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University of Connecticut

Located in northeastern Connecticut, UConn's main and original campus is in Storrs, Connecticut, part of the town of Mansfield , just 22 miles east of Hartford, Connecticut's capital.  UConn also has four regional campuses across the state at Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury. The university has been recognized as a Public Ivy, considered to provide a quality of education comparable to those of the Ivy League. School spirit runs high, and sports are a big part of life on campus. UConn’s Huskies have had tremendous success, especially the women and men basketball teams with a combined 21 NCAA championships between them. 

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Visitor Information: Tour UConn

Transportation: UConn is approximately 25 miles east of Hartford, 50 miles west of Providence, 100 miles southwest of Boston, and 150 miles northeast of New York City and conveniently accessible from various interstates. Bradley International Airport is the closest airport to UConn. Taxis are available at the airport. From Logan Airport in Boston, take the Peter Pan bus to Storrs. Amtrak’s closest station to UConn is Hartford or Windsor, CT.

Stay: Right on campus check into the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference Center, right across from Storrs Center. Looking for something cozier, Spring Hill Inn is a charming guesthouse just one mile from campus.  Other options include the Best Western Storrs, Holiday Inn Express in nearby Vernon (13 miles), Courtyard by MarriottBaymont Inn and Suites Manchester, (13 miles) and a Residence Inn by Marriott (14 miles) also in Manchester.  

Anytime of Day: Every college town has a place that works for breakfast, lunch or a casual dinner and Dog Lane Café is UConn’s go-to spot. Mornings offer breakfast fare and a long list of smoothies. Later in the day enjoy artisan-grilled cheese, burritos, burgers or lighter soups and salads. 

Coffee: Start your day at The Beanery located in The William Benton Museum of Art, open during the week starting at 7:30 am. (Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.) In Storrs, Starbucks opens bright and early at 5:30 am on weekdays, 6 am on weekends. 

Breakfast: In Storrs, in addition to Dog lane, students head to Toast Four Corners. Just ten minutes from campus one student steered us toward Gramma’s, a popular spot for breakfast and brunch known for delicious cinnamon buns and homemade hash browns. On the weekends students love to drive to the nearby Wooden Spoon, there’s usually a long line so go early. 

Lunch: For a quick bite after the tour, right on campus eat at the Union Street Market at the UConn Student Union. Student mainstay Mooyah has the best burgers including veggie options all served on freshly baked artisan buns, order a side of hand-cut fries or a milkshake.  Looking for something more exotic, Indian Kathmandu Kitchen and Bar offers a lunch buffet every day starting at 11:30, just $9.99 weekdays and $11.99 on weekends—a great deal!  At Blaze Pizza, a chain that hails Le Bron James as one of its backers, you can customize your pizza with a choice of toppings -  toppings are free and unlimited. 

Dinner

Casual: At the Storrs Center, just steps from campus and named to honor Geno Auriemma, UConn’s legendary basketball coach, the extensive American/Italian menu has something for everyone at Geno’s Grille. Save room for their famous Mountain dessert—a chocolate cake that feeds four to six people, best for a group. 

A Step Up: Visit the vineyard and then stay for dinner at Sharpe Hill Vineyard’s Fireside Tavern set among 28 acres in Connecticut’s wine country. The restaurant is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

Sweet Tooth: Don’t leave campus without a stop at Uconn’s award-winning Dairy Bar with what some say is New England’s best ice cream. The UConn Dairy Bar dates back to 1953. Today, the ice cream is still made according to the original recipe; you can also purchase a variety of cheeses and farm fresh eggs to take home.

Rah-Rah: UConn’s fight song, played by The Pride of Connecticut marching band is one of our nation’s most recognizable, get in the school spirit and listen here.

Must Do: Take a photo with the statue of UConn's mascot, Jonathan the Husky. Don’t forget to rub his nose for a bit of good luck! 

Local Attractions: On campus sites include; Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, the J. Robert Donnelly Husky Heritage Sports Museum, the William Benton Museum of Art, and the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry. A great addition to the community the new Storrs Center, just steps from the University, is an urban development full of shops and restaurants. Try and plan your visit to coincide with a game at the Gampel Pavilion without a doubt Storrs and UConn’s best-known landmark. 

Notes From a College Counselor:  Janet Stark,  a veteran college admission consultant, shares her views on UConn after her recent visit. "It's an impressive large state university (19.2M at main campus) on its way up to some day compete with state schools like UVA, UM, and Univ Wisconsin. Great value for CT students and for those students in New England states that pay a little more than CT students. Retention rate is 92% and 78% graduate in 4 years; 82% in 6 years."  Read more here.

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