Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

ENFIELD, CT — The latest trek to a Hidden Gem takes us to the only reptile and amphibian zoo in Connecticut and the only place of its kind in New England.

But it can be hard to find because, at 132 South Road, it is an anchor in a commercial plaza that is seemingly a listing ship. The Great Wall Chinese restaurant is also located there.

But one look at the Riverside Reptiles Education Center just beckons a visit. Riverside is a zoo dedicated to reptiles and amphibians and it gives.

RREC gives visitors a chance to get close to about 70 species of indigenous and exotic animals, including snakes, lizards, alligators and turtles and a few "other creatures" from around the world.

The animals are able to enjoy "naturalistic enclosures," that promote "normal behavior" and "unique visitor observations."

The indoor facility measures 13,000 square feet with an additional 4,000 square feet outdoor (seasonal) turtle and tortoise habitat called Turtle Haven.

RREC is open to the public year-round and can accommodate large groups, families and "single explorers."

Click here for more information.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to Chris.dehnel@patch.com.

Other Hidden Gems in this series:

2023

• By The Pond
• The Lugg Family Plot
• Most Excellent Cards & Collectibles
• The Richard Hubbard statue
• The Doughboy
• The WaltWhitman Stone
• Hometown Kitchen
• Elisabeth Bennet Statue
• Lafayette rides to Hartford
• Craft Bird Food Truck
• Collins Creamery at Powder Hill
• Rockville Equipment Message Board
• Dickson's
• Pickle Jar Deli
• Hilltop Creamery
• Palisado Avenue Historic District
• Tom's Place
• Vinnie's Little Acre
• The Peeking Cow
• The Bridge Over Trout Brook
• Middle Bolton Lake Boat Launch
• Fill-er-up soft serve
• Bryan's Landing
• Stafford Cidery
• La Notte Waterside Grille & Lounge
• Two Hopewell
• Manchester Cricket Ground
• Agent Orange Monument
• Dover Saddlery
• Booth 220, Mansfield Drive-in Flea Market
• Marlborough Barn
• Farley Mac's
• The Chapel at Grove Hill Cemetery
• The Big Pink Chair
• Hale vs. Webster
• Ken's Cards & Collectibles
• Union Bee Company
• Talcott Ravine
• New School Pizza Co. Pizza Bus
• Smyth's Trinity Farm
• Chic's Restaurant
• Shenipsit State Forest
• Gay City Ruins

2022

• The Bissell Ferry
• Bidwell Tavern
• Tree Farms In Hartford/Tolland Counties
• Henry Park Holiday Lights
• The Vintage Shops
• The Schofield Spring Water Dispenser
• Harry Lugg Memorial Field
• Alfred E Pope Horse Trough and Fountain
• The CT Heavy Artillery Regiment Mortar
• The Ancient Burying Ground
• The Wolf Pack Bobblehead
• The Tolland Inn
• The Gathering Ground Restaurant
• Poke Don Hawaiian Restaurant
• The Husky Olympic Monument
• The Mazz Pizza Company Truck
• The "Keyhole" Tunnel
• ANTIQ'S
• Broad Brook Opera House
• Bart's Luncheonette
• McCann Family Farm
• Banquet Hall at Grassmere Country Club
• Willington Common Bell
• Chez Ben Canadian Diner
• Farmington Canal Aqueduct
• Grave of Gettysburg Casualty William Whitney Goodell
• Riverfront Park Boathouse
• Connecticut Freedom Trail
• The David Smith Bridge
• Wadsworth Antheneum
• Southwest Cemetery
• The Polish Plate
• Ferry Grill & Chill
• The Print Hub
• Lacrosse Unlimited
• Ellington Agway
• Jefferson Fry Co.
• Hartford History Center Suffragist Sculpture
• Windsor Locks Canal Irish Workers Monument
• Utsav Indian Cuisine
• Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
• Madeline Regan Preserve
• Frontier Airlines at Bradley
• Munson's Chocolates Factory Shoppe
• Connecticut River Valley Wildlife Museum
• Lobster Craft
• Center Springs Park
• MLK Monuments
• The Connecticut Historical Society

2021 and earlier

• The Bridge At Bolton Notch
• Civil War Drum
• Civil War Powder Keg
• Mile 4, Manchester Road Race
• The West Hartford Armory
• The Capitol's Nooks and Crannies
• Wickham Park Aviary
• 55 West Main, New Britain
• Bottle and Can Redemption Centers
• The Dodd Center for Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• The 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• Golden Irene Restaurant
• Avery's Soda
• Petersen Flower Farm
• R Dee Winery
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• Cedar Knob Restaurant & Banquets
• UConn Dairy Bar
• Topstone Golf Course
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Foster Hill Farm
• Emma Hart Willard Birthplace
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Just Be Salon
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Francesco's Ristorante
• The Modern Milkman
• Cotton Hollow Kitchen
• Fearless Cards, Toys and Collectibles
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• Southwood Antiques & Marketplace
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner
• Powder Mill Barn
• At the Dam
• Lena's Restaurant
• The Genius of Connecticut
• The Notch
• LuAnn's Bakery
• Ecker Hill Disc Golf Course
• The Kona Ice Truck
• Olympia Diner
• Mountain Dairy
• Anthony Jacks Wood-Fired Grill
• Pabs African Restaurant
• Henry's Pizzeria
• South Windsor Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Country Butcher
• Aby's Bakery
• Liberty Street Market & Deli
• Wilderness Lake Campground and Resort
• Time Machine toy and hobby store
• Paul Gregory's Bistro Cafe
• The Scoop
• Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District
• Faddy's Donuts and Ice Cream
• Riverfront Miniature Golf & Ice Cream
• The Historic Babcock Tavern
• High Grade Finishing
• Craig's Kitchen
• Sikorsky S-16 Bi-Plane Fighter
• Navy ZNP-K Airship Control Car
• Rosedale Farms & Vineyards
• Nathan Hale Homestead
• Burke Ridge Farms
• Necker's Toyland
• Civil War Monument at Mt. Hope Cemetery
• Gene Pitney Memorial Benches
• Joe McCluskey/Manchester Road Race Statue
• Samuel Field Knight Historic Marker
• Carol's Lunchbox
• Country Casuals
• Country Cobbler
• Beau's Burger Shack
• Daniel Glazier Tavern
• Mount Southington Ski School
• Awards & More
• Marquis de Lafayette Monument
• The Little Red Store
• River Bend Bookshop
• Gerry's Donuts
• Traveler Restaurant
• First Decorated Christmas Tree
• The Stanley-Whitman House
• Vernon's Santa House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• Old Country Banquet Hall
• Brazilian Gula Grill
• Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop
• Congregational Church of Burlington labyrinth
• Noah Webster House
• The Bushnell's Green Room Wall
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant