Maritime Center Aquarium and IMAX Theater
Explore the marine life and maritime culture of Long Island Sound. The Maritime Aquarium features more than 1000 marine animals native to Long Island Sound and its watershed, including sharks, jellies, and sea turtles. Smaller tanks portray life in the Sound from the shallow tidal areas filled with oysters, sea horses, lobsters, and small fish. Harbor seals cavort in a special indoor-outdoor tank with regular feeding times. Or you can enjoy a film in Connecticut's only IMAX movie theater. 15 minutes from the hotel at Norwalk off I-95, exit #14. http://www.maritimeaquarium.org/
Rye Playland Amusement Park
Open since the early 1920s, this park has many rides that include the infamous Dragon Coaster. Playland has many of the old-style rides, with new attractions such as the Haunted House, water ride, go-carts, bumper cars, games, and plenty of concession stands. It also features KiddieLand for children. Playland is seasonal and there is a charge for tickets. If you're looking for a day of fun and don't want to travel too far, Playland is the place to go! At Rye NY, just off I-95, exit #19. http://www.ryeplayland.org/
Stamford Museum and Nature Center
Life on the farm... this small New England farm houses a variety of animals and vegetable and herb gardens. See Connecticut naturally... when you walk any or all of the woodland trails, see how many different native birds, animals, amphibians, and plant life you can spot. Fine art, Americana, natural history, and Native American culture... exciting exhibits await you in the five galleries located in the main building. 15 minutes from the hotel.
Outer Space... the stars come alive every Sunday in the Planetarium. Stop by each month to see a new show. On Friday nights, move in for a closer look through the research telescope at the observatory. http://www.stamfordmuseum.org/
Barnum Museum
Celebrating P T Barnum... entrepreneur, politician, journalist, impresario, and founder of The Greatest Show on Earth. Built in 1893, this Gothic structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn about P T Barnum's extraordinary life and times that include the circus, Tom Thumb, Jenny Lind, and Bridgeport's Victorian era and industrial age. Lively changing exhibits, education programs, group tours, and gift shop.
Open: Tuesday through Saturday - 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday - 12:00 noon to 4:30 pm
Closed Mondays
Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens
63 acres of natural woodlands and cultivated gardens, with dwarf conifers, rhododendrons, and wild flowers. http://bartlettarboretum.org/
Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale - New Haven, CT
Hosts Pilot Pen Tennis presented by Micalob - ULTRA. August 19th-27th, a US Open Series Event. For more information visit www.pilotpentennis.com
Cummings Park
It features a picnic area, playground, softball fields, bathhouse, food concession, boat harbor, supervised swimming, and a pier that stretches out into the Sound for fishing. Parking is available. Just minutes by car from the hotel at Long Island Sound.
Cove Island Park
Cove Island includes a picnic area, bathhouse, boat launch access, food concession, bird / wildlife observation, supervised swimming, fishing accessibility, historic-culture interest, hiking trails, and crabbing. Limited street parking year-round, on-site parking during the season only. Approximately ten minutes by car from the hotel at Long Island Sound.
Sherwood Island State Park
The only state park in the area that offers 1 miles of beach, food concession, picnic areas, bathhouse, fields, walking trails, and fishing. There is a daily fee for parking. 20 minutes from the hotel at Westport CT.