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Meriden is a city of about 60,000 people in central Connecticut, halfway between Hartford and New Haven. Settled in the 1660s, it became known in the 1800s as the "Silver City" because of the many silverware and silver-plate companies based here, including the International Silver Company.
The city is best known today for Hubbard Park, a large park designed with help from the Olmsted Brothers and donated by industrialist Walter Hubbard. Its Castle Craig, a stone lookout tower on top of East Peak in the Hanging Hills, offers views across the state, and the park's Mirror Lake hosts the popular Daffodil Festival each spring.
Downtown Meriden has historic buildings, the Meriden Green park along Harbor Brook and a modern train station with service to Hartford and New Haven. The Solomon Goffe House is a restored 1711 home, and the Hanging Hills trails, part of the Metacomet Trail, are favorite hikes.
A large park designed in part by the Olmsted firm, set in the Hanging Hills of Meriden, with Mirror Lake, walking paths, a playground, picnic areas and a road that climbs to Castle Craig. It hosts the Daffodil Festival each spring. Weekends are busy; the upper road is open seasonally.
A city park around the Bradley Hubbard Reservoir in Meriden with trails that climb to the Chauncey Peak cliffs and Lamentation Mountain, offering great views. It is popular for hiking, fishing and dog walking. Trails up the ridge are steep but short; parking is at the reservoir and can fill on weekends.
A park in downtown Meriden built on a former mall site to control flooding along Harbor Brook, with lawns, a pedestrian bridge, an amphitheater and walking paths. It hosts concerts and festivals. It is next to the Meriden train station, so it is easy to reach on the Hartford Line train service.
A stone observation tower built in 1900 on top of East Peak in the Hanging Hills, offering views across central Connecticut and on clear days to Long Island Sound. It can be reached by a seasonal road from Hubbard Park or by hiking trails. Climb the spiral stairs inside for the best views.
A large historic city hall in downtown Meriden with a classic brick and stone facade, columns and decorative details from the early 20th century. It remains the seat of city government. Most visitors admire the building from the outside; it is a short walk from Meriden Green and the train station.
A range of traprock ridges above Meriden, including West Peak, East Peak and South Mountain, crossed by the Metacomet Trail. Hikers enjoy cliff-top views, reservoirs and forest. Trails are rocky and steep in places, so wear good boots and stay away from the cliff edges, especially in wet weather.
The center of Meriden, once known as the Silver City for its silverware factories, with historic buildings, local restaurants and new housing around Meriden Green and the train station. It is being revitalized with new development. It is easy to explore on foot, and parking is available near the station.
A colonial house built in 1711, one of the oldest in Meriden, now a museum restored to show early 18th-century life, with period furnishings and costumed guides on open days. It hosts seasonal events and demonstrations. It opens only on limited days, so check the schedule before you plan a visit.
A colonial saltbox house from about 1760, owned by the Meriden Historical Society and furnished with period pieces and local artifacts. Tours explain colonial life and the city's early history. It opens on limited days or by appointment, so contact the historical society ahead before visiting.
A popular spring festival held each year in Hubbard Park, when hundreds of thousands of daffodils bloom across the park. It includes live music, crafts, food vendors, carnival rides and fireworks. It is usually held in late April; arrive early and use shuttle buses, as parking near the park fills quickly.
An enclosed shopping mall off Interstate 691 in Meriden with department stores, national chains, a food court and several restaurants. It is a convenient indoor option during bad weather. Parking is free and plentiful, and it is close to the highway for travelers passing through central Connecticut.
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