Weekend Excursion

Now that the Tercentennial festivals are behind us, it's time to make the bed, vacuum the carpet, and toss out those empty beer cans, because Mom and Dad are on their way. With a thousand extra bodies on campus eager to take their babies out for some non-dining hall food, dinner reservations will be hard to come by this weekend. And don't forget the important choice between your suitemate's a cappella jam and your high school friend's a cappella jam. So avoid the crowds and the awkwardness and get out of New Haven this weekend, especially if you're the one without visiting parents.

ILIANA BOUZALI/YH

Hartford is just a 45-minute drive away and home to the New England Carousel Museum, a non-profit organization devoted solely to the preservation and restoration of carousels. The museum also maintains Hartford's Bushnell Park Carousel, a restored 97-year-old carousel that was brought to Hartford in 1974 from the Meyers Lake Amusement Park in Canton, Ohio. Parents or no parents, a single 50- cent ride on the carousel will remind you you're still that kid who fights for the prettiest horse.

After a couple rounds on the carousel, head over to Coach's Sport Bar & Grille for some "world famous" chicken wings and one of the largest beer selections in Connecticut. The restaurant also boasts 32 TVs wired to around-the-clock sports coverage and wall-to-wall sports memorabilia. —Katherine Hill

The New England Carousel Museum is located at 95 Riverside Ave., Bristol, Conn. The Bushnell Park Carousel is located in downtown Hartford. It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tues. through Sun. for 50 cents per ride. For more information, call the museum at (860) 585-5411. Coach's Sport Bar & Grille is located at 187 Allyn St. in Hartford and can be reached at (860) 522-6224.

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