50 Great Things To Do in Connecticut includes off-the-beaten-track fun

Ambler Hosts Farm Fun Year-Round

Ambler Farm, at 257 Hurlbutt Street in Wilton is a 200-year-old farm now managed as a working farm, educational resource, and open space for the public. People are welcome to drop in any time to walk, visit the animals, stop by the farm stand, spread a picnic. Adults and kids can watch the sheep-shearing; learn to knit and do other traditional crafts; enjoy the maple syrup harvest; and much more. Annual special events include Ambler Farm Day, Valentine’s Tea, and the Summertime Barbecue. New events are in the works. Open every day of the year from dawn to dusk. Phone: 203-834-1143.

Aquarium Unveils Life of the Oceans

Making connections with sharks, seals, otters, jellies, sea turtles and other animals from Long Island Sound inspires and delights visitors to the Maritime Aquarium at 10 North Water Street in Norwalk. Year-round study cruises take visitors right into the sound to experience animals in their own environment. Changing exhibits, special events, two hands-on touch tanks and an IMAX theater with its six-story-tall screen ensure every aquarium visit is fun and educational, too. Hours: daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., (closing is 6 p.m. in July and August.) Phone: 203-852-0700.

Artwork Down on the Farm

Weir Farm National Historic Site on Nod Hill Road in Wilton is one of two national historic sites that preserves and displays a place for the visual arts. (The other is the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, New Hampshire.) From 1882 to 2005, Weir Farm was the home and workplace of three generations of painters, starting with J. Alden Weir. Visitors today can view the Weir home and studios, take guided walks of stone walls and painting trails, and enjoy the rotating art exhibits. The grounds are open year-round; hours at the Visitor Center vary seasonally. Phone: 203-761-9945

Bees, Hawks, and Other Wild Sights

The Audubon Center at 613 Riversvile Road in Greenwich offers indoor and outdoor fun by people who are experts on nature and wildlife. The 295-acre sanctuary has miles of trails near a hardwood forest, fields, a lake, streams and ponds, stone walls, and homestead buildings. If the weather invites you indoors, the Kimberlin Nature Education Center building has many entrancing exhibits. Other offerings at the education center include the Kiernan Hall Nature Art Gallery with its wildlife viewing window and honey bee hive exhibit, and a Nature Gift Store. The center serves as the site for the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch and is a prime location to view the fall migration of raptors. Phone: 203-869-5272

Bijou Is Back

The Bijou Theatre , opened in 1909 at 275 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport amid public excitement over the new silent movies, went dark in 1996. But the lights came back up in September 2011 when the theater’s restoration was completed. The Bijou Theatre is a multi–functional venue hosting film, theater, art, comedy, music, and cabaret. Schedule for 2012 includes “Sing Your Song” with Harry Belafonte; Yesteryear with hits of the doo wop era; Super Funny Comedy Show; “Bands, Beads, Bijou”; Tommy Femia; “Becoming Judy Garland”; Comedy with John Mulrooney and Paul Virzi; Blue Jupiter; “An Irish Tale” told by world class tenors; "Shut Up, Sit Down, and Eat"; Mia Fanali and Steve D’Agostino.. Phone: 203-332-3228.

Cabaret and Off-Broadway at the Fairfield Theatre

Fairfield Theatre Company is a place to watch for an astounding variety of live stage entertainment. Since the company's Stage One location opened at 70 Sanford Street in Fairfield, Fairfield Theatre Company has presented over 200 performances of eight theatrical plays directly from their original Off Broadway runs. It's sister venue is the Klein Auditorium in Bridgeport. Among the performers slated to appear in 2012 are Foreigner, Tab Benoit, John Mayall, Lucy Kapinsky, Shawn Colvin, Loudon Wainwright, Dar Williams, and many more. The theater also hosts a periodic cabaret series. Phone: 203-259-1036.

Connecticut Art Trail: Fairfield Region

Here is a project that can keep you busy year-round: explore the 15 world-class museums and historic sites that comprise the Connecticut Art Trail. The trail meanders among historic sites, bucolic farms, art studios and artists' houses to grand and modern art museums in vibrant downtowns. The trail includes a feature called Trail Getaways that presents recommended itineraries along with helpful suggestions for nearby places to visit and dine. In the Farifield region, the trail includes Bruce Museum in Greenwich, the Bush-Holley Historic Site in Cos Cob/Greenwich, the Weir Farm National Historic Site in Wilton/Ridgefield, and the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk.

Contraptions A to Z!

Contraptions are fun for people of all ages (case in point: the Rube Goldberg foundation for the the game Mousetrap). The traveling exhibit, Contraptions A to Z, at the Discovery Museum & Planetarium at 4450 Park Avenue in Bridgeport reveals the fascinating mechanisms with a playful approach. Twenty-six mechanical devices embody a different letter of the alphabet, Antique Apple Peelers, the Berserko Ball Bouncer, Cuckoo Cuckoo Clock, the Drum Machine, the Emu’s Egg Engulf the Egg Scale, the Frog Flinging Frypan Flips Flapjacks Faultlessly, Gear Gizmos, and the rest of the alphabet all the way to the Zebras Zooming Zanily in a Zooetrope! Lots of fun for young visitors and their grownup friends, too! This visiting exhibit is on display through March 4, 2012. Open daily except Mondays. Phone: 203-372-3521.

Dairy Treats Served
With Moo-sical Entertainment

Stew Leonard's , with stores in Norwalk, Danbury, and Newington, is a dairy store and more. Offerings include wine, cheese, meats, produce, fish and a packed calendar of cooking events. Other attractions at Stew Leonard's are its milk processing plant, costumed characters, scheduled entertainment, petting zoo, and other fun for children. A favorite entertainment for younger visitors is the Farm Fresh Five, a band of state-of-the-art animatronics that that entertains the kids while adults shop. Phone: Norwalk, 203-847-7214; Danbury, 203-790-8030; Newington, 860-760-8100.

Fairfield Museum Offers a Window Into History

Fairfield Museum and History Center at 370 Beach Road in Fairfield is a place to explore the history of this community, through the lens of world wars to ordinary daily life. The museum offers exhibition galleries, a special collection library, a family education center, an 80-seat theater overlooking Fairfield’s Town Green, and a museum shop. A current exhibit, Landscape of Change, tells the story of Fairfield’s identity across 375 years, from the late period of Native American occupation to the mid-20th century. Other exhibits have looked at baseball in America, Fairfield during World War II, and the stories behind everyday language and objects. Open daily except for major holidays. Phone: 203-259-1598

Sports in All Seasons

The SportsCenter of Connecticut on River Road in Shelton doesn’t give a darn about the weather. This covered and weather-protected facility offers a golf practice range, 18-hole miniature golf course, baseball and softball batting cages, laser tag arena, bowling, and the world’s only double-decker ice arena. You like sports? Now, inclement weather doesn’t need to slow you down. Phone: 203-929-6500.

Stamford Is Ripe for Antique Shopping

Stamford, just a hop and a jump from the New York border, is a beehive of antiques stores, and a place where antiques lovers could get lost and put a grave dent in the checkbook. Among the places that are named in the upper strata of Stamford antiques shops are the Accessory Store on Jefferson Street; Harbor View Center For Antiques on Jefferson Street; Mid Century Antiques on Pacific Street; Greenwich Living Antiques-Design on Canal Street; Hamptons Antique Galleries on Canal Street; Hiden Galleries on John Street; Connecticut Antiques Center on Canal Street; and John Street Antiques Center.

This Old House (And the Stuff Inside)

United House Wrecking in Stamford opened in 1954 as a demolition business, salvaging doors, mantles, stained glass, and other valuable structures. The store became a haven for unusual items and later expanded to include the entire contents of homes. Now, 50 years later, the business is Connecticut's largest source of antiques and home décor, with a huge collection of architectural salvage, furniture, antiques and reproductions. Also a new 6,500-square-foot Design Center.

Treasures From the Past

With about 200 antiques dealers under one roof, the Stratford Antique Center on Honeyspot Road is a place where antiques buffs can become blissfully lost. The center is located off I-95 in Stratford and is locally known as the “big blue building.” It houses 16,500 square feet of antiques and collectibles. Whatever you are looking for in antiques or collectibles you can probably find it here. Browsers will enjoy the numerous dealer floor spaces and lighted display cases. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except holidays. Phone: 203-378-7754

Atheneum is a Trove of Outstanding Artwork

Wadsworth Atheneum, at 600 Main Street in Hartford, America's oldest public art museum, is an imposing castle-like structure containing more than 45,000 works of art. It has a refurbished sculpture garden and a collection of many fine paintings of the Hudson River School of art, and works by Dalí, Caravaggio, and Miró. Major art patrons have endowed the collections Meissen and Sèvres porcelain, English silver, and American furniture. And the staff continues to schedule new exhibitions, lectures, tours, performances, films, and family events. Open daily except Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays. Phone: 860-278-2670.

Aviation History and Artifacts
Are Great Fun for Airplane Buffs

The New England Air Museum at 36 Perimeter Road at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks is New England’s largest aviation museum. It houses more than 80 aircraft and an extensive collection of engines, instruments, aircraft parts, uniforms and personal memorabilia. Within this collection are the last remaining four-engine American flying boat, the Sikorsky VS-44A; a B-29 Bomber; the Silas Brooks Balloon Basket (1870), the oldest surviving aircraft in the United States; the Bunce-Curtiss Pusher (1912); the Sikorsky S-39; and a Kaman K-225 helicopter. The museum hosts lots of special events, many of them welcoming to children interested in the history of aviation. This is a great stop for families. Open daily, year-round. Phone: 860-623-3305.

Big News for Science Guys and Gals

Fly to Mars. Forecast a blizzard. Test your own inventions. Harvest solar energy. Control your brainwaves. Construct wind turbines. Live in 4D. This is a list of experiments you can learn and try at the brand-new Connecticut Science Center on Columbus Boulevard in Hartford. A visit to the Center is a high-impact learning experience in a green, clean, bright, and stimulating environment. Adults and children alike will find entertainment and educational value in hands-on, engaging, and exciting exhibits and programs that emphasize current science and science you can use every day. Open year-round. Phone: 860-SCIENCE

Colts and Quilts in Connecticut History

Detailed exhibits on important facets of Connecticut history man be found at the Museum of Connecticut History at 231 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. The museum focuses on Connecticut's government, military, and industrial history. Among the many interesting exhibits are the Mitchelson Coin Collection, showing American coins from the 17th-century to the present; the Colt Firearm Collection, from a business that helped make Connecticut a major center of firearms manufacturing throughout the 19th and 20th centuries; the Freedom Trail Quilt Collection; and an explanation of the history of Connecticut’s Charter Oak. Open daily except Sundays. Phone: 860-757-6535.

Great Theater at Goodspeed

This historic Victorian theater overlooking the Connecticut River is a beauty, and that is just the start. Home to the original productions of “Man of La Mancha,” “Shenandoah,” and “Annie,” and recipient of two special Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in the musical theater, the Goodspeed Opera House at 6 Main Street in East Haddam is world renowned as the home of the American musical. The work is professional, quick, and wonderfully entertaining. In 2012 patrons can look forward to "Mame," "Carousel," "Something's Afoot," and "The Great American Mousical.” Phone: 860-873-8668.

Home Decorating Is Easy and Unique
With Accents of Folk Art

Visit the Ten Thousand Villages store at 967C Farmington Avenue in West Hartford to browse and purchase beautiful folk art, ceramics, textiles, baskets, jewelry, wall hangings and wall art, pillows, rugs, mirrors, vases, incense, candleholders, and furniture handmade by artists in developing parts of the world. Each product reflects the traditions and cultures of its maker. Enjoy the international music, smell the aroma of gourmet coffee, and taste the luxuriously rich chocolate. Your fair trade purchase of handmade jewelry, home decor and gifts helps improve the lives of thousands of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Phone: 860-233-5470.

Kloter Knows Wooden Furniture

Fine furniture from beautiful wood is artwork that lives around us throughout daily lives. Kloter Farms at 216 West Road in Ellington is a family-owned enterprise that started in 1980 as a horse and carriage hobby and then moved into construction of storage buildings then into fine hardwood furniture made in the workbench tradition. The workmanship is outstanding, and the range of products is wide: from gazebos to furniture to children’s playhouses and playscapes. Many items – from jewelry boxes to quilt racks to lazy Susans, make great gifts. Open daily except Sundays. Phone: 860-871-1048.

Mmm-m-m-m Munson’s

Anyone with a taste for chocolate will tell you: Munson’s makes the best. This family company has been making fine candy since the end of World War II. Munson’s has the whole range of chocolate varieties – even sugar-free – and plenty of Valentine hearts for the season of romance. Here’s a neat gift idea: the company can wrap milk chocolate bars with a custom message. The minimum order size is 24 bars, so you can remind your sweetie of your devotion with chocolate bars to dole out through the year. Munson’s home store is in Bolton, with nine more retail shops throughout the state.

The Great(est) American Writer

The Mark Twain House & Museum at 351 Farmington Avenue in Hartford recognizes Samuel Clemens's (Mark Twain’s) role as one of our nation’s foremost literary icons and his ongoing influence on American culture. The Mark Twain House & Museum’s collection contains 16,000 artifacts, the main one being the historic home of Samuel L. Clemens, which has been meticulously restored. The collection also includes pieces that originally belonged to the Clemens family; other period pieces of decorative and fine arts and domestic artifacts; and popular culture artifacts that display interpretations of Mark Twain’s image, work and characters; and material relating to the work and style of the original architects and decorators of the Twain House. Phone: 860-247-0998.

Wadsworth Is a Jewel on the State Art Trail

Here is a project that can keep you busy year-round: explore the 15 world-class museums and historic sites that comprise the Connecticut Art Trail. The trail meanders among historic sites, bucolic farms, art studios and artists' houses to grand and modern art museums in vibrant downtowns. The trail includes a feature called Trail Getaways that presents recommended itineraries along with helpful suggestions for nearby places to visit and dine. In the Hartford / Central region, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford.

All the Colors of the Garden
Can Be Found at White Flower Farm

Known by gardeners everywhere as a mail order house offering the best-quality bulbs and flowers, White Flower Farm at 167 Litchfield Road in the town of Litchfield also has a retail store (open from April through October) that welcomes gardeners and browsers. The store is surrounded by five acres of display gardens, open to the public free of charge. Friendly and knowledgeable garden advisers are on hand to assist customers, and other staff members will gladly pause to answer questions if you see them working in the borders. You’ll find a Self-Guided Walking Tour brochure at the visitors’ center to help you find specimen trees, specific borders, and other points of interest. With advance notice, the store can usually accommodate guided tours for large groups. Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., from April through October. Phone: 800-503-9624.

American Craftsmanship in the
Shadow of the Berkshires

During the past 21 years, Heron American Craft Gallery at 16 Main Street in Kent has become a destination for people who are searching out the dynamic, ever changing work of American crafts. This shop presents an explosion of color, wit, and whimsy in the form of unusual playthings, ceramics, jewelry, glass work, sculpture, rugs, and clothing. This shop in the foothills of the Berkshires honors the spirit of handmade goods. Come for the best in contemporary crafts, music, and just plain fun. Open daily 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Phone: 860-927-4804.

Antique Victorian Sleighs Wait
to Whisk You Through the Woods

The pretty fields and towns of the Litchfield region could have been designed for winter sleigh rides, complete with lap robes, harness bells, and a top-hatted driver. Wood Acres Farm in Terryville has 25 acres of wooded trails, sleighs, and teams of draft horses to take you over the river and through the woods. Particularly for Valentine’s season, couples may want to snuggle under a nice warm blanket and enjoy a ride on a private horse-drawn Victorian sleigh. For details and reservations, call 860-583-8670. Also, in the town of Norfolk, Loon Meadow Farm hosts rides on a two-passenger antique surrey sleigh, drawn by a single horse or a larger sleigh drawn by two horses for up to 10 adults. A steaming cup of hot mulled cider awaits you at the end of the ride. Phone: 860-542-6085.

Art Deco and Great Programming
Make Warner Theatre a Must-See

In 2002, thousands of people gathered celebrate the gala reopening of the Warner Theatre at 68 Main Street in Torrington.The lobby’s eye-popping art deco designs, murals, rich mahogany, and vintage etched glass chandeliers are gorgeous, just as when the theater opened in 1931. Highlights of the 2012 season include music by the United States Air Force Jazz Ensemble, Impact, Capitol Steps, Merle Haggard, and the plays "Witness for the Prosecution," "Gypsy," Annie," and more. Phone: 860-489-7180.

Awake the Artist Within

Are you for a unique experience with friends or family? It takes only a little bit of advance planning to take advantage of a wonderful offering from the Brookfield Craft Center at 286 Whisconier Road in Brookfield. If you want to dip your toe into a new hobby or art form, Brookfield will set up a class or workshop to your specifications – for a half-day mini-workshop to a five-day adventure. You could study black smithing and blade smithing, ceramics, fiber arts, glassmaking, jewelry making, or wood turning. Contact Brookfield Craft Center to discuss the possibilities. Phone: 203-775-4526.

Award-Winning Wines Come with a View

Set among the Litchfield hills in Goshen, Sunset Meadow Vineyards is one of the newest additions to the Connecticut Wine Trail. Take a visit to the vineyard’s tasting room, where you can sip on Sunset Meadow’s own award-winning Sunset Blush inside a restored 19th Century barn, complete with estate antiques and original hand-cut wooden beams. The vineyards span over 40 acres of picturesque hillside. Relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery — it isn’t called “Sunset Meadow” for nothing. The Tasting Room is open year-round but days and hours vary by season, so call ahead. Phone: 860-201-4654.

Come Tube With Me!

The question we have about snow tubing is, “What took so long?” The sport is simple, and a blast. Just hop onto an inflated tube and slide down the hill. Best of all there are now lifts to take you back up to do it all over again. This is great fun for little ones, as well as the over-grown kid in all of us. Woodbury Ski Area at 785 Washington Road Woodbury has 15 snow tubing runs offering almost a mile of tubing trails, three parks, and four lifts. It is the largest snow tubing destination in Connecticut, and the closest to New York City. Trails are lighted for night use. Phone: 203-263-2203.

Connecticut Art Trail Reveals
Contemporary Work in Litchfield

Here is a project that can keep you busy year-round: explore the 15 world-class museums and historic sites that comprise the Connecticut Art Trail. The trail meanders among historic sites, bucolic farms, art studios and artists' houses to grand and modern art museums in vibrant downtowns. The trail includes a feature called Trail Getaways that presents recommended itineraries along with helpful suggestions for nearby places to visit and dine. In the Litchfield region, the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield and Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center in Waterbury.

Cool Tunes and Comedy at the Bridge

The summer of 2012 will bring the second year of operations for the new Bridge Street Live, an art deco style club and restaurant at 41 Bridge Street in Collinsville. The club’s bar room, lounge, and huge wrap-around decks overlook the Farmington River and Sweetheart Mountain. Lots of cool, live entertainment is scheduled for the months ahead at this concert venue and comedy club. Collinsville is an antiquated turn-of-the-century industrial village that has been revitalized and now supports many activities and artists. In 2009, Arthur Frommer named it “one of the top 10 coolest towns in America.” Phone: 860-693-9762.

Farming, Art, and Cookery Combined

Hunt Hill Farm , at 44 Upland Road in New Milford is the unique result of a life-long collaboration between the late Skitch Henderson, an artist, and his wife Ruth. The heart of two historic farms, Hunt Hill Farm has seen activity for almost 300 years, but it has been the home of Ruth & Skitch Henderson since 1968. Now, the property is the Henderson Cultural Center, which comprises an art museum, a gallery, a land preserve of more than 130 acres of farmland and woodland, ten historic buildings associated with these classic New England farms, and the Silo Store and Cooking School. It is a beautiful place to visit, explore, take classes, and breath in the loveliness of a historic farm property. Phone: 860-355-0300.

Fresh Food, Music, and More at a Winter Farmers Market

The Litchfield Hills Farm Fresh Market – a winter farmer’s market -- got up and running just before Halloween and it will continue to operate indoors throughout the winter at Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Road, Litchfield on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You don’t need to wait ‘til spring or summer to enjoy farm-fresh food. Products range from dairy to bee products and from grass-fed beef to lip balm. Live music, guest artists and/or demonstrations complimentary to the market atmosphere and the mission are presented.

Garden Pottery With Antiquated Inspiration

The potter Guy Wolff is highly respected by people who love fine craftsmanship. Wolff says he is inspired by at 18th and 19th century English flowerpots and centuries old Asian vases. His pottery for use in the garden is sold and collected widely. He works and operates a showroom at a renovated 1740 house at 1249 Bantam Road, 1.1 miles west of Bantam on Route 202. Phone: 860-567-5577.

Giddy-Up and Around We Go

The New England Carousel Museum at 95 Riverside Avenue (Route 72) in Bristol, acquires, restores and preserves carousels, that wonderful work of folk art and public entertainment that reached its creative peak in the early part of the 20th century. The museum hosts exhibits and special events, particularly for children, and invites the public to visit the studio of its master restorer. Open daily, year-round, except the months of January and February and except for major holidays. Open during local school holidays. Phone: 860-585-5411.

Space Out With Your Family

Volunteers from the John J. McCarthy Observatory on Danbury Road in New Milford have built a scale model solar system that spans six miles. Each bronze planet is on a base accompanied by an informational sign and brass symbol. Children may pick up a passport at the New Milford Library that contains directions for locating the planets, pages for rubbings of the symbols, and more information about the planets. After completing the 13 rubbings, explorers can return to the library for a solar system explorer stamp. It’s a great family activity that takes about two hours to complete. Phone: 860-354-1595.

Western End of Connecticut Is
a Hotbed of Great Antiques

The Litchfield region is a magnet for antiques and the people who cherish them. Here is just a sampling of places to visit on an antique hunt through Litchfield: Gardenalia in Falls Village, offering outdoor fountains, birdbaths, statuary, and sundials (860-824-0020); EuroSource Antiques & Fine Leather in Bantam, selling European and Asian antique and reproduction furniture and accessories (860-567-4714); Jennings & Rohn Antiques in Woodbury, with English, Continental and American furniture of the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries (203-263-3775; Toll House Antiques in Bantam, selling furniture, stoneware, kitchenware, clocks, primitives (860-567-3130; and many more.

Winter Wine Trail Will Tempt You
Through the Litchfield Hills

Do you drink wine only in the summer? Then why should you taste wine only in the summer? Come see what the local vineyards have to offer in the winter, and they will heat up the afternoon for you. Visit the six participating wineries on the Litchfield Hills Winter Wine Trail between January 1 and March 30, 2012, and be entered into a grand prize drawing. Pick up a registration card at a participating winery and use is as your guide through the trail. Participating vineyards and wineries include DiGrazia Vineyards (Brookfield), Jerram Winery (New Hartford), Haight-Brown Vineyard (Litchfield), Hopkins Vineyard (New Preston), Miranda Vineyard (Goshen) and Sunset Meadow Vineyards (Goshen). Information: 860-201-4654.

A Paradise for Serious Cooks

One fine way to soothe and encourage the gourmet cook in your family is through a gift-buying trip to Weekend Kitchen at 6 North Main Street in Essex. Founders David and Nancy Smith have created a shopping environment that is beautiful, eclectic, and old worldly. The cookware and kitchenware is a mix of traditionally styled and often hand crafted items along with more contemporary design oriented products. The shop’s faux finished walls, serene mural, and antique fixtures create an inviting setting in which to shop for yourself or a special gift. Come find everything from sculpted copper coffee scoops to panini pans. Phone: 860-767-1010.

Airborne Eagles Make This a Soaring Expedition

Connecticut Audubon Society sponsors a boat tour to view eagles wintering along the Connecticut River aboard the RiverQuest, which departs from Eagle Landing State park in Haddam. On a cruise aboard RiverQuest, you will the beauty and solitude of the lower Connecticut River, home to dozens of migrating bald eagles, occasional golden eagles and harbor seals. A naturalist will talk about eagle biology and ecology, and point out other wintering birds and wildlife that may be seen on this cruise. RiverQuest has a fully enclosed heated cabin, but dress warmly because you will want to be outside for most of the journey observing our wintering wildlife up close. Bring a snack with you or enjoy lunch before or after the cruise at the Griswold Inn or The Black Seal. Cruises take place weekends and Thursdays from February 11 to March 13, 2012. Phone: 860-662-0577.

Art Trail Is Rich with Stops in Mystic Region

Here is a project that can keep you busy year-round: explore the 15 world-class museums and historic sites that comprise the Connecticut Art Trail. The trail meanders among historic sites, bucolic farms, art studios and artists' houses to grand and modern art museums in vibrant downtowns. The trail includes a feature called Trail Getaways that presents recommended itineraries along with helpful suggestions for nearby places to visit and dine. In the Mystic region, the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, the William Benton Museum of Art in Mansfield/Storrs, the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, and the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain.

Beauty, History of Connecticut River
on Display at This Museum

If you are drawn to the Connecticut River by the beauty of its unspoiled marshlands, the Connecticut River Museum on Main Street in Essex offers an exceptional vantage point in all seasons. From its docks you can see bald eagles, migratory birds, and a wide variety of waterfowl. The tidal wetlands that surround the Museum are an environmental treasure. The family-friendly exhibits are filled with art and artifacts that link the river’s stories to our lives today. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 860-767-8269.

Birds in Abundance

Among its other virtues as a hiking and lookout site, Bluff Point State Park off Depot Road in Groton is a rich resource for bird watchers. Many shorebirds can be seen year round. Along the loop trail watch for various shore birds in the river, mudflats and salt marsh. The tangles of vines along the trail and the beach are other fruitful places to view many species. In the fall American pipits are common and in the winter the Ipswich race of the savannah sparrow is sometimes seen, as well as an occasional snowy owl. Various grebes, cormorants, gulls and ducks are often seen from the bluff. Phone: 860-444-7591

Coffee and Tea, and the Music Is Free

Bean & Leaf, at 13 Washington Street in the historic waterfront district of New London opened its doors as a bright, relaxing and welcoming place to enjoy exquisite coffees and teas. It has evolved into a roost in this beautiful old downtown for people who enjoy those beverages, along with conversation, light-and-healthy food, and excellent, free music. Comfortable seating, including some couches, is just right to enjoy live music almost nightly, including a jazz combo on Mondays and finger-picking acoustic guitar on Fridays. No cover to enjoy the music! Menu includes juices, salads and soups, bean dishes, toasted sandwiches, pitazzas, chips and dips. It is just what a classic coffee house should be. Open daily until 10 p.m.; Sundays until 8 p.m. New London's Historic Waterfront District is a hub of art, music, and design venues, unusual boutiques, and 30 eateries in a 26-block National Register Historic District. Phone: 860-701-0000.

Fashion That Inspires

Tova’s Vintage Shop, at 1330 Boston Post Road, on the Connecticut shoreline in Old Saybrook is a trove of fashion rom the late 1800's to the 1970's. Beautiful dresses, sweaters, skirts, jewelry, handbags and accessories. This vintage shop has been named "Best Retro Duds" by Yankee Magazine, and "Best Vintage Shop" by New England Travel and Life ( Boston Magazine). Don’t hesitate; a 1950s Christian Dior dress in perfect condition is waiting to go home with you. Phone: 860-395-1955.

First Nations

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, which is the world's largest Native American museum, offers experiences for young and old, from life-size dioramas that transport visitors into the past to changing exhibits and live performances of contemporary arts. Four acres of permanent exhibits depict 18,000 years of Native and natural history, while two libraries offer materials on the histories and cultures of all Native peoples of the continent. The museum is located on Pequot Trail in Ledyard, near the Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Phone: 800-411-9671

History of the Textile Mills in Willimantic

The Windham Textile and History Museum , located in the former home of the American Thread Company at 411 Main Street in Willimantic,, preserves the history of the textile industry and how it affected the economy, culture, and lives of New England people from the 1800s to the present. Nineteenth century working conditions were often harsh in America’s mills. Later, advanced technological change and labor unrest roiled life in the textile mills. This museum displays the workplaces and the people whose lives centered upon the textiles of New England. Guided tours on Sunday at 2 p.m.; self-guided tours during hours of operation. Hours of Operation: Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: 860-377-7755.

Home of “Impulsive Necessities”

Winner of numerous bests-in-Connecticut and readers’ choice awards, the Bowerbird gift shop at 46 Halls Road in Old Lyme declares itself a prime source for “impulsive necessities.” With 4,500 square feet of impulsive necessities from 2,000 vendors, the vast selection of great gifts here just has to satisfy the majority of any gift-giving list. The merchandise, all of it fun, trendy, and useful, includes decorative home and garden accessories, toys, baby gifts, stationery, jewelry, gourmet food. This is a great browsing and shopping stop during a trip to this lovely seaside town. Phone: 860-434-3562.

Olde Mistick Village Adds
Nostalgia to Shopping Fun

Olde Mistick Village, on Coogan Blvd. in Mystic, just off Exit 90 of I-95, is a quirky but really fun place to shop, especially as the Christmas season approaches. It is an open-air shopping center set up to resemble a Colonial village, complete with duck ponds, a waterwheel and replica of a steepled New England meetinghouse, where performances and special events take place. Visitors can wander along brick pathways to our more than 40 stores that sell exceptional gift items from the world over. The meeting house and Victorian gazebo host performances of musicians, dancers, and storytellers free of charge, will bring back the nostalgia of yesteryear. Lots of seasonal events include a fest of lights at Christmas and egg hunts at Easter. Open daily, year-round. Phone: 860-536-4941.

Shopping for All Tastes

As you approach the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, the sleek profile of the high-rise buildings with their jaunty, jagged roofline is a clue that you are in for something bold and uninhibited. Inside the casino, you’re sure of it. Whether or not you gamble, the Sun is a jaw-dropping wonderland of design, architecture, entertainment, dining, and … shopping. The main concourse is packed jaw-to-jaw with an unusual array of shops, from major brands in outdoor wear at Trailblazer to lavish cut crystal jewelry at Swarovski to Fisher Price toys. Even if you leave your plastic in your pocket, you will still enjoy the spectacle.

Touching the Titanic

“Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below,” a new exhibit at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, opening April 12, 2012, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the famous ship. The exhibit is a collaboration between oceanographic explorer Dr. Robert Ballard and Tim Delaney, a former Walt Disney designer. Bringing the legendary vessel’s timeless history to life, “Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below” captivates minds with a glowing iceberg that is cold to the touch, a bi-level adventure area inspired by Titanic’s engine room, hands-on experiences that unfold Titanic’s lingering mysteries, and modern deep-sea technology that led to Titanic’s eventual discovery. Phone: 860-572-5955.

Winery Offers the Best
of California and Connecticut

Located in the beautiful small town of North Stonington, Jonathan Edwards Winery, at 74 Chester Maine Road, is situated on a 48-acre hilltop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Jonathan Edwards creates premium California and Connecticut wines to highlight each coast’s climate. The two diverse product lines complement each other and allow guests to sample delicious wines that showcase what each area is known for. Wine lovers are welcome to stop in, taste the wines, tour the winery and vineyards, enjoy a picnic, and browse the gift shop for wine items and local treats. Each season in the vineyard has its own unique charm. Phone: 860-535-0202.

Winter Landscape Unveiled During a Sleigh Ride

With steel runners below you, horses in harness in front, and heavy lap robes on top, you are ready for a winter sleigh ride – one of the most memorable of all New England winter adventures. Cedar Knoll Farm in Lisbon hosts sleigh rides through the countryside. Cedar Knoll offers hay wagons drawn by horses with a capacity to carry up to a dozen riders. The more traditional sleigh ride with a 19th century sleigh is available for any twosome. These sleigh rides come with warm lap robe and enough jingle bells to put the sound in your mind for days to come. The farm offers the opportunity to host parties in its Party Room, with sleigh rides as the featured event of the day. Whether in intimate couples or as a group, a Connecticut sleigh ride is wonderful winter fun. Phone: 860-376-8110.

315 Species of Coastal Birds, on View Here

The Coastal Center at Milford Point in Milford, operated by the Connecticut Audubon Society, provides hands-on environmental education and outdoor adventures. The center is located on a barrier beach and next to the Charles Wheeler Salt Marsh at the mouth of the Housatonic River. The Coastal Center also provides easy access to Long Island Sound and its tidal salt marshes, barrier beaches, tide pools, and coastal dunes. The center is one of the best spots on the East Coast for bird-watching: 315 species have been seen here. The center has a boardwalk and observation platform and a 70-foot-tall observation tower for panoramic vistas. The Nature Center is open daily except Mondays. Phone: 203-878-7440.

A Bookstore With a Serious Love
of Reading and Writing

R.J. Julia Booksellers at 768 Boston Post Road in Madison opened two decades ago as an independent bookstore whose mission was, and is, to be a place where words matter and where writers meet readers. The store hosts more than 200 events a year. Authors from all over the country visit the store to inspire, educate, and entertain. A knowledgeable staff, opinionated book selections with shelf-talker tags help book lovers find books that are just right for them. Open daily, Phone: 203-245-3959.

A La Carte in the Heart of New Haven

The heart of New Haven’s downtown gets a lot of its soul from the popular and plentiful outdoor food vendors that cluster up on weekdays in the streets and intersections near Yale-New Haven Hospital, the New Haven Green, and Yale University. The cuisine from the food stands spans the globe and it is easy to eat from one hand during a time-out from office or classroom. Favorites include the Caseus Cheese Truck (Depalma Court), the Tijuana Taco Company (Crown Street); Hayama Cart or the Lalibela Cart (Prospect and Sachem streets); the Peking Edo Cart or Jung’s Kimchi Corner or the Ay! Salsa Cart (Cedar and York streets). Along with cumin and chili peppers, variety gives the spice to life. Keep your ears sharp for live music in the warm seasons.

All You Need Now Is a Shove Off the Sofa

The hiking committee of the Sleeping Giant State Park Association has devised a series of guided hikes through this magnificent park throughout 2012. Themes of the hikes are identified, such as Winter Tree Identification Hike, Spring Hikers' Hike (warning: strenuous!), History-of-the-Giant Hike, Spring Earth Day Ceremony and Hike, Spring Wildflower Hike, Early Bird Watchers' Hike, First Annual Beginners' Hike, Geology-of-the-Giant Hike, Fall Foliage Hike, and Holiday Hike and Social. The public is welcome to all hikes. The entrance to Sleeping Giant State Park is opposite Quinnipiac University on Mount Carmel Avenue about one-half mile east of Whitney Avenue (Route 10) in northern Hamden. You can send e-mail to the organization at hike_the_giant@yahoo.com

Always a Hot Spot

Firehouse 12 in New Haven is many things – a recording studio, a full-service bar, a performance space of intimate dimensions (75 seats). And it is loaded with the gritty history of a former city fire house located in the city’s historic Ninth Square District. The performance space is the recording studio - and all performances happen in an acoustically balanced space with stage lighting systems. Live music happens year-round. The bar is the perfect relaxed setting for conversation and a cocktail before or after a trip to one of the excellent restaurants in the neighborhood, or after a live performance. Coming up February 23: Predictable Heart: The Music of Justin Rugg.

Art and Architecture on Foot
at Your Own Pace

The city of New Haven, along with its ivy encampment, Yale University, wants to make it easy for visitors to enjoy the wide variety of public art and fine architecture in the city. A self-guided walking tourof art on the Yale campus is available, stopping at works by Maya Lin, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, and others. Also, the Yale Visitor Center at 149 Elm Street leads free group walking tours of public art at Yale by request; call the Visitor Center (203-432-2300) a week before the requested date. An walking tour of New Haven architecture includes part of the Yale campus, along with Science Hill and the Yale Medical Center. The tour visits buildings by Louis I. Kahn, Paul Rudolph, Cesar Pelli, and Eero Saarinen. On the tour, you can soak in a wide range of architectural styles and see how those styles mesh to create a distinctive city.

Art Museum Trail Focuses on Yale
in the New Haven Region

Here is a project that can keep you busy year-round: explore the 15 world-class museums and historic sites that comprise the Connecticut Art Trail. The trail meanders among historic sites, bucolic farms, art studios and artists' houses to grand and modern art museums in vibrant downtowns. Discover diverse, quality collections rich in history and heritage, including European masterpieces, American Impressionism, ancient art and contemporary culture. The trail includes a feature called Trail Getaways that presents recommended itineraries along with helpful suggestions for nearby places to visit and dine. In the Greater New Haven region the trail includes the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven.

Big Birds, Directly Above

Winter's cold brings dozens of bald eagles down the Connecticut River from Canada in search of ice-free fishing. The Audubon Shop at 907 Boston Post Road in Madison leads popular winter Eagle Watches on the Connecticut River in January and February. Leader Jerry Connolly of The Audubon Shop will help participants spot eagles from a variety of locations on this land-based trip along the shore of the river and will discuss the bird's natural history. Guests will also spot a large variety of wintering birds in addition to the eagles. Dates for Eagle Watch trips in 2012 are scheduled for Saturdays from January 28 to march 3. The watches include lunch at Oliver's Tavern in Essex. Pre-registration is required. Information: 203-245-9056.

Candy With Kitsch

Pez – who hasn’t met this underdog of the candy world? Now you can visit the world of Pez and learn everything about it at the Pez Visitor Center attached to the company’s candy-making facility at 35 Prindle Hill Road in Orange. Four thousand feet of display space is dedicated to all things PEZ! See the most comprehensive collection of PEZ memorabilia on public display in the world, a PEZ motorcycle built by Orange County Choppers, the world's largest PEZ dispenser, the PEZ production area, PEZ trivia game, factory store, and more. Open daily to the public, but call ahead, hours may vary seasonally. Visits are self guided. PEZ provides viewing windows into the production floor, but production is typically not underway during weekends. What a hoot. Phone: 203-298-0201.

Come to Paradise

A recent addition to the Connecticut Wine Trail is the aptly named Paradise Hill Vineyard & Winery at 15 Wind Swept Hill Road in Wallingford. Set among rolling hills and hay fields, Paradise Hill is a small family-owned and -operated vineyard and winery. Its the intimate Tuscan-styled tasting room, with its hand crafted copper bar, decorative chandeliers, and mahogany tables, with views of rolling green hills, is a lovely setting for relaxing and enjoying a fine glass of wine. Featured wines are Cayuga White, Chardonnay, President's Choise, and Vino Blanco de Paradiso. Whether you are spending a day or a weekend on the Wine Trail, or just looking for a afternoon of pleasant tasting, stop here and welcome the new kid on the block. Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11a.m.-6 p.m. Phone: 203-284-0123.

Drive New Haven’s Charmed Shoreline

Set aside a day to drive part of the shoreline of Greater New Haven. This strip of land along Route 1 contains historic homes, stylish restaurants, nature preserves -- all within a few miles of the Long Island Sound. Start on Route 1 in Branford's elegant downtown. Walk around the Green or veer off onto the many hiking or bird watching trails. The scenic Route 146 takes you into Stony Creek, a tiny former fishing village. The Thimble Islands are visible from Stony Creek's harbor. Next up, Guilford has a truly grand town Green, a lengthy, well-shaded block that's lined with charming storefronts. Madison's quiet, walkable downtown includes the much-loved R.J. Julia Booksellers and many other small shops. Outside of town is Hammonasset Beach State Park, Connecticut's largest shoreline park.

Fair Trade Art Makes Great Gifts

Browsing beautiful handmade artwork from all parts of the world is a fun way to find a special gift. Ten Thousand Villages store at 1054 Chapel Street in New Haven presents fair-trade folk art, ceramics, textiles, baskets, jewelry, wall hangings, pillows, rugs, mirrors, vases, incense, candleholders, and furniture by artists in developing world. Each product reflects the traditions of its maker. Enjoy the international music, smell the gourmet coffee, and taste rich chocolate. Your fair trade purchase helps improve the lives of thousands of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Phone: 203-776-0854.

Inside the Mind of an Inventor

The Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop at 915 Whitney Avenue in Hamden honors the inventor of the cotton gin. The museum is an experimental learning workshop for students, teachers, and families. Visitors may take part in experiments that are the roots of design and invention. The museum includes a historic site based on a manufacturing village that Eli Whitney designed. It now includes a covered bridge, a forge, a barn, an armory, a water lab, a factory model, and a gun collection. A fascinating walk through the fundamentals of invention. Open to walk-in guests Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Phone: 203-777-1833.

You Bring Lunch; They'll Supply the Wine

For the folks at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford, producing first-rate wines is clearly a labor of love. Joe and Lucy Gouveia planted their first vines ten years ago and to today visitors can sample wines made from the eight different types of grapes that thrive there. Set on top of a hill overlooking the vineyard, the Winery Building boasts a large stone fireplace, panoramic views, woodlands, and sunsets. Guests are invited to bring their own picnic lunch to enjoy as they sip on Gouveia’s award-winning Stone House Red, Whirlwind Rose, or Oaked Chardonnay. Open Friday to Sundays. Live music Saturday evenings. Phone: 203-265-5526.