Mortensen Riverfront Plaza is Hartford's main downtown threshold to the Connecticut River, with terraces, paths, and open space between the city and the water. It is a useful stop because it turns the river from background geography into a place travellers can actually walk to and enjoy.
The plaza works well as part of a downtown loop, especially when paired with the Old State House, the river bridges, or a riverfront event. Outside event times it is a short visit, but it gives Hartford a clearer sense of place.