Stamford is the fourth largest city in Connecticut and the eighth largest city overall in the New England region. There are many things to see and do in this wonderful city, and the fact that it’s lesser known than Boston, Hartford, or Bridgeport means that you wont’ have to fight crowds to get into the attractions, even at the busiest time of the year. If you’d like to explore a little bit of New English culture without the headaches that the larger cities can provide, check out Stamford.

One of the greatest draws of the city is the amount of parks that it has. Cummings beach, which was once very popular for shell fishing, is a great spot to sit back, unwind, and watch the waves roll against the beach. There’s an 83-acre park right in the center of the town – called Cove Island Park, it possesses a bird sanctuary that is guaranteed to excite bird watchers. If you like to golf there are two municipal golf courses that are found within the city limits – Sterling Farms Golf Course and E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course. The former is the more popular of the two and was recently renovated in 2010. IF you want a taste of history from the Revolutionary war, visit Mill River Park – George Washington led his troops through here.

If you’d like to check out museums while visiting this lively town, there are several to choose from. Try the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, which not only contains locally pertinent information regarding flora and fauna, but also a collection of works by Gutzon Borgium – or the man who sculpted Mount Rushmore. He was originally a Stamford resident. You can get spacey at The Fairfield Astronomical Society, which features a 22-inch telescope with which to gaze at the stars. The Stamford Theater for the Arts always has performances going on year – round, and many well-renown acts stop by here to perform. If music is more your style, there’s the Stamford Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Grand Opera to choose from.

For a city that’s slightly off the beaten path but still rich in the history and natural beauty that New England is known for, be sure to check out Stamford.