City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Stamford, Connecticut
Located in southern Connecticut, between Greenwich and Norwalk, Stamford has a rich maritime history that carries on today with yachting, distance racing and offshore events. The city sits along Stamford Harbor and Long Island Sound where visitors can enjoy the perks of yacht clubs, marinas and private boat docks for rent with NYC views. It's a nice stopover whether you're in town for a few days or taking on a Great Loop adventure along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The harbor is well-protected and fairly easy to enter by boat. Once in the harbor, two canals run through town offering access to restaurants, gas docks and other facilities.
Let’s take a look at a few of the things you can do when you want to spend some time away from a boat lift rental.
Stamford Museum and Nature Center
Photo: Stamford Museum and Nature Center Facebook
Stamford Museum and Nature Center is a former mansion, built in 1929, that now functions as a museum. Natural and cultural history exhibits include historic farm tools and local art. The Wheels in the Woods Trail features marble statues in a hilltop garden that overlooks Lake Laurel. Heckscher Farm is a working New England farm with sheep, chickens, goats and horses. There’s also an observatory, an otter pond and a playground where kids can climb through hollow logs or sit in a giant bird’s nest.
Cove Island Park
Photo: Cove Island Park Facebook
Located along Long Island Sound in southeast Stamford, Cove Island Park offers 83 acres of walking, running, cycling, in-line skating, swimming and boating. Natural habitats include rocky beaches, salt marshes, an estuary, mud flats and a sand dune. Be on the lookout for all sorts of birds and butterflies. There’s also a playground to let the little ones play off some energy before heading off to a boat dock for rent. At the northeast end of the park, you’ll find SoundWaters Coastal Education Center, an environmental organization that offers programs, classes and kayak rentals. You can also charter a cruise aboard the 80-foot three-masted SoundWaters schooner for a stunning sail around Long Island Sound.
Arts, Music and Movies
Photo: Palace Theatre for the Arts Facebook
If you’re in the mood for a classic flick, foreign language film, documentary or independent film, check out the Avon Theatre Film Center. The historic theatre was built in 1939 and has two theatres, one with 271 seats and one with 242 seats. Built in 1927 as a vaudeville performance venute, the Stamford Center for the Arts' Palace Theatre is another spot to visit for concerts, comedy and movies. There's even a holographic performance (accompanied by a live band and back-up singers) by Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly. Either choice makes a nice evening out from a private boat dock rental.
Mianus River Park
Photo: Mianus River Park Facebook
The nearly 400-acre Mianus River Park is the place to go for hiking, biking, fishing, cross-country skiing and geocaching. Enjoy forest trails while looking for birds and wildlife or pack a picnic and just relax. There’s a cave, a wooden bridge and a dam to search for on your travels around the park.
Whether you’re into arts, nature or outdoor recreation, we hope you’ve found some new sites to visit the next time you’re hanging out at a boat lift for rent in Stamford. Let us know if we missed anything!
