Constructed in 1889, reconstructed after a 1914 fire, and renovated in 1987, Union Station's design has a split personality. Buses board at what is technically the rear of the building, on Spruce Street. Few passengers will ever see the gorgeous, restored main entrance on Union Place. The 1987 renovation tried to shift all passenger traffic to the rear, so now the main entrance is on Spruce Street, not Union Place. Now all most visitors see is a gaudy rainbow-colored facade that hides the elevated Amtrak rail and the original browntone building. Add to that the constant line of idling interstate buses sitting in the oil-stained parking lot and you'd never know just how much money was spent renovating the station. What a shame.

With all that mind, passengers arriving by bus, car, or foot arrive at the station on Spruce Street. Arriving passengers grab their luggage from a porter and enter the station through a glass-enclosed vestibule. The vestibule opens into the main terminal which is little more than a square room, about 50 feet squared. Greyhound and Peter Pan customer service windows line the right wall, Amtrak lines the left. Straight ahead there is a small convenience store which sells snacks, drinks, and a lot of lottery tickets. The payphones, vending machines, restrooms, water fountains and lockers are tucked in a small corridor behind the Amtrak window. Simply walk straight and look left, you'll see them.

To the left of the convenience store is a short flight of stairs that leads to a set of sliding glass doors. Beyond the doors you'll find the station's Great Hall; restored to its original 19th-century grandeur. You can imagine entering through the Union Place doors and standing in this gorgeous room with its impossibly high ceilings and wonderful stone and woodwork. This is where the action took place decades ago. Imagine the traffic that rolled through here to Boston, New York, and beyond. Now the Hall houses a few leased offices and is occasionally rented for special events. Bus passengers are tolerated here, though we'd never say allowed. Back to the main terminal where you belong!

Describe the neighborhood. Is there anything around, is it a neighborhood or a parking lot on the edge of town? Be subjective and objective: is the area scary? Is there obvious crime? Drug dealers, police cars with blaring sirens? Crackheads passed out on the street?

If a passenger is here for an hour or two on a layover what should they do? Stay inside? Walk around the block? Visit the used record store across the street? Take pictures? Take a nap?

Give three or four sentences that describe the city, it’s location, reputation, interesting facts. Give one or two sentences describing the city subjectively. Does this place deserve a visit or is it just an unfortunate layover? What are the must see and do neighborhoods or activities in this city? What are the newspapers and which ones describe local events and nightlife? Describe the weather, when to come here and how to dress.

If the city is steeped in history (Boston, Philly, San Francisco) give a few paragraphs here, maybe one for each century. Otherwise, one paragraph to describe the founding of the city, it’s growth and regional importance is fine. There is no history test on this trip.

There's nothing like stepping off a bus into a city you've never seen before. The smells, sights and sounds can excite and frighten even the most intrepid traveler. To make the most of your time in any city, be it a day or a month, spend a few minutes learning the neighborhoods before you go. This will help you plan your trip and orient you to your surroundings. This section briefly describes the most popular and tourist-friendly neighborhoods in the city starting with the neighborhoods nearest the bus station and fanning out from there.

Describe the neighborhood nearest the bus station, the one that passengers would see if they stepped off the bus and walked a block or two. Use all of your senses: sights, sounds, smells, first impressions? And are your first impressions right or does this neighborhood surprise the visitor?

What’s another nearby neighborhood that the passenger might see or visit within a few minutes of the bus station?

Tip: if you’re writing sabout several neighborhoods (or places to eat etc) take some time between writing sessions. Take a day or at least a few hours. This prevents your writing from becoming repetive or formulaic.

Keep going. Write about a far off neighborhood or a suburb that deserves a visit while the passenger is in town. Tell us how to get there, by bus, train, taxi etc. Be explicit.

Give a few sentences about transportation in the city. Is there anything to walk to near the station? Are we relying on buses or taxis while we’re in town? Sum it up subjectively but give objective examples in detail below.

You can easily walk from Hartford's Union Station to Bushnell Park, the Capitol, or Downtown in a few minutes but watch out for cracked sidewalks, illegally parked cars, and cold breezes. Many of the city's top tourist destinations are easily within walking distance including the Wadsworth Atheneum, Constitution Plaza, and if you have an adventuruous side, the Mark Twain House. Yet, most folks will opt for a taxi or bus, both of which are easily accessible from Union Station. Outside of downtown, walking is inconvenient and generally unattractive.

Are there buses and subways or is everything compact and walkable? Describe the transit system, company, fare structure with detail. People need to knoew how to ride the system. What are the flaws and benefits? Any day or weekly passes? Free transfers?

Several CT Transit bus routes pass directly by Hartford's Union Station. Westbound buses travel across Hartford into West Hartford, Farmington and New Britain. Eastbound buses terminate in downtown Hartford just a few blocks away where you can connect for most other CT TRansit routes to East Hartford, Manchester, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Bloomfield.

Is this a city where we need a rental car? Is there some must see spot only accessible by rental car like a national park or secluded beach? Where do went a car, how much is it, and how can we save some money here?

In a few sentences describe the best and cheapest places to sleep. Are hotels through the roof or surprisingly affordable off season like Vegas Sunday – Thursday nighhts?

Can we sleep at the bus station unfestered or does it close or have surly guards? What about the airport or train station? Is there anywhere nearby to sleep safely and free?

If we use Priceline what neighborhoods/zones should we include in the search and what’s a fair bidding price?

Most cities have a hostel or two. Describe a few decent options and tell us how to get there.

Hostel Name

Street
City, State ZIP Code
Telephone: 555 555 5555
Fax: 555 555 5555

Shared Dorms: $XX and up
Private Room: $XX and up

Add $X per person per night for non-members.

Directions:

Some lsarger cities have YMCA’s with housing. These can be dodgy and might house the city’s homeless population. Give details.

YMCA Name

Street
City, State ZIP Code
Telephone: 555 555 5555
Fax: 555 555 5555

Shared Dorms: $XX and up
Private Room: $XX and up

Directions:

Perhaps the best way to travel the country (and the world), couch surfing is a post-modern concept that shows exactly how useful the Internet can be. Travelers register on-line and search the cities where they want to stay. Members offer the opportunity to host visitors (on their couch, floor, spare room) and describe themselves and their availability in an on-line profile. Then users contact each other, discuss plans, preferences and availability and decide whether to commit to an overnight or extended stay. Both parties have the option to refuse an offer without explanation and with no hurt feelings. The service advertises nearly one million users around the world so if you're ready for an adventure and can plan ahead, consider couch surfing. Interested travelers should visit couchsurfing.com and wikipedia.org to learn more.

By now everyone in the world uses Craigslist so you're probably familiar with the site. It's an on-line bulletin board where users freely post ads for everything from used toothbrushes for sale to erotic adventures. In between you can search for paid vacation and short-term rentals under housing. It means planning ahead and you might have to send a deposit to the advertiser. Most users are honest and intrepid travelers can find an affordable, safe, clean place to stay for a few nights. But if you're going to do this why not try couch surfing first? It's free so if you get to the house and don't like what you see you can leave. You also have the option to chat with your host before you ever leave home and couchsurfing.com offers some degree of reassurance with its referral and verification system. So search the Craigslist postings, but keep couch surfing in the back of your mind.

Most cities offer an eclectic menu of restaurants but some cities are best divided into dining areas by neighborhood. Think about the food options in the city. Pick a few cheap eats, a couple mid-range choices and one exotic option. Try to include places that are eith MUST SEE or out of the way and easily missed but deserve a visit. Be creative.

Style (Neighborhood) $

Name
Street
City, State ZIP Code

Telephone: 555 555 5555

Hours:

Describe the restaurant, the clientele, the workjers, the food, the neighborhood and the overall experience. Directions…

Include a chart like this at the end of your Where to Eat section but update it to reflect local pricing.

Is this city compact and are services easy to find? Describe it in a few sentences.

Does the bus station have lockers? How about a nearby train station or airport? Is there a hotel nearby that can hold our bags?

The restrooms at Hartford's Union Station are fairly gross but there's not much else in the area. Hartford is a poor city with drug dealers, gangs, and homeless folks spread across the city. There are few public restrooms in the city outside of restaurants so plan ahead.

What’s a good souvenir for the city? Where do we buy postcards and keychains? In New York City every corner shop sells postcards but in Tampa where do you go?

Where do we mail our postcards or just buy stamps? In some city’s there’s a post office on every corner, but in other places you have to drive into the woods to find one. Tell us where to go.

Hartford retains many of its classic conveniences, even as businesses and residents still flee the city proper for ever-expanding suburbs. Here you'll still find the familiar blue mailbox on many corners and a couple of post offices in downtown, near Union Station. The Ann Street station is technically closer to Union Station but the Old State House office is more convenient; the latter being in the heart of downtown. Outside of Hartford, most cities have a post office in downtown so you'll never be too far from this basic convenience.

Some cities have densely populated neighborhoods that surround the bus station and downtown and thus we’re likely to find a grocery store nearby. In other cities you have to hunt and peck but if you look around you’ll likely find something near the bus station (think Cleveland). Tell us where to find a nearby grocery store, describe it and the neighborhood as well as the style of food, quality and pricing. How do we get there?

Some cities have densely populated neighborhoods that surround the bus station and downtown and thus we’re likely to find a laundry service nearby. In other cities you have to hunt and peck but if you look around you’ll likely find something near the bus station (think San Francisco). Tell us where to find a nearby laundromat, describe it and the neighborhood as well as the costs, hours, and times to avoid it. How do we get there?

Hopefully you never need medical care while you're on the road, and if you do we hope that you have medical insurance. In the United States you are guaranteed medical treatment at any hospital's emergency room (ER) regardless of your ability pay even if you are not insured. But each state determines how much care uninsured patients get.

Hartford is one of the poorest cities in the country but the hospitals, despite their inner-city locations, are excellent. Expect a long wait in most emergency rooms where patients are triaged by condition and insurance. You'll never be denied care but the wait can be frustrating.

Hartford Hospital
80 Seymour Street
Hartford, CT 06102

Telephone: 860 545 5000

Directions:

Hartford Hospital is just over a mile from Union Station in Hartford, Connecticut, and just a few blocks from downtown. The walk is generally safe and frequently attractive but we don't recommend walking this route at night or in bad weather. Expect missing or obstructed sidewalks and few public buildings along the way. The cab ride from the bus station to Hartford Hospital should be about five to six dollars and there are always plenty of cabs at Union Station. If you insist on walking anyway, and if you're in no hurry and the weather is fine I would walk, then follow these simple directions from Union Station:

Buses arrive in one of several bus bays along Spruce Street. With your back to Union Station take a left on Spruce Street and a left again on Asylum Street. You'll pass under a railroad overpass and see Bushnell Park and the state capitol on your right. Take a quick right on Ford Street and another quick right on Trinity Street. (If this sounds complicated it's not.) You're now passing through the park, so avoid the bums and occasional thug, keep the capitol on your right. At Capitol Avenue continue straight on Washington Street. After a few blocks you'll see Hartford Hospital on your left. To reach the main entrance take a left on Jefferson Street and a quick right on Seymour.

Customize directions to Hartford Hospital.

St. Francis Hospital
114 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105

Telephone: 860 714 4000

Directions:

Saint Francis Hospital is just over a mile from Union Station in Hartford, Connecticut, easily reached by foot, bus, or taxi. The walk is generally safe and passes some of Hartford's major insurance companies along the way. We don't recommend walking this route at night or in bad weather. Expect missing or obstructed sidewalks and few public buildings along the way. The cab ride from the bus station to Saint Francis Hospital should be about five to six dollars and there are always plenty of cabs at Union Station.

Connecticut Transit offers several bus lines that travel from Union Station to or near Saint Francis Hospital. The most direct service is Route 72 which travels from Union Station to Saint Francis Hospital at the corner of Asylum and Woodland. Route 72 runs every 15 to 30 minutes from about 6:00AM to 6:00PM but there is no service at night or weekends. Instead, look for routes 60, 62, 64, and 66 which all run along Asylum to Farmington Avenue with a convenient stop at Farmington Avenue and Woodland Street. Saint Francis is just two blocks north of Farmington Avenue. The road is quiet and safe excepting traffic noise. To reach any of these bus routes from Union Station:

Buses arrive in one of several bus bays along Spruce Street. With your back to Union Station take a left on Spruce Street and a left again on Asylum Street. You'll pass under a railroad overpass and see Bushnell Park and the state capitol on your right. Do not cross the street. At the next corner, Union Place, look for the Connecticut Transit Bus Stop sign. Wait there for any of the buses listed above. When the bus arrives tell the driver you're going to Saint Francis Hospital and ask him to let you know when you get to Woodland Street. If you take any of routes 60, 62, 64, and 66 you'll get out at Woodland Street and take a right from Farmington Avenue. It's about a 10-minute walk to Saint Francis Hospital from Farmington Avenue.

If you'd like to walk to the hospital from Union Station, and if you're in no hurry and the weather is fine, then follow these simple directions from Union Station:

Buses arrive in one of several bus bays along Spruce Street. With your back to Union Station take a right on Asylum Avenue and pass under the highway overpass. (Use caution here - the sidewalks are in terrible shape and the highway offramp is very busy.) Follow Asylum up the short hill to a fork in the road - stay right on Asylum. Walk about one mile (15 minutes) along Asylum till you reach Saint Francis Hospital on your right.

Customize directions to Saint Francis Hospital.

Describe the city’s activities and lifestyle in general. Is it a beach city with a hopping nighlife (Miami) or a quiet college town with some great bookstores? Give us an overview of what to expect and then describe a few free and inexpensive options below.

Place or Activity

Name of place
Street
Telephone: 555 555 5555
Hours:

Description, be creative but objective

Directions

Mark Twain House

Same as above but these cost a few dollars each.

Money is no object here. Passengers might not parttake in this adventure but tell us about it anyway. Maybe it’s worth checking out even if we can’t afford it.

If you only have one day in town consider this:

Hartford isn't the most exciting city in the United States but it retains a handful of 19th century gems that are worth seeing. Begin by strolling across Bushnell Park (just across Farmington Avenue from Union Station) and admire the State Capitol building. Opened in 1878, the Capitol is one of the grandest public buildings in the country and reflects Hartford's long-gone prosperity and stature. From the Capitol head east and walk under the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch, completed in 1886 it honors Hartford's men who fought in the Civil war.

Describe in great detail exactly where to go fore folks who have a day in town, maybe just a few hours. Give us directions from the bus station and phone numbers and price guides. What’s the perfect one-day trip?

Introduce a few suggested daytrips here. These spots might not be in town but they should be easy to get to in a day.

Be specific. Where are we going and why? What do we do when we get there and how do we get there? How is this different from the city or neiehborhood with the bus station? Really sell this place but make sure it’s worth the trip. If it’s as good as you say it is then this part should be easy.

Hartford's Union Station is located just a few blocks from the Connecticut state capitol near downtown Hartford. Buses, trains, and highways lead right to the heart of the city but the airport is far less accessible and there is no scheduled boat service to the city.

You'll find plenty of Amtrak service at Union Station. Most trains travel to New Haven where you can connect to New York City. One train a day travels north to Vermont (the Ethan Allen), but there is no direct train service to Boston or Providence.

Bradley International Airport (BDL) is located in Windsor Locks, CT, about 15 miles north of Hartford.

To learn about a nearby city please select from the list below.

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
MOHEGAN SUN CASINO, CONNECTICUT
FOXWOODS CASINO, CONNECTICUT
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
ALBANY, NEW YORK
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND