One of Connecticut’s Coolest Historic Attractions Is Hiding in Essex

According to MSN, there are plenty of ways to experience American history without having to stare at a textbook or walk through a museum reading tiny plaques for three hours.

Connecticut actually has one of the more entertaining ways to take a trip back in time, and it involves a steam train, an old railroad station and a riverboat.

The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Essex gives visitors the chance to experience what traveling through Connecticut might have felt like generations ago. The whole thing starts at the historic Essex railroad station, which dates back to 1892. From there, passengers climb aboard a vintage steam-powered train for a scenic ride through the Connecticut River Valley.

And this isn't one of those attractions where you spend five minutes looking at an old train and then you're back in the parking lot. The train ride lasts about an hour and takes you through the countryside in restored passenger cars, giving you a pretty unique look at one of the most scenic parts of the state.

You can also combine the train ride with a trip aboard the Essex Clipper riverboat. That takes the history lesson from the tracks to the water, cruising along the Connecticut River and passing some pretty impressive landmarks along the way.

One of the highlights is Gillette Castle, the bizarre and awesome medieval-looking estate built by actor William Gillette. Seeing it from the river gives you a completely different perspective than simply driving up to the property.

It's easy to forget that Connecticut is packed with this kind of history. We complain about traffic, taxes and everything else around here, but every once in a while you get reminded that the Nutmeg State has some pretty cool ways to step back in time.

And apparently, you don't need a time machine. You just need to get on a train.