Activities in Connecticut

In the spirit of TV scavenger-hunt races and exploring local cities in a new way, the team behind Urban Scavenger Race organizes hunts designed to support neighborhood businesses and raise money for the Stamford and New Haven communities. Before each four-hour race, teams of two to four people or very human-looking robots arrive early to sign in and show off their family-friendly costumes to judges, who will select a winning getup. Upon receiving a clue sheet, teams venture into the city, using only public transportation, smartphones, and the kindness of strangers to track down the locations hinted at in the clues. Teams have to acquire a stamp or take a group photo at each destination, making sure to return to the sponsor site before time is up. Afterward, participants aged 21 and older get a wristband for an after party that includes drink specials and snacks.

Lush tree cover, rolling hills, and lakes dot the landscape surrounding the Connecticut River that GrandView CampResort & Cottages calls home. With this nearly untouched terrain as the backdrop, guests camp along 22.5 acres of wooded hills in their own tent or a deluxe cottage that can accommodate a family of five. Nearby, they can take in whizzing views of the countryside from the 300-foot zipline or take their time while strolling their way through the onsite golf course. When not lounging by the pool or playing horseshoes next to horses playing humanshoes, guests venture to one of more than 20 nearby attractions such as Gillette Castle State Park or the historical Mystic Seaport. Back at the campsite, kids keep their hands busy with scheduled kids' crafts and their faces sticky during pie-eating contests.:m]]

The town of Kent, about 1 mile away from Club Getaway, charms visitors with its small-town atmosphere and eclectic attractions. Pedestrians saunter alongside rustic wooden storefronts, passing a diverse collection of local cafés and shops. Kent’s many galleries host frequent exhibitions with handmade pieces lining walls and shelves, a reflection of the town’s longstanding appreciation for the arts. Club Getaway’s foliage-filled landscape extends beyond its borders into other nearby parks. A stately string of waterfalls glide down 250 feet of limestone hills at Kent Falls State Park, about a 10-minute drive from Club Getaway. A designated trout park, Kent Falls also provides hikers with a steep, quarter-mile journey next to the tumbling water. Other parks in close proximity host campgrounds, picnic areas, and swimming sites.

Wheeling City Tours, LLC, a short walk from the ferry and train, explores New London's streets at the speed of Segway. As groups zoom through the city donning hands-free radios worn around necks, the knowledgable guides narrate facts about the town, tales from its history, and tips on some of the best spots to grab a bite or visit. During their one-hour tour, the guides lead groups through downtown to peep Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull, puttering along the Thames River and Long Island Sound for breath-taking views. Their two-hour excursion follows a similar route, but also introduces riders to views of scenic marinas, beaches, the New London Harbor Light lighthouse, and the Pequot Colony neighborhood, ending in a visit to Ocean Beach Park and a glide down the boardwalk. To commemorate the journey, guides snap photos throughout and forward them along to tour-goers.

And those who haven't ever ridden a Segway need not fear. Before setting out on a tour, the guides lead a thorough training in Segway maneuvering and safety, and promise that each Segway is gentle and has been properly broken.

The coaches at Wilton Fencing Academy call upon decades of instructing experience as well as years of contending in national championships and collegiate competitions. During fencing classes, coaches aim to teach students the coordination, speed, agility, and self-assurance that is not only essential to competition, but also to everyday life. Students practice powerful driving moves and crafty defenses inside the academy's world-class facilities, which feature electronic scoring systems, wall projections, and regulation competition strips. In a separate viewing area, parents can admire their children's progress and unwavering concentration behind large windows. The academy is also home to the Performing Arts Center of Wilton, which helps students discover stage-navigating skills such as ballet, acting, and how to dodge shepherd's crooks.

Shoreline Segway's well-trained, friendly staff ushers segway-equipped and helmet-clad visitors on excursions through Guilford. A friendly tour guide leads a half-hour segway riding practice session before starting the one-hour ride. Feet weary after leap-frog marathons can rest aboard the environmentally conscious, two-wheeled vehicle while their optical counterparts feast on local landmarks such as the Agricultural Fair grounds, Faulkner's and Grass Island, Guilford Marina, Long Island Sound, and Connecticut's oldest house. A mobile lesson in regional history provides Jeopardy-bound brains the knowledge to survive the Connecticut category.