Summer Bucket List 2018

Come along with us as we check things off our Summer Bucket List! We love that summer provides more time and better weather for so many fun activities in Fairfield County and the surrounding areas. This year our Bucket List is composed of tons of off the beaten path, hidden gem, “I didn’t even know that place existed” type of activities. Some are easy, spur of the moment ideas like having lunch at Sweet Pea’s & walking to Binney Park; or having a scavenger hunt in your own backyard! Others are day trips to places like the Thimble Islands, the Pez Visitor Center, or LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Some are for the more adventurous: indoor skydiving at iFLY! While others are a bit slower paced: strawberry picking at Jones Family Farm. Whatever your mood may be, we have something FUN for you & your entire family to enjoy! If your favorite “secret” summer destination is missing from our list, email us here and let us know! Happy Summer!
*Please be sure to check with individual businesses for full event or program details before attending or visiting.
Museums/Discovery
- PEZ Visitor Center
- The Barnum Museum
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center
- Discovery Museum
- Connecticut Science Center
- New England Air Museum
- Mystic Seaport Museum
- The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
- Bruce Museum

Indoor Adventure
- iFLY Indoor Skydiving
- Toddler Time at Get Air
- Bass Pro Shop & Bowling
- RPM Raceway
- It Adventure Ropes Course & Blaze Pizza
- Bowlmor
- Monster Mini Golf
- Salt Cave of Darien

Outdoor Adventure
- Scavenger Hunt at local beach, park, or even your own backyard!
- The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
- Thimble Islands Cruise aboard Sea Mist or Volsunga IV & ice cream from The Thimbleberry
- The Carousel at Mill River Park
- Sheffield Island
- Dinosaur State Park
- Devil’s Den Preserve
- The Maritime Aquarium Cruises
- The Beer Garden at Shippan Landing (live music, lawn games, food trucks, kids welcome!)
- Kayak & Paddle Board rentals in Darien, Rowayton, & Westport
- Cove Marina Mini Golf & Sunset Grille
- Devon’s Place Playground & Splash Pad
- Scalzi Park Playground & Splash Pad
- Mill River Park Playground (Splash Pad coming 2019)
- Playland
- Lake Compounce & Crocodile Cove
- Quassy Amusement Park & Waterpark
- Farmington River Tubing
- McGuane Park playground (visit the concession stand while Darien Butcher Shop is there!)
- Gillette Castle State Park
- Sherwood Island State Park & 9/11 Memorial
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Captain’s Cove Seaport

Yummy Eats
- Milkcraft
- Eats & Antiques (kiddos love the lemonade & playing with the vintage toys)
- Sweet Pea’s (get the Pão de Queijo!) & stroll to Binney Park
- Rowayton Market (sit outside overlooking the water) & then grab ice cream at Brendan’s 101
- Sweet Ashley’s Ice Cream Shoppe
- Chocolate Works (be a chocolatier for the day!)
- Stew Leonard’s ice cream (1 free cone when you spend $100) & edible cookie dough; then visit the Little Farm
- Elm Street Diner for insane desserts!
- The Drawing Room & make your way to Whimsies Dollhouse Shop (not walkable!)
- Pack a picnic & head to Waveny Park

Farms, Zoos, Aquariums
- Beardsley Zoo
- Silverman’s Farm
- Jones Family Farms (& winery!)
- Lyman Orchards
- Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens
- Grace Farms
- Mystic Aquarium
- Wakeman Town Farm
- Audubon Greenwich
- Darien Nature Center
- Stamford Museum & Nature Center
- New Canaan Nature Center
- The Maritime Aquarium

Arts & Crafts

*Please Note: The below list is from 2018. To view 2019’s outdoor movies, theatre, & concerts: click here!*
Outdoor Movies/Theatre
- Family Movie Night, Norwalk, Saturdays
- Cinema on the Sound, Rowayton
- Shakespeare on the Sound, Rowayton
- Shakespeare on the Green, Stamford
- Kids Movies in Mill River Park, Stamford, Saturdays
- Movies in Commons Park, Stamford, Wednesdays
- “The Greatest Showman“, Darien, June 29th
- “Coco”, Darien, August 31st
- “Up“, Greenwich, July 23rd
- Compo Beach Movie Nights, Westport,
August 2ndpostponed to August 7th & 23rd - “Paddington 2“, New Canaan, August 24th
Outdoor Concerts
- Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk, Wednesdays & Sundays
- Summer Music Festival, Rowayton, Sundays
- Music in Commons Park, Stamford, Wednesdays & Sundays
- Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, Sundays
- Binney Park & Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, Greenwich, Wednesdays & Sundays
- Summer Nights at Grove Street Plaza, Darien, Fridays
- Weed Beach, Darien, Wednesdays
- Waveny Park, New Canaan, Wednesdays
- Levitt Pavilion, Westport, various days (Wednesdays are for kids)
- Tuesdays @ the Train, Westport, various Tuesdays

*Please Note: The below list is from 2018. To view 2019’s farmers markets: click here!*
Farmers Markets
- Darien
- Goodwives Shopping Center, Wednesdays 11-4
- Rowayton
- Pinkney Park, Fridays 12-5
- Stamford
- Downtown Stamford, Saturdays 9-3
- Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Sundays 10-2
- Commons Park, Sundays 9-2
- Greenwich
- Arch Street Parking Lot, Saturdays 9:30-1
- Living Hope Community Church, Wednesdays 2:30-6
- New Canaan
- Old Center School Parking Lot, Saturdays 10-2
- Westport
- Imperial Avenue, Thursdays 10-2
- Norwalk
- Rainbow Plaza, Wednesdays 11-3
