A great place for an afternoon outing. Walk around the extensive grounds, enjoy the art, and have a…read moremeal in the glass-walled café surrounded by nature. We've attended a couple of their scheduled events. The beautiful, modern, minimalist auditorium incorporates the surrounding landscape seamlessly. Excellent acoustics and high-end electronic equipment help the speakers and performers give their best. A recent sold-out lecture by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer was inspiring, challenging and warmly entertaining. It was followed by a marvelous chamber music concert featuring a collection mostly contemporary works influenced by a connection with nature. Grace Farms' mission is to support nature, arts, justice, community and faith. It's a much-appreciated place to refocus and refuel in these difficult times.

Grace Farms is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend a day. The architecture and greenery are…read moregorgeous, and the overall space is very well taken care of. There is plenty to do there from an indoor basketball court to a complimentary tea tasting. There is also a library and plenty of common areas where people can read or get work done. Everyone who works there is very friendly and helpful. They have a lot of different free events, so would recommend checking their schedule online before going. It wasn't super busy when I went, but would suggest getting a free ticket online in advance just in case.

Solid hiking here. We went during a beautiful day and enjoyed getting lost on the trails for an…read morehour or so. The mansion is closed for renovations, but there was more than enough to enjoy without it.

After almost two years living in Norwalk, I finally discovered this shady oasis from All Trails…read morewhen dog sitting. The trail system is super well maintained and an easy loop to follow. There are multiple green spaces and designated dog areas around the mansion. Cranbury park is super shady and a quiet place to unwind from city noise.

This is a beautiful trail, quite deserted, but be warned, now bow hunting is allowed in the area,…read moreso please wear brightly colored clothing and make enough noise to alert other hunters lurking that you are human. It might even help keep away bears, some which have been spotted and reported visiting backyards in Redding. If you see a sign that cryptically says permit required to hike in the area with no other information, it just means you have to have a trail map of the region which helps double as your hiking permit. These trail maps can be found at the entrance of most of the trails. But they are mostly soaked wet with the rain. Alternatively, you can also download them as a pdf. Because of all the macro-burst and sort of hurricane weather and storms we've been having, most of the trees are down and the trail is not well maintained anymore, but it does not retract from the hikability and beauty of the trails and the area. And this is definitely one of the more deserted hiking trails. Somehow walking through what felt like it's ancient forests, I can imagine the olden days the native Americans living on these lands navigating by its rivers, and somehow it feels like the magic and the echoes of those past years have remained in a time capsule of sorts enclosed and felt in these woods.

The Woodcock Nature Center is nestled in a residential area on the border of Wilton and Ridgefield…read more It is a great spot to take a hike, play at the playground at pond with the kids or see some animals. Just outside the nature center building are the birds of prey (owls and hawks) and inside they have snakes, fish, turtles and lizards. You will see birds, squirrels, chipmunks and ducks out on the hiking trails and pond. The nature center offers programs for toddlers through teens, with on-sight and off-sight programs. They offer summer camp, vacation week camps during the school year and holiday activities. The summer camp is a mix of outdoor activities, time with the animals and craft activities. Older children may choose to do a trip out on the pond with a canoe or a sleepover with a parent. Overall it is a great nature center, it is just a bit off the beaten path. No frills like the one in New Canaan, but honestly it is about the nature, right?

I sent my two kids ages 3 and 5 to a week at the summer camp program that the Nature Center offers…read more I was so impressed with this program. Both my kids loved it and are ready to go back next year. The staff is so friendly and super organized. From the entrance into the parking lot right up until I dropped off my kids in the center, there was assistance of where to go and lots of welcoming smiles for my kids. My son and I went to the campout on Friday night of his camp week. We both had a blast. Again, super organized but laid back enough that we really enjoyed ourselves. I highly recommend this program. We'll be back to explore more that the center has to offer.

My 1st time here after a snow storm, worth the drive from eastchester, 30-36min. Free parking…read moreduring the winter seasons, there's a fee for parking during the warm weathers . I can see it's a place to be for hiking/trailing / biking/ exploring nature. I came here for tubing/sledding, a lot of snow/fresh snow. Not crowed , this place is a gem, hidden secretly. The fam had fun, good work out, alot of hills. Portable potty everything . A lot of history in this park.

This is our favorite place to do (very) early morning birdwatching. We come here in all 4 seasons.read more

Lovely lake beach area for in season Fairfield residents which is not accessible off season or…read morewithout residency. Many trails throughout although no clear map or directions at starting points nor marked throughout. Lots of dogs off leashes so be aware. Drive past the lake and parking area to get to "cascades" area. Peaceful and tranquil nature. Fairly easy "hike" but hiking shoes recommended due to wet leaves and exposed roots and rocks.

love the lake so nice and refreshing. Love eating some fruit on a hot sunny day while jumping right…read moreinto the lake. After that, we immediately started walking in the trail it's absolutely beautiful and if you enjoy nature and staying active you will love this. Perfect for fishing too! The staff were so kind and welcoming

Beautiful hike in the woods. Hills with a stream below. About a two mile hike Not open in winter.read more

This is always a fun hike. The 2-mile loop to the quarry is perfect, with lots to take in, or the…read morelonger hike to the waterfall is worth your time if you have it. You have the woods, a babbling brook along the trail, some hills, and stone paths. It is peaceful, and oh yeah, clean restrooms in the parking lot The coolest thing I ever saw was reaching the waterfall one year and the gorge just beyondnit, being completely empty. Like I walked to Mars or something. I'll never forget it. The photo shown is actually from a hike where there was some water & lots of growth on the water bed. The first time all mud . The pull to walk on that is real, don't do it!

A great place to walk at when you need to take a break from the real world and unwind. I wish there…read morewere more maps posted of the trails throughout the park because it's pretty easy to get lost in there. However, they do mark the trees for the main path, so you can just look for those. You can also open Google Maps to see the trails (but not necessarily directions on how to get back out). It's also a great place to walk dogs. You are likely to see other friendly dogs along your walk - some leashed, some unleashed (There are signs saying dogs must be leashed. Enforcement does patrol the area, but dog owners take the risk anyway.) There's one paved parking lot with lines and a dirt lot above the paved ones. I usually park up there because it's easier to get out of. But, this one is a free for all, so people park wherever they fit.

The Mianus River Park Connecticut is something of a surprise for newcomers, a beautiful hidden gem…read moreof woodland and a beautiful small river just 22 miles long flowing though woodlands on the border of Greenwich and Stamford. It rises at Bedford, NY in Westchester, NY. Altogether, the park in both is a bit more than 220 acres total The trail is accessible from parking lots in Greenwich and Stamford that allow access to the park, but check to see if PARKING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED. Dogs should be kept on lead and under control, not just because it's the right thing, but also because there is wildlife in the park, Eagles nest in the areas and Black Bears are known to nest there. There is a Mianus Web site as also from Stamford and Greenwich. IN the 90s, a fishway was built to allow migratory fish to enter the river as they had previously. It's just a beautiful place that I once shared with a neighbor occasionally as we walked our dogs in the park, a rare time witha great person in early sages of cancer until she had to give it up.