Stamford Museum & Nature Center is a one-stop destination for all educational and fun activities. Sprawled over 118 acres (47.75 hectares), it is home to the large Hecksher Farm and the Tudor-style Bendel Mansion that houses an interactive center and museum. It also boasts a planetarium for astronomical shows and a four-level observatory equipped with a 22-inch (56-centimeter) telescope. Every exhibit within the museum is tailored towards kids and features interactive artifacts to teach them about animal life, culture, history, science and fine art. The myriad trails take you through glacial erratic rocks, ephemeral pools, woods, pastures and farmlands with alpacas, pigs, chicken and llamas. The highlights are the Edith and Robert Graham Otter Pond and the playground where kids befriend a variety of animals. This center organizes events like maple sugar and harvest festivals, farmers' markets, astronomy projects, wildlife camps, antique car shows and wine tastings.
Named after the fraternal brotherhood, the Knights of Columbus museum is one of the finest religiously themed museums in America. Situated beside the Supreme Council office, the museum strives to put the various activities of the Knights of Columbus fraternity into the forefront of the world. The numerous material sources and artifacts pertaining to the fraternity are on show in this Columbus Plaza museum.
Housed within a beautiful Colonial Revival-style building, the New Haven Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich past of the region. Visitors at the museum will be able to trace the region's origins as a sleepy seafaring village and its subsequent transformation into a thriving industrial and residential community through a diverse range of artifacts and exhibits. From local art, photographs and other extensive collections sourced from historic families and ancient New Haven homes, to vintage furniture and 18th and 19th-century artworks, the museum presents a comprehensive catalog of the city's heritage. The New Haven Museum is also home to the Whitney Research Library, which comprises of priceless manuscripts, rare books and other archival collections from the city's early settlement era.
Football fans everywhere are indebted to Yale coach Walter Camp for his 1879 codifying of American football as we know and love it today. Yale's Bulldogs play against other Ivy League teams from September through November, and, in alternate years, the renowned Harvard-Yale game attracts audiences and fans from afar. This is a big sporting event in New Haven and if you have the chance to catch a game, it is well worth it. Tailgate parties start the festivities prior to the match, so grab a picnic lunch and party in the parking lot before the big event. Games are played at Yale Bowl.
Earthplace is located at Westport, Connecticut. It has a natural history museum, nature center and wildlife sanctuary. It is spread over 62 acres (25 hectares) of land and was established in 1958. It has a large exhibit of endangered wildlife animals and birds. It also has wetlands, ponds and streams for the animals. The bird and butterfly garden is a special nesting place for the birds like hummingbirds, American goldfinches, cedar waxwings, Robins, and cardinals.
Little known to many visitors to the New Haven and Yale area, this museum is a wonderful treasure with displays of nearly 1000 musical instruments and other artifacts. The museum is one of the largest and most important repositories of musical instruments in the world, and is especially known for its collection of clavichords, harpsichords and pianos. Located on historic Hillhouse Avenue (described by Mark Twain as "the most beautiful street in America"), this quiet museum is not to be missed.
The Stamford Historical Society is not just a regular museum, it is a treasure trove of information on the rich history of Stamford from the 17th Century to the present day. Through theater, exhibitions, school days and charity sales, the society engages both adults and children in the cultural and historic events that shaped the city. The exhibitions throw light on Stamford's participation in the Civil and World Wars, the lives of its richest and poorest families, and gruesome stories of the Colonial Era. The kids' exhibits talk about the toys and lifestyles of children in the past centuries. Attend historic dramas, tea parties, antique sales and history lectures for a holistic blend of fun and education. Stop by at their library and book corner to view vintage photographs and read collector's editions.
The Stamford Art Association is an art gallery that aims to provide a forum for budding artists through its exhibitions and workshops. Several members of this gallery include prominent painters, sculptors and artists who hand out much needed lectures about artistic culture and the evolution of art. Through various workshops for kids, the association also looks to encourage young artistic talent and even exhibits some of the innocent yet beautiful creations of these kids. It also hosts various competitions for the neighborhood kids wherein they are encouraged to used vivid colors to bring their imagination to life.
Connecticut Ballet Center is a great place to learn the art of ballet dancing. Dance classes are available for novices who with to learn as well as proffessionals who want to go in for higher level classes. One can come in for a trial class and then decide whether to take up the course. Courses are available for both adults and children. Zumba classes, hip-hop, Bollywood dancing and tai chi are also taught here. The Connecticut Ballet company also organizes and participates in a number of cultural programs. Three of their dance studios can also be rented on an hourly basis.
Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium are located on the Farnam Garden, in the campus of Yale University. The facility is dedicated to education, research and public outreach. The Observatory and Planetarium are open to the public once a week, on Tuesday nights for two Planetarium shows that are held at 07:00 and 08:00 p.m. (April through October) and 06:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (November through March). Later, if the weather permits, the telescopes at the observatory will be set up for public viewing of the sky. Visitors can enjoy viewing planets, nebula and star clusters whatever interesting appears in the sky. The astronomy center has two telescopes, and a universe- simulation theater for visitors to enjoy and experience the outer space.