Buzzing past on the MetroNorth commuter train, or speeding by high above along I-95, you would probably miss it. But for those who occasionally enjoy downshifting into the first gear of traveling on foot, tucked between West Avenue and Schoolhouse Road in Milford, there is a small little piece of marshy heaven. Beaver Brook Trail runs some 1.3 miles through 55-acres of open space, which is owned by the nearby Kingdom Life Christian Church complex and set aside as a conservation easement. A large portion of the trail is actually an elevated foot bridge, which runs directly across a portion of …

In its railroad heyday from 1850-1950, Willimantic hosted 50 trains a day on three businessman special lines that traveled between New York and Boston on six-hour trips, a decent time even today. All three lines — one Central Vermont and two New Haven — junctioned at Bridge Street off of Main Street by the Willimantic River. For the last 20 years, a group of avid railroaders who started from scratch have been nurturing a life-size museum on 45 acres near there that boasts a 60-foot-long, 19th century, hand-operated turntable, attached to a gorgeous roundhouse and an array of rolling stock on …

For those who love the great outdoors, Connecticut offers a wide variety of natural wonders: from its beautiful beaches along Long Island Sound to its rolling green hills that line the landscape of the northwest corner. And there is no shortage of state parks, forests and open spaces to hike. Perhaps one of the best-known areas in the state for hiking is Sleeping Giant State Park. Tucked into a corner of Hamden, and directly across the street from Quinnipiac University, the park offers hikers of all ages and abilities some 30 miles of trails, of varying difficulty and terrain, to trek. Of …

Located less than a half-hour from New Canaan, in downtown South Norwalk, the Maritime Aquarium is the place to have fun, go nose-to-nose with animals, and discover the wonders of Long Island Sound. Programs and exhibits are constantly changing, so there’s always something new to explore. Maritime Aquarium10 North Water St., Norwalk, CT203-852-0700www.​maritimeaquarium.​org IF YOU GO: Open Monday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. COST: Aquarium only. Adults $12.95; children (ages 2-12) $9.95; seniors (65+) $11.95.

With more than 60 square miles, Newtown is the state's fifth-largest town. And nestled within this vast area is the village of Sandy Hook, a small hamlet sitting on the Pootatuck River. Sandy Hook's colorful past includes a fire hose factory, an opera house and a biker destination. Now, this village boasts unique shops, a few restaurants and a network of trails with beautiful views. Walking and Hiking Al's Trail spans more than 10 miles and runs right through Sandy Hook. This trail was created by Newtown residents brought together by a vision. Al Goodrich and others were inspired to create "a…

The Jones Family Farm has been family-run for six generations, since 1848. Visit the farm for a bucolic day in the country with plenty of fun outdoor activities. Jones Family Farm606 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Shelton, CT203-929-8425www.jonesfamilyfarms.com IF YOU GO: Open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call the Crop Line at 203-929-8425 for daily picking hours and locations. COST: Only cash and checks for pick-your-own payments. Credit Cards are accepted in the winery, pumpkin season retail locations and Christmas barnyard.

Woodbury is the quintessential New England town, with its white-steepled churches, flag-lined Main Street and restored colonial homes. This beautiful town is a destination spot for antique lovers from all over the country. The shops that line Main Street boast experts in a range of specialties from vintage porcelain to 20th Century modern. The Shops One day is not enough to see all the shops that Woodbury has to offer. So before you go, check out a map and the Woodbury Antiques Dealers Association website to decide which shops match your interests. Main Street is divided into Main Street …

Just a few weeks remain before school starts, but it's not too late to take advantage of all the outdoor experiences summer has to offer. One activity the whole family can take part in, day or night, far away or right at home, as an expert or novice, and for little to no money is camping. And according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), camping has loads of benefits for kids. Outdoor play, the NWF reports, increases cognitive focus, encourages the use of imagination, makes for healthier children, leading to longer lifespans and healthier adult lives, and encourages the development of …

At first, life in Old Lyme revolved around the sea. Its industries were fishing, shipbuilding, and salt-making. Like many Connecticut river towns it became known as a home of wealthy clipper ship captains who sailed to the Far East and the West Indies trading in exotic (and, it was whispered, human) cargo. Today you can see their legacy in the distinguished homes on Lyme Street (the town’s main road) that make up the Old Lyme Historic District. Old Lyme is worth checking out simply for its pristine old-fashioned appearance, but the main draw here is art. Museums, schools, and galleries fill …

Here are some of the differences between riding a modern commuter train and traveling in a vintage steam train along a track first opened in 1871: The steam train chugs along at about 20 mph, but you don’t get annoyed. Its windows are open, and instead of worrying what filth might blow in, you simply enjoy the breeze on your face and the view of the Connecticut River. Instead of a conductor announcing station stops, there’s a guide sharing local trivia and leading games for the children on board. People prevented from driving or walking across the street by flashing railroad crossing lights …

This Fairfield gym has visitors climbing the walls—literally. Carabiner's Indoor Climbing claims to be the "finest" gym of its kind with climbing opportunities for all age groups and levels of experience. —— Carabiner's Indoor Climbing85 Mill Plain Road, Fairfield, CT203-416-5500www.carabiners.com IF YOU GO: Open Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. COST: Day passes only. Adults $18; students $14; children (10 & under) $10.

The people of Stonington Borough never had much choice. Given their location, on a peninsula jutting into Fishers Island Sound and Little Narragansett Bay, the events of their lives were destined to be shaped by the water. From Stonington Point, the southernmost tip of the Borough (which is part of Stonington but also has its own government) you can see where the borders of three states (Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York) meet on the water. Beneath a wind-blown American flag, there is a monument to local residents who held off the Royal Navy in the War of 1812. (It wasn’t the first time…

In the closing years of the Revolutionary War, the small town of Lebanon was an important place. It’s fair to say that nothing of equal consequence has happened there since. And that makes it ideal to get a sense of events that occurred more than 200 years ago. With an equally nerdy friend, I drove past  fields and homemade signs advertising hay for sale, to the place that calls itself the “Heartbeat of the Revolution.” Entering Lebanon, you can’t miss the Green, which is one of New England’s largest and the last in the country to be used for agriculture. A mile from end to end and vaguely …

Ah, the beach. Sand everywhere. Hard-to-find parking. Distant restrooms. It doesn't have to be that way. Steal away, on a weekday if you can, and keep it simple. Once you've paid for gas, it's only $14 to park one carful of beach-goers at Ocean Beach Park in New London. (Holidays are $25, weekends, $18.) No, these are not Rhode Island waves. Don't bring your surf board. Heck, there's not even much boogie in the boogie board. But if your thing is scenic ocean views, what they call “sugar sand” and short trudges to find your setup spot not far from water's edge, Ocean Beach is the place for you…

Are you searching for a family activity that will be fun for all ages? Then look no further than Bristol, home to the nation’s oldest family amusement park. Lake Compounce has something for everyone: For thrill-seekers, there are more than 50 rides and attractions, including longtime favorites like the Boulder Dash (voted one of the World’s Best Wooden Roller Coasters) and Zoomerang roller coasters, and Thunder 'n' Lightning, which rapidly swings riders to heights of more than 90 feet.  New this year is Rev-O-Lution, an adrenaline-pumping ride, spinning and rocking a full 360 degrees, high …

Connecticut is full of many wonderful attractions, but one element we're lacking is a truly great city. The place that arguably comes closest to filling this void is New Haven. It has culture, art, a venerable university, and a diverse population of about 130,000. All of which are worth a trip, but one of the most important aspects of an outing to a bigger city in search of what you can’t find at home is ... shopping. And in that regard, the Elm City delivers. Here you can stroll through walkable neighborhoods and find numerous independent shops, conveniently grouped together, along with a …

A wooden waterwheel spins beside a pond. A red covered bridge spans a rippling brook. Moss and lichens decorate imposing rock formations. A serpentine boardwalk wends its way through a green wetland, and birds flit from the railings to the tall trees above while sunlight glints on the water below. A sandy beach stretches beside a deep blue pond edged with pine trees. Trails marked by colored blazes head off into woods concealing enticing remnants of the past. That might sound like a catalogue of clichés, but it’s also an accurate description of Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth. …

Waterbury, Connecticut’s fifth largest city, has distinguished public buildings and distinctive monuments. It also has two unusual museums. The Mattatuck focuses on local history, from immigration and manufacturing (there’s a reason it’s nicknamed the Brass City!) to wartime memorabilia. It also has collections of 18th, 19th and 20th century art. Best (or at least strangest) is the museum within this museum, located on the top floor, consisting entirely of buttons. The Timexpo Museum looks like a just another preserved brass mill, except for the huge Easter Island statue, or Moai, standing …

When I first saw the distinctive river towns of America’s heartland, I fell for them right away. They matched an image of this country I’d somehow absorbed, though I’d never seen anything quite like them in real life. I thought they were uniquely Midwestern, and that nothing of their kind existed in the Northeast. Until one day I drove out of Portland, CT, on a sky-colored bridge, with two gently curved arches, a bridge that looked for all the world like something that should be spanning the Ohio. And then I continued into Middletown, and found a scene out of a story in Midwest Living. The …

Niantic, a waterfront village of the town of East Lyme, is lazy in the best sense of the word. While many once-quiet beach communities have been taken over by tackiness and slick commercialism, Niantic remains a relaxing throw-back. Most attractions are concentrated in a walkable stretch of Main Street (Route 156); others are just a few minutes’ drive away. And it manages, remarkably, to appeal to pretty much everyone: stroll around for a few minutes and you’ll see groups of teenagers, families with small kids, couples, and people enjoying their solitude. Niantic beaches, like T-shirts, come …