Bridgeport Travel Guide

Bridgeport is located in the Southern part of Connecticut, along Long Island Sound. It's an hour away from New York City and two hours away from Boston. Visiting here is nice for a day trip or a long weekend to give yourself time to explore. As a traveler you'll be pleasantly surprised by the amount of attractions and by the raw beauty of the seaside town.

Park City

Bridgeport is sometimes referred to as Park City because of its fabulously designed public parks. Fredrick Law Olmsted, the man behind Central Park, designed two of Bridgeport's best parks. Seaside Park is essentially a beach located on the waterfront. You can enjoy a day lounging at the beach or playing Frisbee in one of the sports fields. There's a concession stand here, but it's also a lovely place to bring a picnic lunch. Seaside Park has some gorgeous monuments scattered about and a lighthouse great for photographs, so bring the camera.

The other park designed by Olmsted is Beardsley Park. Recreational activities include fishing in the flowing river or pond. There are open fields for varies sports and picnics. A working carousel will bring laughs for kids and adults. The best thing bout this park, however, is a zoo that was created in the park. The Beardsley Zoo is home to over 300 animals, including a Siberian tiger and an area with farm animals. Admission will cost $11 and the zoo is open from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. This is a great way to spend the day. You can visit the zoo and then spend the evening strolling the park or having a picnic dinner.

Barnum Museum

Barnum Museum is dedicated to the life of P.T. Barnum, who was a famous resident of Bridgeport. This is the only museum of its kind in the nation. Barnum had such an unique influence of the growth of this country that it's hard not to be enthralled with the mementos from his life. In the museum you'll see a miniature version of the circus that he created. Original circus costumes and personal belongings of Barnum are also on display. Admission is $7 and the museum is open until 4:30 pm everyday but Monday.

Captain Cove's Seaport

This is basically a one-stop tourist spot. There's a great restaurant here where you can get seaside snacks and then eat by the port or inside by a giant fish tank. A large bar is on the second floor. Live music is sure to inspire your hips to move and there are shops that line the port filled with interesting gifts. Visitors can board harbor cruises that leave from the seaport as well. This is just a fun spot in Bridgeport that can't be missed.