Nestled On The Long Island Sound Is A Buzzy Harbor City With Art, New England Charm, And Oysters

Connecticut is one of the best states in America for exploring nature and history. Known as the Constitution State, it's blessed with a deep-rooted heritage that spans all the way back to 1788. It's also where you can uncover unique travel experiences, such as this New England farm escape filled with wine and four-season delight. Food, as you might've guessed, is yet another reason people flock here. Noank, a darling, sleepy fishing village on the Connecticut coast, is packed with exceptional eats, but it's certainly not the only one.

Norwalk combines all three — nature, history, and food — with a dash of culture right on the beautiful expanse of the Long Island Sound. This harbor city is a proper New England charmer located just a one-hour-ish drive or train ride from New York City. Here, you can truly immerse yourself in its old-world style by strolling along the tree-lined Wall Street, where low-rise brick buildings house boutiques, or by visiting the Victorian-era Lockwood-Mathews Mansion. The grand and historic manor has 62 rooms adorned in furnishings and décor true to the period.

If you prefer to combine New England history and nature, visit the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. You'll need to drive about 15 minutes from Norwalk to the harbor before joining a ferry tour to the island and its 19th-century lighthouse. The tour includes a guided walk around Norwalk Harbor, a cruise past three lighthouses, a guided tour of Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and free time to relax or explore the island as you wish. Unfortunately, the tours only run between May and August, but there are weekend, weekday, and sunset options.

One of the best times to visit Norwalk is when there's a festival to enjoy. The city has a different event happening every month of the year, but there are certain festivals you shouldn't miss if you're partial to the arts or a tasty, fresh oyster. The Norwalk Oyster Festival takes place over three days in September. These days are packed full of carnival rides, thrilling dog and lumberjack shows, arts and crafts market stalls, face painting, and, of course, New England culinary favorites like fresh oysters and lobster rolls.

SoNo Arts Fest is held over a weekend in August and takes place throughout the streets of South Norwalk's (SoNo) trendy downtown area. The event champions local artisans, creatives, and makers with its open-air galleries, live music performances, and unique culinary experiences. Many of the local shops and restaurants get involved, either by hosting chefs for the weekend or offering discounts on arts and crafts. As you stroll around downtown SoNo, you can find stunning paintings and sculptures, interactive art for kids, and unique cultural experiences.

SoNo is actually a fantastic area to explore any time of the year. It has a peaceful waterfront setting that pairs well with its wealth of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. The SoNo Baking Company & Cafe is a must-visit if you love coffee and sweet or savory treats. The artisanal bread, including baguettes and sourdough, is baked fresh every day, and anyone with a sweet tooth should try one of the seasonal pumpkin or strawberry rhubarb pies or browse the range of cookies the bakery offers on a daily basis.

Norwalk is a family-friendly city with plenty to occupy young and mature minds alike. One of the city's most popular things to do is visit the Stepping Stones Museum for Children, located in Mathews Park. This isn't your ordinary museum; all the exhibits have been designed to help children learn through interactive play. Kids can travel back in time to learn about dinosaurs while helping a paleontologist, or they can learn about energy by running a series of experiments, or they can play in a miniature town.

Back towards the center of South Norwalk, located on the water, is The Maritime Aquarium, a great place to learn about marine life and conservation through immersive experiences and exhibits. There are different shows and talks on each day, ranging from unique animal encounters and sea turtle talks to shark dives and seal feeding. The aquarium also has a 4D theater that shows educational movies.

To get to Norwalk, you can fly to New York City and catch a train or drive. Alternatively, it's possible to fly into Westchester County Airport, which is only a 35-minute drive away. This airport has flights to and from a decent amount of US cities, such as Jacksonville, Charleston, and Chicago, but many of these are only seasonal services, so you should check in advance if you can fly here. If you're coming from New York, you might want to also visit this high-quality, hand-crafted bagel joint that's arguably the best in the city.