Fine old houses line the quiet estuaries of Long Island Sound, built by English and Dutch colonists in the 17th century with profits from the shipbuilding and whaling industries. At Mystic Seaport, actors in period dress reenact scenes of 18th century life, and penguins, beluga whales, sharks and seals amuse and awe at nearby Mystic Aquarium, one of the state's most celebrated attractions. Home to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Coast Guard Museum, the town of New London, founded in 1646, is a departure point for ferries to Long Island and Block Island; families in transit will enjoy shopping and strolling in the revitalized historic downtown waterfront district. On the southern shore of the Sound, state parks provide opportunities for beachcombing, swimming, and fishing, and beautifully restored inns in the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme provide charming and comfortable accommodations. On the Connecticut River, the state capital, Hartford, is worth a stop: visit the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the country's longest continuously operating art museum, ride the carousel at Bushnell Park, and visit the Old State House designed by Charles Bulfinch in 1796 (Bulfinch also designed the U.S. Capitol in Washington and the Massachusetts State House). The Mark Twain House and Museum and adjacent Harriet Beecher Stowe House house educational exhibits about these leading Victorian writers, and period furnishings, paintings, and household items are on view at the elegant Hurlbut-Dunham House and Buttolph-Williams House. In New Haven, home to Yale University, visitors can sample the original 'tomato pie' or American-style pizza at Pepe's restaurant, browse exhibits at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and the Yale University Art Gallery, and wander among English Gothic and Georgian Colonial-style buildings on the Yale campus. A short bus ride or drive away, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos host live acts from Britney Spears to Hall & Oates in lavish resorts where glitzy hotels and expensive restaurants cater to visitors winning and losing at thousands of slot machines and gaming tables. In the northwestern corner of the state, the picturesque town of Litchfield boasts some of the oldest and finest B&Bs in the country, with nearby wineries and skiing providing year-round entertainment.