Also known as the Nutmeg State, Connecticut has been mistakenly branded as a “drive-through” state because it is a conduit to more exciting destinations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. The fact that Connecticut is flanked by a myriad of popular attractions has always swayed people from looking within the state to discover some of the gems it has to offer. One of these gems is the city of New Canaan. If you doubt whether this region has anything meaningful to offer tourists, read below and you will be amazed by the array of things to do in New Canaan, Connecticut.
1. Glide on ice at Mead Memorial Park
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Mead Memorial Park, next to Bristow Bird Sanctuary, stores many recreational activities for you and your family. It has a full-sized baseball field (plus two little league baseball fields), several tennis courts, a play area, and many walking trails. It even has a swamp filled with ducks swimming peacefully—quite a scenery to watch while you are sitting with your thoughts on the benches. Easily, you can do all these park activities in summer. If you’re wondering what to do on a cold winter day, well, you can learn how to skate. The bonus part here is that you don’t have to go far because when the conditions are favorable, the park management allows ice skating until nighttime. So now you have a not-so-secret winter destination in New Canaan.
Mead Memorial Park
Address: 241 Park Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
Price: Free
2. Enjoy daily strolls with family at Autumn-Fieldcrest Pocket Park
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
At just 1 acre, this greenway near Fieldcrest road is a busy thoroughfare for walkers to and from Saxe Middle School....
Posted by New Canaan Land Trust on Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Turn your daily exercise into a family activity. Walk in the pocket park, Autumn-Friedcrest Pocket Park, where every member of the family is welcome - kids, elderly, and even dogs. The trail is relatively short, about 0.1 mi (0.16 km) in length, surrounded by birds and trees including apple trees. It’s part of the chain of GreenLink Trails that has been protected since 1973 and now managed by New Canaan Land Trust. Your early morning jog and afternoon stroll will be extra special as you get to spend it with your loved ones. For added fun, take your dogs with you.
Autumn-Fieldcrest Pocket Park
Address: New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Autumn-Fieldcrest Pocket Park
Opening hours: 8am - 7pm (daily)
Price: Free
3. Spend your weekend run at the scenic Colhoun Preserve
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Have you seen the new addition to the Colhoun Preserve on Davenport Ridge? Just finished on Saturday by artist Matthias...
Posted by New Canaan Land Trust on Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Spending time with nature refreshes your mind, body, and soul. Colhoun Preserve is one of New Canaan Land Trust’s relatively new hiking trails - scenic, safe, and moderately intense. The trail runs 0.8 mi (1.29 km) from the meadow through the wetlands and forest, creating a loop pattern. You can perform two or more running rounds until you feel satisfied with your sweat session or until you achieve your desired mental state. Mind you, the 21-ac (8.4-ha) total area filled with lush greenery will help in your weekend relaxation and even bring inspiration for your work projects during busy days. Entrance and parking are accessible from 203 Davenport Ridge Road.
Colhoun Preserve
Address: Southwestern New Canaan, along Davenport Ridge Road
Website: Colhoun Preserve
Price: Free
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4. Interact with creative minds and leaders at Grace Farms
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Happy Spring Equinox! Photo Credit: Julien Jarry
Posted by Grace Farms, CT on Saturday, March 20, 2021
Grace Farms is a non-profit establishment in New Canaan, dedicated to promoting community justice, faith, arts, and nature initiatives throughout the region. It is a place where you will find a platform for meaningful interaction with leaders, organizations and like-minded individuals keen on advancing the above. The place offers a diverse range of structured and unstructured programs which include community dinners, special performances, walking trails and a variety of recreational activities. You can visit for the activities or engage in active and current concerns of the community.
Grace Farms
Address: 365 Lukes Wood Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Grace Farms
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm (closed on Mon)
Price: Free
5. Indulge in authentic American cuisines at SE Uncorked
Since food is part and parcel of each travel experience, you have every reason to visit SE Uncorked for a variety of authentic American cuisines. The restaurant is right at the heart of downtown New Canaan. It is a relatively new space that boasts an intimate stylish atmosphere with a humongous menu of some of the tastiest American cuisines. The joint also boasts a fine cocktail menu with a variety of cocktails that have been concocted with a secret twist. Whether it is for food or drinks, a great dining experience awaits you within the walls of this American eatery.
SE Uncorked
Address: 15 Elm St, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: SE Uncorked
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11:30am - 11pm; Sun: 11am - 9pm; Mon: 5pm - 9pm
6. Be one with nature at New Canaan Nature Center
Sometimes all you need is to forget about everything else and be one with nature – an endeavour that will see you refresh, and recharge your mind, body, and soul. If this sounds like a great activity for your trip to New Canaan, then all you have to do is visit New Canaan Nature Center. It is a nature preserve, an arboretum and a botanical garden which aims to inspire people from all walks of life to protect, respect and enjoy the environment given by nature. The centre is a popular destination for various family fun activities, and they normally have elaborate programs for specific dates and seasons. With trails that lead into the woods, campsites, and night hikes, the centre is a must-visit place for every nature lover.
New Canaan Nature Center
Address: 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: New Canaan Nature Center
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 4pm (closed on Sun)
7. Buy unique art at Sorelle Gallery Fine Arts
Not every gallery will provide you with a unique chance to admire and buy their art, and Sorelle Gallery Fine Arts is one of them. It is both a fine art gallery and a consulting firm offering a humongous variety of fine art from both established and emerging artists. The gallery has an experienced staff who will help you select the kind of art that is suitable for your space and vision. Simply tell them what you want or an idea of what you are looking for, and then they will guide you through choosing the right piece.
Sorelle Gallery Fine Arts
Address: 84 Main St, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Sorelle Gallery Fine Arts
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10:30am - 5:30pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
8. Visit The Glass House
Posted by The Philip Johnson Glass House on Tuesday, 24 September 2019
The Glass House Museum, also known as Philip Johnson House, is one of the greatest attractions in New Canaan. It is a simple house, but one with perfect proportions, and it is considered as one of the most brilliant ideas of modern architecture, though it was built over half a century ago. The house looks simple to warrant a two-hour tour, but with the explanations from the guide, you will end up appreciating art, design, and space, even though you may not be an architect.
The Glass House
Address: 199 Elm St, New Canaan, CT 06840-5321
Website: The Glass House
Opening hours: Thu - Mon: 9:30am - 5:30pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
Price: From 25 USD
9. Enjoy the outdoors at Waveny Park
Waveny Park may pass as just any other park, but it boasts the presence of a castle. Right in the middle of the park is a castle that was constructed in 1912. This castle is currently surrounded by 300 acres (121ha) fields, trails, and ponds. In addition to admiring this beautiful piece of architecture, visiting the park comes with lots of recreational opportunities, including jogging, hiking, biking, playing games on the playgrounds or simply getting lost in the woods for some quiet time with nature.
Waveny Park
Address: 677 South Ave, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Waveny Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
10. Walk down memory lane at New Canaan Historical Society
Posted by New Canaan Historical Society on Tuesday, 25 June 2019
The New Canaan Historical Society was established in 1889 with the main objective of bringing together and arranging all the historical events of the town, starting from the genealogies of the families that have called the town their home. The society also had the mandate of forming a library and collecting relics and artefacts for the formation of a museum. Currently, the society maintains a museum, preserves history, mounts exhibitions, and holds educational events and tours to appreciate the town’s rich past.
New Canaan Historical Society
Address: 13 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: New Canaan Historical Society
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 9:30am - 4:40pm; Sat: 9:30am - 12:30pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
11. Admire beautiful art at Silvermine Guild Art Center
Silvermine Guild Art Center was formed in 1922 by some of the most talented artists in Northeast. Currently, the centre attracts nearly 20,000 students, artists and visitors each year who come to deepen their understanding and empathy by appreciating the transformative power of art. The major attractions in the centre include the grounds, exhibition halls, the sculptures, or the occasional special programs by guest artists. You may also have a chance to take a class or workshop to help you discover your creative side.
Silvermine Guild Art Center
Address: 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Silvermine Guild Art Center
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
12. Enjoy a refreshing hike at Silvermine-Fowler Preserve
If you are looking for interesting hiking opportunities, then you should check out Silvermine-Fowler Preserve. The preserve maintains a large network of scenic trails that lead to different neighbourhoods. The trails offer ample opportunity for residents and visitors to jog or walk while soaking in the natural beauty of the preserve.
Silvermine-Fowler Preserve
Address: 763 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Silvermine-Fowler Preserve
Opening hours: 6am - 6pm (daily)
Price: Free
13. Go scavenger hunting with Treasure Hunt Tours
Treasure Hunt Tours is designed to let adults be kids and to get teens off screens. Consider them as hyperlocal scavenger hunts where you set out as teams to meet special characters, discover hidden objects, and landmarks within the town. The tours usually culminate into great food from where you can also sample the culinary diversity that exists in New Canaan, CT.
Treasure Hunt Tours
Address: New Canaan, CT, USA
Website: Treasure Hunt Tours
Price: 60 USD
14. Admire art at Carriage Barns Arts Center
Posted by Carriage Barn Arts Center on Friday, 23 August 2019
The centre is home to the New Canaan Society for the Arts. They aim at supporting the work of both regional and local artists. The centre is open to visitors and any member of the society who is interested in art. You will find exhibitions by various artists, as well as a variety of educational programs aimed at enriching the community through the use of art.
Carriage Barns Arts Center
Address: 681 South Ave, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Carriage Barns Arts Center
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 3pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
15. Practice golf at Country Club of New Canaan
Posted by Linda LeMoigne on Sunday, 18 August 2019
Visit Country Club of New Canaan to find out how good your golfing skills are. The club has a picturesque 18-hole golf course and guests are expected to play in four hours or less. It is one of the best golf courses you will find in the region, with a well-maintained course that creates varying challenges owing to the ponds and the tall trees found therein. But that notwithstanding, an amazing golfing experience awaits you on this course.
Country Club of New Canaan
Address: 95 Country Club Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States
Website: Country Club of New Canaan
New Canaan has lots in store for you
Now that you understand the richness in attractions from our list of things to do in New Canaan, Connecticut, given above, don’t pass by the next time in favour of attractions in the nearby states. Come and experience these and many other nice things that New Canaan has in store for you.
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