HARTFORD, CONN., Sept. 22, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leaves throughout the Nutmeg State soon will turn to countless hues, making the River Valley/Connecticut region perfect for Fall foliage "leaf peeping." A free colorful, new pocket brochure, produced by the state's Central Regional Tourism District, now is available to add to the pleasure of these trips by offering nine different self-guided driving tours.
"Each of the tours in this guide offers detailed driving directions to spectacular views of the changing Connecticut landscape," explains Paul Mayer, Executive Director of the Central Regional Tourism District. "We also include special activities that people can enjoy as part of their trip, along with a Fall calendar of events." The River Valley/Connecticut region covers 46 towns and cities and is located along the Connecticut River, which winds its way from the Long Island Sound over hills and rolling valleys, through the capital city of Hartford, and up to the Massachusetts border.
The new Fall Foliage Tours brochure is a companion piece to the Tourism District's annual "Visitors Guide to Greater Hartford & Connecticut's River Valley". It can be downloaded from Central Regional Tourism District's website, www.visitctriver.com. To order a copy to be mailed to you, call 800-793-4480.
The nine different self-guided driving tours in the River Valley's Fall Driving Tours brochure are:
1. Connecticut River - Metacomet Ridge Tour;
2. Tobacco Valley Driving Tour;
3. East of the River Driving Tour;
4. Farmington Valley Tour;
5. Quinnipiac River and Metacomet Trail Tour;
6. Central Connecticut Tour;
7. Old Wethersfield, Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry and Brownstone
Quarry Tour;
8. Gillette Castle and Devil's Hopyard State Parks Tour; and
9. Connecticut River Tidelands Tour.
Connecticut's Central Regional Tourism District and Executive Director Paul Mayer recently were honored with The Travel Industry of America (TIA)'s top 2008 Award for Special Projects. A First Place NCDO (National Council of Destination Organizations) Destiny Award was presented to the Tourism District for its year-long promotional campaign, "Airstreaming Connecticut's River Valley". It was one of only three top NCDO awards presented this year.
Central Regional Tourism District, home of River Valley/Connecticut, works to promote national and regional awareness of tourism in Connecticut's River Valley. The region covers 46 towns and cities and is located along the Connecticut River, which winds its way from the Long Island Sound over hills and valleys, through the capital city of Hartford, and up to the Massachusetts border. The 46 towns and cities are: Andover; Avon; Berlin; Bloomfield; Bolton; Canton; Chester; Cromwell; Deep River; East Granby; East Haddam; East Hampton; East Hartford; East Windsor; Ellington; Enfield; Essex; Farmington; Glastonbury; Granby; Haddam; Hartford; Hebron; Manchester; Marlborough; Meriden; Middletown; New Britain; Newington; Old Saybrook; Plainville; Portland; Rocky Hill; Simsbury; Somers; South Windsor; Southington; Stafford; Suffield; Tolland; Vernon; West Hartford; Westbrook; Wethersfield; Windsor; and Windsor Locks.
To view or download a free copy of "River Valley's Fall Driving Tours" and find other information about the Central Regional Tourism District, visit www.visitctriver.com. For voice information about the Tourism District or to request that the Fall Foliage brochure is mailed to you, call 800-793-4480.