New Haven, CT
New Haven is the second-largest municipality in Connecticut. Located on the state’s southern border with the Long Island Sound, New Haven is approximately 70 miles from New York City and easily accessible. I-95 connects New Haven with New York and areas south west, while I-91 connects the city to the north, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and Canada. Amtrak offers rail service to New York City, Washington, DC and Boston. Rail service is also provided to Springfield, Massachusetts and Hartford. Bus service is readily available, and Tweed New Haven Regional Airport offers US Airways flights. A popular scenic option for walking, running, biking or blading is the Farmington Canal Trail featuring 14 miles of rail trail. There are plans to eventually connect the trail to Northhampton, Massachusetts.
Originally settled by Quinnipiac American Indians, the New Haven area was sold by the tribe to Puritans from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in exchange for protection from the Pequot tribe. In 1638, the settlers created a grid of four streets by four streets that formed a nine-block area. Named a National Historic Landmark, these streets now form New Haven’s Downtown. The central block, New Haven Green, is now a 16-acre park and recreation area.
New Haven Green
Prior to World War II, the city’s economy was based on manufacturing, but the city fell into decline shortly afterwards. While New Haven is undergoing revitalization efforts, its reputation as a gritty city is well deserved. The downtown area, however, is vibrant. The Old Campus of Yale University, the third oldest institution of higher learning in the US, borders New Haven Green, and impressive Colonial and Gothic architecture can be found throughout this area. A number of parks and the Marsh Botanic Garden create a city oasis.
New Haven boasts a variety of museums and cultural attractions. An original Gutenberg Bible is on display at The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Museum. The Knights of Columbus Museum, founded in New Haven in 1882, is a museum exhibiting art and artifacts related to the history of Catholicism. The Eli Whitney Museum is the site of a former factory of Yale graduate and inventor of the cotton gin, Eli Whitney. The museum offers many activities for children, as does the Connecticut Children’s Museum. Long Wharf Pier features a life-size recreation of a Tall Ship, the Freedom Schooner Amistad. Three repertory theatres stage performances, and the city boasts a Symphony Orchestra.
Well more than 100 restaurants are located within a few blocks of the New Haven Green alone. A myriad of dining options from cheap eats to Zagat-rated establishments can be found. Ethnic cuisines range from the very familiar (Italian and Chinese) to the exotic (Ethiopian and Peruvian) and everything in between.
New Haven Weather
Summers in New Haven tend to be relatively warm and humid with temperatures ranging from 62 degrees Fahrenheit to 83 degrees Fahrenheit in July, typically the warmest month. Winters are cold with temperatures averaging from 17 degrees Fahrenheit to 35 degrees Fahrenheit in January, the coolest month. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. March is typically the driest month with average precipitation of 3.24 inches, and May is typically the wettest month with 4.7 inches.
Current New Haven Weather
| Today | 05/20/2013 | 05/21/2013 | 05/22/2013 | 05/23/2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chance of Rain 64°/55° |  Thunderstorm 70°/61° |  Chance of a Thunderstorm 75°/57° |  Mostly Cloudy 72°/59° | Chance of a Thunderstorm 73°/57° |
Photo credits: The picture of New Haven Green is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license. The picture of New Haven Green is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.
