Top 10 Things To Do In New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is an adorable town in southern Connecticut (just an hour northeast of NYC). Known for its pricey real estate, cute downtown area, farm to table restaurants, and beautiful parks New Canaan is much more than just your average town. If you are looking for a weekend escape from New York City or for the perfect fall getaway, New Canaan may be just what you are looking for. Read on to discover the top 10 things to do in New Canaan, Connecticut.
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Best Hotels In New Canaan
There are only two accommodation options in New Canaan. So this list also includes a few hotels in the nearby town of Norwalk for more options. You can find any recently added New Canaan hotels here.
🛎️New Canaan Rental - This Rental in the center of Norwalk is perfect if you are traveling with a group or need a lot of space. This modern home has three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and can sleep up to five people. The property also has a full kitchen and an outdoor area with a fire pit perfect for entertaining.
🛎️Roger Sherman Inn - The Roger Sherman Inn is an elegant B&B located in the heart of New Canaan. This stunning hotel offers beautifully appointed rooms, an amazing restaurant, and historic charm. It is a bit pricey - so maybe opt for some of our other recommendations if you are traveling on a budget.
🛎️The Watershed - The Watershed is an adorable hotel located in the charming town of Norwalk, CT. At the Watershed you will find cozy rooms, floor to ceiling windows in the lobby, a small gym, an in house Italian restaurant, and a stunning rooftop area. You will have everything you need under one roof at the Watershed. I loved my stay!
🛎️Hilton Garden Inn - Also located in Norwalk is the Hilton Garden Inn. If you are looking for a more affordable stay in the Southern Connecticut area, the Hilton is a great option.
Things To Do In New Canaan
1. Waveny Park
Waveny Park is a stunning stunning 130 acre park located in New Canaan's countryside. At Waveny Park you will find so much to do and see. There are beautiful trails, a dog park, a playground, a magnificent mansion, and picturesque gardens at Waveny Park. You will seriously feel like you are in a period film at this incredible park.
2. Explore Downtown New Canaan
Downtown New Canaan is full of adorable boutiques, amazing farm to table restaurants, and picturesque streets. While in the downtown area be sure to stop by Le Pain Quotidien for coffee, the Adirondack Store & Gallery for unique gifts, Elm Street Books, and Farmers Table for dinner.
3. Grace Farms
Grace Farms is a beautiful farm located just outside of downtown New Canaan. At Grace Farms you will find 80 acres of natural landscapes, a beautiful library, an indoor basketball court, a garden, walking trails, a tea & coffee room, barns, and more. So it is safe to say that you will have plenty to do at the futuristic Grace Farms.
If I am being honest, Grace Farms has kind of a culty vibe. It's so modern and all the buildings have a weird futuristic vibe. Grace Farms is the type of place that is created when a town has too much money and doesn't know what to do with it. With that said, it is certainly worth a visit.
4. The Glass House
The Glass House is exactly how it sounds, a house made of Glass. The Glass House itself is considered art of architecture as it is a livable house that is made completely of Glass.
The Glass house was created by Philip Johnson in 1949. Philip Johnson lived in the glass house from 1949 - 2005 when he died. Johnson also created some other architectural masterpieces on his property (The Brick House, The Studio, The Pavilion, The Ghost House, and The Sculpture Gallery).
5. New Canaan Library
Located in downtown you will find the historic New Canaan Library. Built in 1913, the New Canaan Library houses thousands of books, cozy work spaces, beautiful floor to ceiling windows, and other lovely amenities. The library is a great place to get any work done or learn more about New Canaan's history.
6. See New Canaan's Churches
New Canaan is full of beautiful and historic churches. It seems like there is a different one around every corner in New England, so they are hard to miss. Some of our favorite churches in the area include The Congregational Church of New Canaan, St. Aloysius Parish, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
7. Take a Day Trip To Norwalk
Norwalk is a neighboring town of New Canaan (just south) and offers coastal views, beautiful nature reserves, and plenty to do. While in Norwalk be sure to visit Calf Pasture Beach, Oyster Shell Park, Mill Hill Historic Park, Sheffield Island, and the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum.
Read Next - What To Do In Norwalk, Connecticut
8. New Canaan Museum and Historical Society
In the downtown area you will find the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society. At this fascinating museum you will have the opportunity to learn more about the history of New Canaan and the early United States. Some of my favorite exhibits at the museum include the Clothing & Textiles and The Force Of Change.
9. New Canaan Nature Center
The New Canaan Nature Center is a non-profit education center situated in the downtown area (right next to the New Canaan Museum & History Center). At the nature center you will find things to do for both children and adults. There are a few parks, playgrounds, trails, picnic areas, a greenhouse, a bird exhibit, and more!
10. Talmadge Hill Rail Trail
Talmadge Hill Rail Trail is a beautiful hiking trail right by the New Canaan Train Station. This stunning trail is only 1.3 miles long and allows you to immerse yourself in nature without venturing too far out of town.
Where To Dine In New Canaan
Best Coffee Shops In New Canaan
- Zumbach's Gourmet Coffee - Zumbach is a Gourmet Coffee Shop located in the heart of Downtown New Canaan. At Zumbach you will find freshly roasted coffee and cozy seating!
- Le Pain Quotidien - Le Pain Quotidien, also located in the downtown area, is the perfect spot for brunch in New Canaan. With amazing bread, pastries, coffee, and breakfast goods, Le Pain Quotidien is a great breakfast, lunch, and brunch spot!
Best Restaurants In New Canaan
- Farmers Table - The Farmers Table is a farm to table restaurant located in the downtown area. This simplistic restaurant prides itself on serving only the freshest ingredients. Be sure to make a reservation because they book up.
- Blackbird - Blackbird is a ritzy bar and restaurant located in downtown New Canaan. This luxury restaurant is great for a fancy dinner or lunch. Be sure to make a reservation.
How To Get To New Canaan
Closest Airports To New Canaan - New Canaan closets airport is The White Plains Airport (HPN) which is about 15 miles away. Airlines such as JetBlue, Breeze, American, Delta, Alaska, KLM, Aeromexico, and more fly into The White Plains Airport (HPN). Some other nearby airports that you could fly into include JFK (51.1 miles), LGA (40.9 miles), and EWR (61.9 miles).
Getting To Norwalk - Driving and renting a car is probably the easiest option because once you get to New Canaan there isn't much public transportation. You can book a rental car here. Another option for getting to New Canaan is taking a train. You can take the Amtrak from NYC Grand Central to Stamford, which is right next to New Canaan. There are also trains you can take directly from the airports to the Stamford station.
When To Visit New Canaan
The best times to visit anywhere in Connecticut and the Northeast is in the fall and summer. During the summer in southern Connecticut you kind of get that Hampton vibe. The fall is amazing because of the crisp weather and fall foliage!
As you can probably tell from my photos in this post I visited New Canaan in the winter (January). I actually loved this time! We had a snowstorm and I loved getting cozy and warm at The Watershed and watching the snow fall.
Things To Do In New Canaan FAQs:
Is New Canaan worth visiting?
Yes! New Canaan is a great town to visit in southern Ct. If you are looking for a day trip from NYC, New Canaan is a lovely option.
What is New Canaan, Connecticut known for?
Its cute downtown area, restaurants, and easy access to New York City!
Top 10 Things To Do In New Canaan Wrap Up
New Canaan and all of southern Connecticut is truly underrated. You will find charming towns, historic sights, beautiful beaches, and more all over the region. New Canaan is the perfect spot for a getaway. We hope that this guide to the top 10 things to do in New Canaan, Connecticut helps you plan the perfect trip. If you liked this post be sure to checkout our guides to NYC, Mystic & Norwalk.
Happy Travels,
Daisy
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