The stone bridge in Beardsley Park, Bridgeport CT: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsLet’s face it. While New Haven can hold its own, and the Litchfield hills drift away from the metropolis that is New York City, the Fairfield region is often flatly described as a bedroom community for NYC commuters. That makes it different from most other New England regions, but for all that, it’s still our own.
The region hosts the state’s three largest cities, Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk, and being so near to NYC, you can bet that you’ll find upscale everything, including shops, restaurants and entertainment. From the coastline to the interior, there is significant money here. It is not nicknamed “The Gold Coast” for nothing.
That means, of course, that it’s a place worth visiting. Top attractions include the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk and the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. Downtown Stamford is a favorite place for shopping, dining, and enjoying art and culture, including an outdoor concert series. In Westport, catch a performance at the renowned Westport Country Playhouse. Explore art and science at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, or delve into the history of aviation at the National Helicopter Museum in Stratford. Stroll the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens in Stamford or check out the Glass House in New Canaan.
There’s room here for nature as well. Some of the best hiking and nature trails are the Connecticut Audubon Society sanctuaries through the region, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, and Montgomery Pinetum Park in Greenwich. The interior countryside offers pick-your-own farms, and of course you can always get out on the water or hit one of the many beaches on the coast.
So think about a visit to the Fairfield region – and while you’re there, consider slipping into NYC afterward for a Broadway show (did I say that out loud?
