Connecticut leaders hoping to draw tourists this summer
EAST LYME, Conn. (WTNH) — Many people are getting ready for this unofficial kickoff to the summer season, including state leaders who traditionally use the Friday leading into the Memorial Day weekend to tout tourism.
Connecticut attractions push for more spending on tourism
Today, they were at Rocky Neck State Park reminding people what the state has to offer.
According to the state there, will be a lot for those kids and everyone to do this summer.
'No matter where you live in Connecticut, you are not more than 20 minutes away from one of our gorgeous state parks,' Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, (D-Conn.) said.
Programs like Passport to Parks, which provides free parking to Connecticut residents, and Park Connect which provides shuttles from public transportation, are all designed to improve access to state parks and beaches.
'Users can now reserve all terrain wheelchairs in seven Connecticut State Park and Forest locations around the state,' Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said.
But it's also the many attractions like Mystic Seaport, named second best outdoor museum by USA Today and other national rankings, which state leaders hope will attract more visitors.
'The best state in the U.S. for hiking,' Anthony Anthony, chief marketing officer for the state, said.
The state says tourism is an $18.5 billion industry in Connecticut, responsible for 125,000 jobs.
If you do decide to head to the beach, three state parks will have lifeguards starting this Memorial Day weekend. Sherwood Island, Hammonasset and Rocky Neck State Park.
'Our tourism budget was about $12 million in 2023. Right now, if nothing happens in the legislative session with this budget, it's going to go down to $4.5 million,' Scott Dolch, president & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said.
'We're still in negotiations with the legislature right now as we're trying to get the right balance going forward,' Gov. Ned Lamont said.
Many want more tourism money and more sunshine to help ensure a successful summer season.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
When is Apple's WWDC 2025 event? Start time, rumors, more
When is Apple's WWDC 2025 event? Start time, rumors, more Show Caption Hide Caption How to use AI rewriting tools Artificial Intelligence can instantly proofread your writing and make suggestions to tweak the tone of a message, paper or presentation. Problem Solved Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference is less than a day away, though it appears that the event will see a restrained rollout compared to the AI extravaganza held a year ago. The week-long event will kick off with a keynote address on Monday, June 9, and run through Friday, June 13. There will be more than 100 technical sessions for developers, as well as group and one-on-one lab sessions, Apple announced in a news release. USA TODAY will provide live coverage of Monday's keynote, along with the latest updates on the company reveals. Here's what you need to know before Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2025. How to watch WWDC 2025 The keynote for WWDC 2025 takes place at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on June 9 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT and be followed by a "Platforms State of the Union." The keynote is set to be streamed on Apple TV, the Apple YouTube page and at USA TODAY will also provide live coverage. What might be revealed at WWDC 2025? Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is preparing a modest rollout of artificial intelligence features, targeting WWDC 2026 to make a larger splash. Gurman wrote in the Power On newsletter that the most significant AI announcement this year will be the opening of Apple's Foundation Models to third-party developers. He noted that the move is being made in hope of spurring the creation of new AI features and apps to help Apple catch up in the artificial intelligence market. Gurman also reported that Apple appears set to add a centralized gaming app in the next iOS update. He indicates the app will be preinstalled with the update and will be a place for users to launch games, find new titles, view leaderboards and communicate with other players. "The new app will serve as a Game Center replacement, and is more ambitious," Gurman wrote. "But it's unlikely to shake up the industry." iOS naming system to change with update: Reports Apple appears set to change the naming system for iOS on Monday, according to Gurman. The company will move from numbering operating system updates sequentially to numbering them by year in a manner similar to the way car models are identified. Under the new system, the Monday update will be iOS 26 instead of iOS 19. Gurman also reported that the Mac operating system will be named Tahoe after the Californian forest.


USA Today
20 hours ago
- USA Today
RBC Canadian Open 2025 purse, payout: Prize money breakdown for PGA Tour event
RBC Canadian Open 2025 purse, payout: Prize money breakdown for PGA Tour event Show Caption Hide Caption Scottie Scheffler wins Memorial at course he once watched as a fan From fan to champion, Scottie Scheffler wins the Memorial on a course he once dreamed of playing. PGA TOUR The highly anticipated RBC Canadian Open, featuring the world's top golfers, kicked off at the esteemed TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario, on Thursday, June 5, and culminates on Sunday, June 8. With the PGA Tour title at stake, the champion of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open will be awarded a staggering $1.764 million from a total prize purse of $9.8 million. The runner-up will not be far behind, earning $1 million, while the third-place finisher will take home $676,200 for their outstanding performance. Here is a breakdown of the prize money earning for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. WHEN IS 2025 RYDER CUP? Dates, time and what to know for golf event What is the total purse for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open? The total purse for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open is $9.8 million. The first place winner will take home $1.764 million of the prize purse. RBC Canadian Open: Prize money breakdown Money amounts don't include ties. All figures according to the PGA Tour. First place : $1,764,000 : $1,764,000 Second place : $1,068,200 : $1,068,200 Third place : $676,200 : $676,200 Fourth place : $480,200 : $480,200 Fifth place: $401,800 $401,800 Fifth place: $355,250 $355,250 Seventh place: $330,750 $330,750 Eighth place: $306,250 $306,250 Ninth place: $286,650 $286,650 10th place: $267,050 $267,050 11th place: $247,450 $247,450 12th place: $227,850 $227,850 13th place: $208,250 $208,250 14th place: $188,650 $188,650 15th place: $178,850 $178,850 16th place : $169,050 : $169,050 17th place : $159,250 : $159,250 18th place : $149,450 : $149,450 19th place : $139,650 : $139,650 20th place : $129,850 : $129,850 21st place : $129,850 : $129,850 22nd place : $129,850 : $129,850 23rd place: $102,410 $102,410 24th place: $94,570 $94,570 25th place: $86,730 $86,730 26th place: $78,890 $78,890 27th place: $75,950 $75,950 28th place: $73,010 $73,010 29th place: $70,070 $70,070 30th place: $67,130 The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.


USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises
A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises Show Caption Hide Caption Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom tour on the new Disney Treasure USA TODAY took a ride on the brand new Disney Treasure cruise ship. Here's what to know about the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom. "Family travel' is a six-part series showcasing the best experiences and destinations for young families looking for an escape. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form. I've been visiting Disney parks my entire life. I thought I knew what the Disney bubble was. Disney Cruise Line blew my definition out of (or into) the water. Everything Disney fans look for in a Disney vacation is – as Disney likes to say – plussed up on their ships. Here's what I experienced on my first Disney cruise and what your family can expect on yours. What is special about a Disney cruise? Disney cruises are made for Disney fans. 'We know that when guests get on one of our ships, 40, 50% of them are saying the only reason I'm cruising today is because Disney is here,' Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro told USA TODAY last August, ahead of the cruise line's expansion announcements at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. 'These cruise ships are ways that we can tell all of the amazing stories that we have. We bring them to life in dining; we bring them to life theatrically. We bring them to life through technology and our cast members.' Many ship venues are inspired by Disney stories. Guests who want to learn how they can take an Art of the Theme Show Tour during their sailing. Disney characters roam about regularly and unlike in the parks, never have long waits to meet them. The entertainment on board is truly Broadway quality, not only because Disney is at heart an entertainment company, but it's also produced numerous shows on Broadway. My favorite show on our Disney Treasure sailing was "Disney the Tale of Moana," which Disney developed with Broadway veterans and Polynesian cultural advisors and cast. The youth clubs, particularly for younger children, feel like stepping into Disney movies. Many kids happily spend hours there, and adults wish they could, too. The closest grown-up guests get is during open houses. Guests rotate through a variety of themed restaurants for dinner each night of their sailing, and servers rotate with you so they can get to know you and your preferences, as well as any dietary needs. The level of customer service is exactly what you'd expect from Disney. Ships are designed with families in mind. Most staterooms have split bathrooms, so multiple people can get ready at the same time, and most feature bathtubs, which are clutch with young children. You're traveling with fellow Disney families and fans, who share your enthusiasm. Non-Disney fans can still enjoy sailings, but for those who love Disney, it's the ultimate floating Disney bubble. Disney parks take to the seas: How the new Disney Treasure makes magic Is a Disney cruise all-inclusive? Disney cruises include lodging, most dining, entertainment, recreation, youth club access, and more in their standard fare. There is an additional fee for childcare for infants and toddlers under age 3 at 'it's a small world nursery.' Extra experiences like adult-exclusive dining, makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Sea, the Royal Court Royal Tea Party with Disney princess, and spa and salon services also have fees. Is all the food on a Disney cruise free? Meals at rotational dining restaurants, on-board buffets, and various food stands are included in the cruise fare, as is most room service. Guests may choose to pay extra for adult-exclusive dining like Remy or Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement. Treats at smoothie and sweets shops and snacks at concession stands near onboard movie theaters have à la carte fees. Specialty coffee drinks and alcohol are also extra. Do Disney cruises have good food? Yes. There are various options at each rotational restaurant. Guests are also welcome to ask for other offerings off menu, but what stuck out to me were everyday dishes like comforting congee at breakfast and a mountain of succulent crab legs during lunch at the Treasure's Marceline Market buffet. Mickey Churro Waffles and Disney Cruise Line chicken tenders are other fan favorites. So are Mickey ice cream bars, which you can order for free through room service. Italian-inspired Palo and other adult-exclusive restaurants, which cost extra, are so popular that reservations book up well ahead of sailings. Guests who miss out in advance can try to book in person upon embarkation. Is there unlimited alcohol on Disney cruises? No. There are no unlimited alcoholic beverage packages on Disney cruises. You can buy individual drinks and bottles of wine on board or pre-order bundles of hard seltzer, beer or wine. There are also deals like Drinks of the Day and the Beer Mug Savings package, which, for a one-time $15.25 fee, gets you 21-ounce beer refills for the price of 16 ounces. Upon initial embarkation and at each port, guests of legal drinking age may also carry on up to two unopened bottles of wine or champagne or six unopened beers no larger than 12 ounces. These must be brought in carry-on luggage, not checked, and may not be consumed in lounges or public spaces, aside from restaurants, where there is a corkage fee. Is there a casino on the Disney cruise? No. There are no casinos on Disney cruise ships. The closest thing to gambling is BINGO, which is extremely popular. Is there free Wi-Fi on Disney cruises? Yes. Guests can use free DCL Guest Wi-Fi to access the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and message fellow guests. You can also message folks back home using third-party tools like Apple Messages and WhatsApp. However, you'll need paid internet service for anything more substantive like making calls, accessing social media, browsing the internet, posting or streaming video, and more. How much does a Disney cruise cost per person? Prices vary widely by sailing (ship, dates, itinerary, cruise duration and more), stateroom category, how many guests share the same stateroom and guest age. Kids under age 3, ages 3-12, and 13-17 are charged at different rates than adults, according to Plan Disney. Limited-time promotions also impact pricing. For instance, Disney Cruise Line is currently offering up to 30% off select summer 2025 sailings from the U.S. Prospective guests can find the latest special offers on the cruise line's website. Additionally, Disney Cruise Line passengers can lock in 10% off a future cruise when they purchase a refundable placeholder reservation while onboard a ship. At last check, the lowest priced sailing for a family of four departing the U.S. with two adults and two kids between the ages of 3-12 was priced at $2,620. That works out to $655 per person in an interior cabin on the Disney Wish for a 3-night Bahamas cruise leaving Port Canaveral on Aug. 22, 2025. Three-night cruises on the new Disney Adventure, launching in Singapore this December, start even lower. Does Disney Cruise Line go to Europe? Yes. Disney sails from three European ports: Barcelona, Spain Citavecchia, Italy (outside Rome) Southampton, England Transatlantic sailings are also offered several times a year. Do adults with no kids go on Disney cruises? Yes. Even though the cruises are designed with families in mind, lots of Disney adults sail kid-free. Many enjoy getting to feel like kids again themselves. Each ship and both of Disney's private island destinations have adult-exclusive areas and experiences. What are Disney's two private islands? Disney's has two private island destinations in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Is it cheaper to go to Disney or Disney cruise? That depends on how long you plan to sail versus visit parks, as well as choice of accommodations, dining and time of year. It can go either way. What is the cheapest way to book a Disney cruise? Guests will generally find the best prices the day itineraries are released. This happens a few times a year, about 15 to 18 months in advance of sailings, according to Plan Disney. Travelers can work with travel agents to keep tabs on when the next batch will be released or sign up for Disney Cruise Line email updates and follow the cruise line on social media. Are Disney cruises worth it? They are for many fans. 'They rate us very, very highly, and they tend to want to come back,' D'Amaro said. But just like any vacation, the cruises may not be worth it for everyone. The reporter on this story received access to the ship from Disney Cruise Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.