Stamford Museum & Nature Center

If you are looking for a fun place that has animals and artwork, head over to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center! It covers 118 acres and has a 10-acre farm, a Tudor-style Museum and gallery that has exhibitions, an interactive nature center, 80 acres of outdoor trails, a planetarium, a 4-story observatory with a research telescope, an otter pond, and a playground designed for children to experience animals’ perspective on nature.

The farm originally opened in 1955 with a dairy barn, a creamery, stalls for three cows, a silo, a barnyard, and two paddocks. Since then, they have added a chicken coop, a pig pen, larger pastures, shelters, multiple barns, an organic vegetable garden, a maple sugar house and cidery, and many heritage breeds of farm animals. 

There is also an indoor exhibit that features exotic animals and plants from across the globe. Some of the animals it includes are tarantulas, lizards, snakes, sugar gliders, chinchillas, and tortoises.

They also currently have an art exhibit going on in the museum until January 28. It is called Insofar, and it is a display of artwork from the artist Rachel Sard. This exhibit is described as a celebration of texture, luminosity, and transparency through painting. She is fascinated by the slight imperfections and subtle tonal shifts in often overlooked objects. The objects that she uses in her work include a pile of stones, discarded onion peels, and a mass of oyster shells, which she uses as vessels through which she can explore the optical qualities of paint. 

There are also several trails that people can walk along that have animals such as wood ducks, red foxes, white-tail deer, and pileated woodpeckers. The trails also have vernal pools that are home to wood frogs, spotted salamanders, insect larvae, snakes, turtles, and water birds. There are also several glacial erratic boulders along the trails, as well as several trees like beech trees, oaks, black birch trees, and many other native plant species. There is another trail called the Wheels in the Woods trail that is designed for people of all abilities and lets them enjoy the sights of nature around them. The trail is a boardwalk that crosses the brook twice and lets guests stop on one of the observation platforms and hear the water or watch the birds feeding from the numerous birdfeeders along the trail. 

They also have several fun activities and events coming up. Every day, from 12:00-12:10, visitors get to watch the daily otter feeding. There will also be a drop-in event every Sunday until December 17 from 3:00-3:30 where they will be sharing space stories. On December 10, there will be a parent and child cookie decorating class from 2:00-3:00. One December 26, from 6:00-7:00, there will be an event called Full Moon Fun, which is an outdoor event where guests will be viewing the last full moon of the year. Guests will also learn about the phases of the moon and hear stories about it from around the world. On December 27, from 2:00-3:30, there will be an event that discusses the history of gargoyles and show some of the animals that have inspired them. From there, guests will head outside to see the gargoyles at the Bendel Mansion, one of the buildings on the property. On February 9, from 6:30-9:30, there will be an event called Bevs & Bites. This is where guests will be savoring and sampling fresh local gourmet fare with first-rate wines, custom craft beers from local breweries, and spirits from local distilleries.

So, get your tickets and go enjoy one of the most fun places in Stamford!