Gillette Castle State Park -- East Haddam, CT

The Facts:

What: Museum, walking trails, picnicking

Homepage: http://www.ct.gov/dEP/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325204

Cost: $5 per adult for castle tour

The last time I visited Gillette Castle State Park I was a young kid on a day trip with my mother and grandmother. At that time the castle itself was really the only attraction, and even that was not in the greatest shape. Since that time, the state has initiated an overhaul of the park. The result is that an ill-fitting oddity has been transformed into a Connecticut asset.

The castle itself is interesting. It's a self-guided tour but with guides throughout to answer questions, and give short presentations. The castle features the eccentric, but clever, designs of William Gillette. The top floors of the castle offers scenic views of the Connecticut River and surrounding valley. Touring the whole castle probably took about 1 hour.

While the castle indeed makes the park unique, the highlight of the park is the surrounding grounds. The state has made the grounds of the park a pleasure to roam. There are several parking areas with a multitude of picnic tables. There are also walking paths throughout the property, and one leading down to the river. I would not call these "hiking" trails as they are generally relatively short, but they do offer a good opportunity to enjoy the natural surroundings. We even caught a glimpse of a deer on the way into the park.

The park also offers a newly constructed visitor center that includes a gift shop and dinning. However, our group decided to skip the dinning hall and take advantage of one of the numerous picnic spots. We had an enjoyable, laid back, impromptu picnic in a secluded wooded parking area.
I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at Gillette Castle State Park.