Top Rated Attractions in Fairfield

With a name as mystical as Brú na Bó, and a colorful milieu of artworks adoring the window, you are lured to walk into this magnificent art and antique shop. If you have an eye for antiques or love to collect works of regional artists, then you will love browsing through the collection of Brú na Bó. Its ever-changing inventory of paintings, porcelain art, textiles and new furniture reflect the work of talented local painters and craftsmen. The collection of antique furniture found here is extensive, offering a lot of options in products which are handcrafted from reclaimed antique woods. And its association with art is not just restricted to visual artworks, as the shop also arranges special performances by local as well as upcoming national artists or bands, throughout the year.

Yale Repertory Theatre was founded by the Yale School of Drama in 1966 to engender a closer working relationship between faculty and students and the professional theater, and has helped launch the careers of dozens of now-famous actors. "Yale Rep" is located in the stunning former Calvary Baptist Church, which was built in 1868 and renovated to accommodate the theater in 1970. A landmark in downtown New Haven, the Yale Rep Theater stages everything: musicals, dramas, comedies and new works, both classics and fresh scripts. Yale Rep is an award-winning theater in the circle of renowned, established theaters in the greater New Haven area.

One of the great advantages of being in New Haven is that you don't have to drive all the way to New York City to see a Broadway quality performance; after all, the Shubert holds the title, "Birthplace of the Nation's Greatest Hits." Many, many hits premiered at the Shubert before moving on to Broadway, including A Streetcar Named Desire, The Sound of Music (and many other Rogers & Hammerstein productions) and My Fair Lady, to name a few. The Shubert is the region's cultural life, featuring the best of dance, opera, family productions and cabaret. The backstage tour of this architectural gem, built in 1914, is another highlight not to miss.

This theater has hosted many award-winning performances and enjoyed international recognition. Plays launched here have received numerous awards, from Pulitzer Prizes to Tony's. As you exit into the Long Wharf area, please note that the theater is on the loading dock where food terminals are housed. It can be tricky to find! More than 20 shows have gone directly from Long Wharf to Broadway or Off-Broadway in New York.

The New Haven Town Green is one of New England's oldest, completed in 1638. Portions of the Green were used as a cemetery until the 1820s when the headstones were moved to the new Grove Street Cemetery. The 16-acre public park is a popular site for concerts and picnics, and an overall excellent gathering place for locals and tourists alike. The Green is also the location of an Amistad memorial. Along the Green there are three churches built in the 1810s: Center Church, United Church and Trinity Church.

One of the most renowned institutions of higher learning in the world, the Yale University has been in New Haven since 1718, while its collegiate school had already been established by 1701. Since inception, its campus has been a dream revered by many aspiring learners, and it continues to shine on the educational horizons of ambitious students across the world. A distinguished embodiment of academic prowess, the Ivy League institution has produced more than 50 Nobel laureates over the centuries. . Many notable people call Yale their Alma Mater, including William Howard Taft, Bill Clinton, and Meryl Streep. On campus, one can effortlessly spot many famous sights such as the prestigious Yale Center for British Art, the Beinecke Rare Book Library, the Collection of Musical Instruments, and the Old Campus that allures students and visitors, alike. The university is home to the illustrious multiple championship-winning NCAA Division I Yale Bulldogs athletic team.