollers. Parking is available at Brooksvale Park and several road crossings.
A hands-on museum and workshop at the site of Eli Whitney's 1798 armory beside the Mill River waterfall, where he pioneered interchangeable parts. Kids build projects such as boats, kites and gadgets, and exhibits cover invention and the gun factory. The covered bridge and falls make a nice short stroll.
A small 1790s farmhouse near the entrance to Sleeping Giant, run by the Hamden Historical Society as a house museum with period furniture and an herb garden. It is open on summer weekend afternoons and for special events. Combine it with a hike, since it sits just across Mount Carmel Avenue.
Hamden's town hall on Whitney Avenue, built in the 1920s with a domed memorial hall honoring local residents who served in American wars, including a Civil War monument and plaques. You can step inside the rotunda on weekdays during office hours. It is in the Hamden Center area with cafes nearby.
The main campus of Quinnipiac University, set at the foot of Sleeping Giant with brick buildings around a central quad and a library with a striking clock tower. Visitors can walk the grounds freely and watch the view of the Giant from the quad. Parking for visitors is limited on weekdays.
A long-running family ice cream shop on Whitney Avenue near Sleeping Giant, making its own ice cream in dozens of flavors, plus sundaes and frappes. It is a favorite stop after a hike, with picnic tables outside. Expect lines on warm summer evenings; it usually closes for the winter season.
A classic Hamden roadside restaurant on Dixwell Avenue known since the 1950s for split-grilled hot dogs, burgers, fried clams and soft-serve. You order at the counter and eat in the simple dining room or outside. It is a casual, inexpensive stop and gets busy at lunch on summer weekends.
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