And spend the whole day in South Norwalk while you're there.
April 28, 2013
I can’t believe we’ve lived in Westchester for almost six years and this weekend was our first visit to the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT. Norwalk has so much to do with the Stepping Stones Museum, shops and restaurants in Historic South Norwalk, and the aquarium has always been on my list. And I don’t know who had more fun, my husband and I or the kids.
You can see everything at the aquarium in one day and it’s geared for young kids. My daughters weren’t scared of any of the animals (unlike the zoo) and it felt less exhausting than the zoo. Also, the aquarium’s location in South Norwalk and right on the Long Island Sound makes it ideal to incorporate into a whole day – stroll the streets of the historic downtown, have lunch and then visit the aquarium. [...]
When you can't escape to a warmer locale.
February 2, 2013
Last week my family and I went to Baltimore for five days. Yep, Baltimore. Now before you go feeling sorry for me and my lame-o vacation, here’s what you need to know: We had a blast. Beating the winter isn’t always about escaping to warmer locales — Sometimes you just need to change your locale to have a little fun. We stayed in a nice hotel for less than $179 a night, swam in the indoor pool while it snowed outside, and planned trips to the Baltimore Aquarium and the Baltimore Science Center. (My husband’s family lives in the area so we had incentive to travel down.)
We had so much fun that I put together three mini vacation itineraries from Westchester. All of the destinations are within driving distance, they’re all in good restaurant towns, and they won’t rob you of all of your money, like a vacation to St. Barth’s. [...]
Long Island's North Fork prides itself on being different from its tony neighbors to the south.
July 8, 2012
I’m walking through rows of cabernet sauvignon. The vines stretch out as far as the eye can see, and in a few minutes I’ll be sipping a glass of the cab at Martha Clara Vineyards on Long Island’s North Fork. My 2-year-old pulls me toward the farm animals; there are goats, pigs, turtles and horses.We take a walk through the vines to a gazebo. And our day is just beginning.
Long Island’s North Fork is home to about 36 wineries and 3,000 acres of vineyards, which makes it an ideal spot for vineyard hopping. But there’s so much more to do on this small 25-mile spit of land bordered by the Long Island Sound to the north and the Peconic Bay to the south. On your drive out, you’ll pass through charming villages with white-steepled churches, wide swaths of undeveloped farmland, farm stands selling locally-grown fruits, veggies and cheeses, plenty of beaches, and yes, rows upon rows of grape vines.
I’ve been spending summers on the North Fork of Long Island since I was a kid — I’m here as I type these very words. And I can promise you this: It’s worth the 90-minute drive.
[...]
