Last night on my return flight I thought I would give creating a post from my phone a whirl, let me just say that trying to upload more than one picture at a time on airline WiFi is not recommended! So with that said I’m finishing this post from the comfort of home and a strong WiFi signal!

I had not been up to visit with my family in Connecticut in quite a while, and I had today off, so why not do a one day trip!

The take-off from Orlando this morning was stunning with the sun rising over the coast!

Our first stop for the day was the New England Air Museum. The last time I remember visiting was with my grandfather when I was about 10, so only just a few years ago. For a small museum, they have some great airplanes!

They also have what is believed to be the only working Wright Brothers airplane engine from 1910!

The highlight of the museum for me was seeing the B-29 Superfortress! What an amazing piece of history, and to be able to get so close to it was indeed a treat!

After our morning at the museum, it was time for lunch! Food is always one my favorite parts of traveling. Earlier this year my friend Lori had posted about a restaurant in Manchester, CT called Shady Glen. When I investigated online I noticed that they did a little something extra with the cheese on the burgers. This place was quickly added to my list of “must eats”. While cooking the burger they allow the cheese to spill over onto the griddle and become a thin, crispy wafer. It gives the cheese a unique flavor and makes for an interesting texture you normally don’t get with a cheeseburger. Of course, because I am making an effort to lose weight there was a large sign facing me during lunch that said, “Fresh Blueberry Sundae”. I decided that it would have been rude not to partake since they went to all that effort to make the sign. It was made with blueberry ice cream and then topped with fresh blueberries, whip cream, and a cherry on top! Luckily for my waistline, they had a small version! I really enjoyed the vintage diner feel of the restaurant and would highly recommend a visit if you are in the area.

After lunch, it was back to Hartford to visit the Mark Twain House & Museum. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) spent 17 years living in this magnificent home in Hartford. Said to be the happiest and most productive years of his life. The home was built in 1874 and is now open to the public for guided tours. Sadly, but understandably, you are not allowed to take any photos inside of the home. Many of the items in the house belong to the Clemens family. There is also a museum on the property with very educational exhibits. I learned quite a bit out one of America’s most famous authors, and was happy to discover that he was quite the avid traveler throughout his life!

Of course, no visit to Hartford would be complete without a stop at Modern Pastry. If Italian pastry and cappuccino sound good to you, then my friend, this is the place! Their pastries and cookies are the best around!

And it goes without saying that a box or two went back on the plane with me to Florida!

It’s amazing what you can do in just one day. I think people limit themselves when it comes to traveling by thinking that you need a week or more to visit places. In reality, you can see and experience some amazing sights with very little time. Some of my favorite trips are the short ones. Another great part of just a short visit is that it gives you an excuse to go back again to see more! So get on a plane, train, or automobile and start traveling!