Acres of Antiques
 

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

All-Weather Sports in All Seasons
 

The Golf Center 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, increment weather doesn’t need to slow you down. Phone: 203-929-6500.

Drama for All Tastes Is Done Right in Westport

The Westport Country Playhouse declares that its mission is to “transform lives through the power of theater.” Clearly, the company aims high, and it also aims to offer a wide variety of pleasures for theater-lovers with many differing tastes. For instance, the 2008 season has included “Scramble!,” a comical tour de force that dives into the insanity of the office lifestyle (July); “Tryst,” a dark thriller about a misbegotten marriage (August); and John Steinbeck’s immortal “Of Mice and Men” (October and November). The Playhouse also has a Classical Series, with plays by Clifford Odets and Noel Coward; Funny Mondays, with readings of funny stuff; and Family Festivities, each with topics and special guests that intrigue and spur the imagination. Check out the details at the Playhouse website. http://www.westportplayhouse.org/

Fins, Flippers, Jellyfish -- What’s Next?

Fish. Sea mammals. Reptiles, then more fish. It’s a fishy world at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, where visitors can examine sharks nose-to-nose, and enjoy close-up visits with seals, river otters, sea turtles, jelly fish, sponges, crabs, sea stars, reptiles and more. Special attention is given to the ecosystem of Long Island Sound. Other entertainments include shows at an IMAX theater, educational cruises, a boat shop, hands-on touch tanks, and a gift shop.

Meet You at the Peacock

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport is a wonderful place to visit; your hosts are more than 300 animals from North and South America. Among the great exhibits are the South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, a prairie dog residence with pop-up viewing areas, a New England Farmyard, and a walk along the hoofstock trail, featuring bison, pronghorn, deer and more. Before you leave grab a bite at the Peacock Café or take a ride on the carousel.

Off-Broadway Is Onstage at Fairfield

Fairfield Theatre Company is a place to watch for an astounding variety of live stage entertainment. Since it opened StageOne in June of 2004, Fairfield Theatre Company has presented over 200 performances of eight theatrical plays directly from their original Off Broadway runs. FTC is also becoming known as an intimate venue for concerts. Among the performers slated to appear in 2008 and 2009 are Capitol Steps, k.d. lang, Zappa Plays Zappa, Bob Weir & RatDog. Idina Menzel, James Naughton & Christine Ebersole, Dark Star Orchestra, The Beach Boys Kokomo Christmas, Art Garfunkel, Will KnoThe theater also hosts a periodic cabaret series, when New York City's cabaret scene hops the train to StageOne to offer a night of stellar entertainment. Phone: 203-259-1036.

Please Don't Awaken the Lions

Enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors on 118 woodland acres at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford. The property includes a New England working farm, hiking trails, picnic area, Nature's playground, boardwalk, galleries for interactive exhibitions with hands-on area for children, two stores, special events, planetarium. Lots of special events, including Spring Family Festival, wine tastings, antique car shows.

Sanctuary Is Home to Birds of Many Feathers (and Species)

Connecticut Audubon Society’s Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield is an intimate natural history museum with its own songbird sanctuary. This family-friendly museum offers first-class natural history programs and exhibits to bird lovers of all ages. Planted in 1914 as a refuge to attract, and harbor migratory and resident birds, the six-acre site has sheltered more than 120 species of birds. A bridge over a pond on the property allows close-up views of the sanctuary and its inhabitants. Visitors can observe a honeybee hive, a collection of African animals, and other changing exhibits, and attend scheduled demonstrations of bird-banding in spring and fall. Phone: 203-259-0416.

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 of Nature; Treasures by Man

The truly beautiful and inspiring Bruce Museum in Greenwich offers a first-class mixture of exhibitions in the arts and sciences. A Connecticut gem’s holdings include 15,000 objects in fine and decorative art, natural history and anthropology. Special features include environmental galleries, a marine touch tank, educational workshops, museum store.

Coffeehouse Concerts and Lots More Fun Await at this Nature Center
 

Located on Lang Road in Windsor, Northwest Park & Nature Center is a 473-acre multi-recreational facility with an interpretive nature center, 12 miles of trails, maple sugaring, a Coffee House Concert Series, gift shop, and more. Among the annual events are a Country Fair, a pancake breakfast, and maple sugaring demonstrations. Ongoing fun on your own schedule can include hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. This is a place where the whole family can enjoy various outdoorsy activities (or even shopping), suitable for every age and taste. Phone: 860-285-1886

Copernican Observatory Will Bring Stars to Your Eyes
 

Stargazers, pay attention. The Copernican Observatory & Planetarium on Stanley Street is on the grounds of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain is home to one of the largest public telescopes in the United States and it hosts special programs for the public throughout year. For planetarium shows, seating is first come, first served. The planetarium is located in Copernicus Hall and there is convenient parking in the Copernicus garage. Phone: 860-832-3399

Covered Bridge Is the Hidden Jewel in This Serene Forest

Comstock Covered Bridge in East Hampton, one of Connecticut’s last remaining covered bridges, crosses the Salmon River and is limited to pedestrian traffic. The bridge is located within the Salmon River State Forest , which covers over 6,000 acres in Hebron, Colchester, East Hampton, and Marlborough. The forest includes the Airline Trail, which follows an old railroad bed and features the 137-foot-high Lyman Viaduct, providing a wonderful view of the Dickenson Creek valley; a handicap accessible fly-fishing area; and a letterbox hike. The hike is less than a quarter of a mile on easy terrain. There is a solitary grave on this forest – a memorial to a soldier. The gravestone is weathering away, but you can still see the soldier’s name, the date, cause of death, and his age.

Eggs Benedict, With Gardens on the Side

The elegant Pond House Cafe in the historic Elizabeth Park in West Hartford has large windows displayed the surrounding beauty of the park in all seasons. Sunday brunch, with its creative menu and lavish layout, is a wonderful weekend entertainment. Brunch offers a al carte ordering in addition to prix fixe for all you can eat, a help to people with smaller appetites. The Hartford Courant says, “Open the doors and step into an oasis of warmth, music, fragrant aromas and adventurous food.”

Furniture for Generations

On a visit to the Marlborough Barn, a shopping village located in an old barn and reproduction New England-style homes in Marlborough, you’ll find high-quality, hand-craft furniture that will stand up – with beauty – through time and use. Thankfully, for the design-impaired, the Barn’s design consultants will help customers in the store or go right to your home for an in-home consultation. Seasonal and special events include decorating for the holidays, making quick and wonderful appetizers, and more.

Houses Where History Was Crafted

Three homes of great historic significance are nestled in Wethersfield, a town of more than 300 historic houses, including 50 built before the American Revolution. The Webb-Deane-Stevens houses sit adjacent to each other and all offer something worthwhile to see. The first house, a three-and-a-half story house where lavish entertaining took place, was where George Washington stayed and planned a joint military campaign with French general Comte de Rochambeau. The residence next door was specially built for a diplomat to France and was used as both his residence and as a power base. The third house depicts Puritan life in New England in the 17th century.

One Tower and a 1,200-Square-Mile View

Walking a one-mile trail through beautiful woods is an easy price to pay for a visit to Heublein Tower, which sits atop Talcott Mountain, a long, precipitous wooded ledge at Talcott Mountain State Park in Bloomfield. The 1,000-foot high promontory provides splendid views of Connecticut, Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and Long Island Sound to the south. Hikers and birdwatchers may encounter a variety of wildlife and May brings out many wildflowers among the rocks.

State History in a Magnificent Landmark

Begin your visit to Hartford with a tour of the Old State House, a 1796 National Historic Landmark and one of the nation’s oldest state houses. Visit the dynamic, 6,800 square foot multi-media exhibit, “History is All Around Us,” which tells the story of Hartford and the importance of history in our lives and experience “Hartford Begins Here: Connecticut’s Old State House,” a fascinating audio tour exploring the magnificent historic room.

Twain's house delights with architectural whimsey

Even if you are not stunned with the thought that this is where Mark Twain wrote his stories about Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and their adventures, you will be captivated by the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, where Twain lived with his family from 1874 to 1891. This elegant Victorian mansion, with interiors by Louis Comfort Tiffany, charms visitors with its whimsy and unpredictability. Simply put, the house is fun to the eye and pleasing to the soul. The Museum Center features a gift shop, cafe, and exhibition galleries.

Uncle Tom's Cabin took shape here

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, part of the Connecticut Freedom Trail and the Connecticut Women's Heritage Trail, is a historic site that includes two enthralling historic houses, a visitor’s center, and a museum shop. Visitors see what life was like in the late 1880s for the woman who became one of the most famous American authors of the 19th century. Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, humanized slavery by telling the stories of individual slaves. You will leave the center with a deeper understanding of the roles of women and African Americans in 19th-century society.

Art of Pewter Says “New England”
 

Few art objects say “New England” more than fine pewter items, and one place to find these is Woodbury Pewter Factory Outlet on Main Street in Woodbury. Woodbury Pewter pieces are available in both traditional and contemporary designs. If you are looking for a gift or a remembrance of your day in western Connecticut, this company creates decorative accessories; tabletop, baby, and holiday items; lamps; mugs; tankards; tableware; candlesticks, tea and coffee services, and hundreds of other items. Woodbury Pewter is all hand-crafted in Connecticut and made from the highest quality, lead-free pewter. The company offers a pewter making demonstration and also sells factory second pieces at reduced prices. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 800-648-2014.

Artistry in Flowers at Sweethaven
 

People who love flowers: please, don’t run and hide just because the weather has turned cool. Sweethaven Farm on Weatogue Road in Salisbury offers flowers and garden-related treasures in every season. The farm calls itself a place to find “garden artistry and vintage wares.” These attractions include the popular Peter Rabbit Garden, a greenhouse and a shop filled with fresh and dried botanicals, custom seasonal arrangements, unique plants, containers, fabrics and garden treasures. The gardens and gazebo are open for private parties, weddings and tours. Open April through December, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 860- 824-0761.

Crafts on All Sides

Located on the banks of the Still River in Brookfield, the Brookfield Craft Center features production work by over 300 of America's foremost craft artisans. This gallery is filled with artistic products that are beautiful, functional, and unique. It is a place where handcrafted works are appreciated and originality expressed. The center, considered to be a clearinghouse for information related to handcrafts, is staffed by friendly people who are always happy to answer questions and explain techniques. The campus also contains five teaching studios, an exhibition gallery, housing for visiting faculty, and picnic areas.

Glory of Art Deco Dazzles at Warner Theatre

In 2002, thousands of people gathered celebrate the gala reopening of Torrington’s Warner Theatre.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. The auditorium was returned to its gilded splendor, featuring new seats, velvet draperies, a ceiling constellation surrounding a giant star chandelier. This season’s entertainments include “Miss Saigon,” “The King and I,” “Crazy for You,” “Nunsensations,” and “Amadeus.” Other performers include Bobby Vinton, Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain, Boz Scaggs, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and Foreigner. For top-notch live entertainment, don’t miss a trip to the Warner. Phone: 860-489-7180.

Handy Signs Point to the State's Blooming Wineries

Connecticut’s mild climate makes the state a fruitful place for growing grapes, and the state’s wine-making industry has bloomed in the past three decades. A delightful way to sample Connecticut vintages is to take a drive along the Connecticut Wine Trail , a route that bypasses 15 vineyards (and some beautiful countryside). The trail consists of two sections, in the eastern and the western parts of the state. Blue highway signs mark the trail and the state produces a colorful brochure. Connecticut's wineries produce a wide variety of wines, ciders, and fruit wines. All the wineries have tasting rooms and all offer at least one tour daily. Many host festive special events. Call ahead for tour schedules. Phone: 860-267-1399.

Peaceful corner of Connecticut is a hotbed for 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: Abrash Galleries, Rugs & Antiquities in Woodbury, with a collection of Persian, Indian, Chinese and Turkish rugs; Bittersweet Shop in Gaylordsville, displaying furniture both country and formal, paintings, and quilts in many colors and patterns; Bradford House Antiques and Lawrence Jeffrey Estate Jewelers in Litchfield, with antique, period and signed jewelry; Sigma Design Studio, Antiques and Jewelry in Norfolk, which specializes in antique silver; Charles M. Haver, Inc. in Roxbury, with Americana displayed in a restored carriage house. Check the website of the Northwest CT Convention & Visitors Bureau for many more fascinating antique shopping tips.

Reverence for Craftsmanship

Eric Sloane (1905-1985), author and illustrator of three dozen books about Americana, is the driving force behind the Sloan-Stanley Museum in Kent, a homage to traditional tools and craftsmanship. With the early settler's reverence for wood and ingenious design, Sloan developed the tool collection to describe the great American heritage of craftsmanship. The museum property also includes remains of the Kent Iron Furnace, which produced iron through the 19th century.

Shopping Chauvinism Ain’t a Bad Thing

The Connecticut Store on Bank Street in Waterbury is the flagship outlet for Made in Connecticut products. Particularly if you are searching for great gifts or luxuries for the home for a Nutmeg State expatriate who has wandered afar, visit the Connecticut Store. The store offers products by Wiffle Ball, Bovano, Woodbury Pewter, Waterbury Button, PEZ, Liberty Candle, Alynn Neckwear and many more.

Sushi of Your Dreams

The region has many wonderful places to dine, but the word in the town of Litchfield itself is that 3W & the blue bar on West Street across from the town green has it all. 3W & the blue bar is a high-energy restaurant and a sophisticated bar. New American favorites like lobster bisque and crab-topped salmon create an eclectic mix cheek-by-jowl with sublime sushi. Top ratings from Yankee Travel Magazine and the Hartford Advocate.

Waterfall and a Covered Bridge Create a Summer Dream

Southford Falls State Park in Oxford offers all the pleasures of a wooded, hilly New England park with the addition of two crown jewels: a wonderful waterfall and an authentic covered bridge. The waters of Papermill Pond tumble down Southford Falls then continue through the woods as Eightmile Brook. The Larkin Bridle Trail takes walkers over the pond and along the banks of the brook. A beautiful walk in all seasons.

Which Way to the Brass Ring?

Whether you love art, American history, woodcraft, or the beauty and artistry of the carousel, the Carousel Museum of New England of Bristol is a treat. The museum contains one of the largest collections of antique carousel pieces in the country. Visitors can experience the Golden Age of the Carousel by browsing on their own or with the help of tour guides who describe the colorful history of this piece of America's folk art history.

Asian Flair Adds Sizzle to This High-Energy Lounge and Nightclub
 

Shrine, the new restaurant / lounge / nightclub at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, is a sizzler, offering a Vegas-style nightlife experience with an Asian flair. The lush interior has a steamy, uptown feel with its Chinese red lacquer panels, golf-foil columns, red lantern, carved Buddhas, innumerable lit candles and spare, elegant stands of orchids. The ground-level dance floor is visible from a sweeping staircase and the second-floor dining area and it is equipped with a state-of-the-art Funktion One Sound System and DJ booth. Also on the ground level are three semi-private beds for guests surrounded by semi-sheer drapes. Resident DJ Chachi is on hand every Friday, and guest DJs entertain every Saturday. Tuesday is Industry Night, welcoming people in the hospitality business from miles around. In the warm weather, two outdoor fire-pit terrace spaces overlook MGM’s luxurious fan, shaped pool. For hot nightlife, this place cannot be beat. Phone: 860-312-8888.

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 any season. From its docks you can see bald eagles, migratory birds, and a wide variety of waterfowl. The tidal wetlands that surround the Connecticut River Museum are an environmental treasure. If you are intrigued by the rich history of the River and its peoples, there is no better starting point than the museum’s galleries. Designed to appeal to children as well as adults, the family-friendly exhibits are filled with art and artifacts that link the river’s stories to our lives today. From dinosaurs to Dutch explorers, from native American canoes to the first American submarine, there is something here to capture every visitor’s interest. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 860-767-8269.

Bluff Point Beckons to Walkers, Skiiers

Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton offers the visitor a delightful mixture of wooded hiking and cross-country skiing trails coupled with spectacular wildlife viewing on Long Island Sound. Because of its Coastal Reserve designation, access to the bluff is by foot or non-motorized vehicle only. The trail to the bluff passes through wooded and open areas until the view broadens as the bluff is approached. Here vegetation is more sparse and diminutive because of wind exposure. Among the plants to be found at the headland are native beach plum, beach pea and red and white shore roses.

Borough of Dreams

New England is not short of beautiful villages, but Stonington Borough, on a small peninsula in the Fisher’s Island Sound, is special. A walk through its tight streets is a joy by itself. Colonial-era houses rich with fine architectural details and dripping with flowers from window boxes are packed cheek-to-cheek along Water and Main streets, where you can find many intriguing antique shops. A handful of well-used fishing boats cluster at the town docks, which thrum with music and flags and cheer during the annual Blessing of the Fleet. All you need here is the power to stroll, gaze, and enjoy.

Bright Copper Kettles and Warm Woolen Mittens

People who love to shop for unusual and artistic things of lasting beauty have crossed the finish line when they get to Olde Mistick Village in Mystic. The replica of a 19th-century New England village is packed with interesting stores: children’s clothing, kites, jewelry, fine cookware, Native American arts, Oriental ceramics, silver, wine, angels and pajamas. The village also offers lots of special and fun public events with an eye to the delights of each season.

Buffalo Do Roam at This Expansive Playground

You don’t need to mosey out to the Dakotas to enjoy the sight of free-roaming buffalo. Creamery Brook Bison Farm in Brooklyn offers guided walking tours where visitors may observe groups of animals, make ice cream and butter, or eat lunch at a picnic area. There is also a 40-minute wagon ride through a working dairy farm and out to the fields to where the buffalo live. Watch the buffalo cows and calves come to the wagon for a snack of hay and grain. Other fun for families includes a farmyard petting area, a stand serving gourmet ice cream, and a gift shop. Call ahead for public hours. Phone: 860-779-0837.

Burgis Brook's Alpacas Offer a Friendly Welcome
 

Burgis Brook Alpacas on North Canterbury Road (Route 169) in Canterbury is a full-time farm for raising, showing, and breeding alpacas located on 43 acres of rolling hills and forest. The farm store carries farm-raised alpaca yarn and roving milled in Connecticut as well as hand-woven and knitted scarves and accessories and high quality Peruvian imported garments and gifts for the family. Visitors are always welcome, but call in advance to let the farm hosts know you're coming. The farmers want to make sure they are available to answer all your questions about these beautiful animals. Free admission. Phone: 860-546-6828

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.

Hunt Breakfast? Giddy-up!

The Griswold Inn in Essex is just about – no, exactly – as old as the United States of America, so you can bet the cooks there know how to fry an egg just right. The Hunt Breakfast is a tradition begun by British when they occupied “The Gris” during the War of 1812, and it remains popular today. A huge spread is laid out buffet-style, and it includes meats carved to order, breakfast and lunch entrees, salads and breads, desserts, and more.

Luck, Be a Lady Tonight

This region of Connecticut is home to not one but two massive casinos owned and operated by Native American tribes: Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, operated by the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, and the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, operated by the Mohegan tribe. Gamblers can look forward to thousands of slot machines and hundreds of table games, but that is only part of the story. The rest includes fine dining, shopping, golf, live entertainment, professional sports, and plenty of excitement.

Paintings Lighter Than Air

Nicknamed the Home of American Impressionism, the Florence Griswold Museum, along the Lieutenant River in Old Lyme, exhibits colorful, lighter-than-air paintings from the Impressionist period. The museum includes a shop with the finest selection of art books on the Connecticut shoreline as well as posters, postcards, and notecards displaying some of the best-loved images in American art.

They Call It the Silent Service

There’s no getting around it: submarines are eerie and, to many of us, fascinating. At the USS Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum in Groton visitors can board the world's first nuclear-powered submarine and peer into the lives of the men who sail the ocean depths in their "sharks of steel." The museum recounts the development of the silent service from Bushnell's Turtle, used in the Revolutionary War, to modern submarines. Working periscopes, mini-theaters, gift shop.

Barns, Books, and Time for Browsing

Old books, old maps, old postcards. People who can browse for hours among this type of treasure should beat a path to Whitlock's Book Barn in Bethany. The business is, in fact, a barn and a former turkey house stuffed with many thousands of used books, maps, and prints. Much of the material comes from estate sales and people reducing their libraries. The business has been operating since 1948, receiving a steady stream of buyers and sellers of books, maps, and ephemera. Fans of maps will savor the selection of maps from the 1800s, including hundreds of maps by town and by county from 21 states. The collection includes maps by Mitchell, Colton, Tilden & Baker, and the Beers family. There also is a selection of international maps. The barns are open Tuesdays through Sundays. Phone: 203-393-1240.

Burger Was Born Here, at a Moment’s Notice
 

Louis' Lunch on Crown Street in New Haven could be a holy shrine for many Americans: it is the place where the hamburger was invented. According to legend, one day in the year 1900 a man dashed into a small New Haven luncheonette and asked for a quick meal that he could eat on the run. Louis Lassen, the establishment's owner, hurriedly stuffed a broiled beef patty between two slices of bread and sent the customer on his way, so the story goes, with America's first hamburger. If you want to visit Louis' for the first time, yet not appear to be a novice, you may want to learn a little of Louis' Lingo, such as " two cheese works, a californian, a salad, and a birch" [two original hamburgers with cheese, tomato and onion, cooked medium rare and served on toast, a hot dog with cheese, relish and onion, an order of potato salad, and a birch beer.” Get it? Got it? Good! Phone: 203-562-5507

Cats and Dogs Need Vacation Mementos, Too
 

You may be on vacation, but you still may be carrying thoughts of your furry companions back home. Stop by Paws on the Green on Water Street in Guilford for dog and cat luxuries. With the motto “Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole” (we will allow the same sentiment for cats, too). Paws by the Green sells all-natural dog and cat food, a colorful selection of dog and cat bowls, a rainbow selection of ribbon collars and leads, pooch wear and comfy and tasteful beds, and much more. You can also commission a portrait for your pet. Phone: 203-458-7298

Cypresses Enthralls Visitors at Yale

The beauty and drama of Vincent Van Gogh’s work is on display in its original form at the Yale University Art Gallery through September 7. Go there and find yourself enthralled by the renowned “Cypresses” and “The Starry Night: Visions of Saint-Rémy.” Completed in June 1889, these paintings exemplify the work of this modern master at the height of his creativity. Together, they reveal the artist's vivid and tender vision of Saint-Rémy as he observed the French countryside by day and by night. Believe this: viewing the painting is an entirely different experience from seeing the print. To ensure a pleasant experience for Gallery visitors, free timed tickets are available. Also on exhibit this summer are the photographs of Abelardo Morel, Jerome Liebling, and Doris Bry. Phone: 203-432-0600.

High-Tone Shopping in Outlet Form

Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets with 70 upscale stores features an impressive collection of the finest designer labels and brands for you, your family and your home. Located on the Connecticut shoreline, an easy stop directly off of I-95, this is Connecticut's only upscale outlet center. A VIP Shopper Club offers exclusive savings, like 50 Plus Shopper Perks. Lots of individual in-store promotions are happening all the time. Seasonal entertainment for shoppers and even for the children.

Ivy, Ivy, Everywhere

For the sake of architecture, history, of the love of academia, a walking tour of Yale in the city of New Haven will inspire and enlighten (like of like a great university does). Visitors on the tour will hear about Yale's rich 300-year history and see the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which is home to a preeminent collection of rare materials, including a Gutenberg Bible. Self-guided tours also are offered.

Paleontology Place

Along with more than 11 million objects in anthropology, botany, zoology, paleontology, entomology, and ornithology, the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven is home to Rudolph F. Zallinger’s murals “The Age of Reptiles” and “The Age of Mammals.” Permanent exhibits probe human culture at the Hall of Native American Cultures and Fossil Fragments: The Riddle of Human Origins.

Shubert Is the Prologue to Broadway Hits

Opened in 1914, the Shubert Theater in New Haven earned the title Birthplace of the Nation's Greatest Hits, by staging more than 300 shows that later opened in New York. Best known for its Broadway presentations, the Shubert also hosts artists of ballet, opera, classical music, jazz, big bands and popular solo artists. From Ladysmith Black Mambazo to the Moscow Festival Ballet, the Schubert covers the arts around the globe.

Smoother Than the Name Implies

The Rusty Scupper on Long Wharf Drive, check-to-cheek with New Haven Harbor, serves American steaks and fresh seafood in a upscale, sophisticated atmosphere with a dynamic water view. Visitors to the Scupper rave over the freshness of the food [mashed potatoes with lobster are to die for, says one customer], the wide-ranging menu, the crackling surroundings that are both high-toned and relaxed. Fine for lunch and dinner anytime and also ideal for special occasions.

Underground Epitaphs

Who says you have to go to Rome to see a serious crypt? People interested in New Haven history and personages or those simply enamored of headstone art should visit the New Haven Crypt below the Center Church on the Green. In 1813, Center Church was built over a portion of the town's burial ground. All the gravestones were left in their original positions to be protected by the church's foundation. Tours April through October. Exotic Car Rental CT - Luxury Car Rental CT - Luxury Car Rental CT - Exotic Cars Connecticut - Buy Wholesale Fabrics - Car Rentals - Van Rentals - Cheap Van Rentals - Orlando Van Rentals - Miami Van Rentals - Van Rental Newark NJ - Car Rentals JFK - Van Hire New York - Van Hire New Jersey