Stamford Outdoor Activities

Shore Thing Rentals equips its patrons with gear for water- and land-based adventures. Standup paddleboards and single and tandem kayaks let paddlers glide through Long Island Sound's aquatic playground, and bicyclists can wheel around Glen Cove, exploring quaint neighborhoods or one of the area's parks or nature preserves. Shore Thing Rentals neighbors The Boat House Waterside Café in Brewer Yacht Yard and features a free WiFi and a hammock that patrons can use to relax or imagine life as a caterpillar in a fishnet cocoon.

Established in December 2008, Greenlawn Equestrian Center emphasizes the importance of proper horse care along with proper riding techniques. The facility includes a 100'x245' outdoor ring and a covered 80'x80' ring, which makes year-round practice possible and ensures that an afternoon rainstorm will not erase horses’ autographs. During riding lessons, students paired with 1 of 10 school horses learn basic commands, cantering, and eventually jumping. Horsemanship classes help to cultivate the bond between horse and human, and yearly camps cultivate the bond between humans and fresh air.

Each year, the banks of the Saugatuck River transform from a serene New England retreat to a raucous Southern street fair during the annual two-day Blues, Views & BBQ Festival. The syncopated chords of live blues performers waft through the air as visitors nosh on barbecue, jerk chicken, and other down-home favorites supplied by local eateries. Visitors can showcase their own culinary skills by helming grills during barbecue competitions, or highlight their stomachs’ capacity without undergoing embarrassing public x-rays during pie- and rib-eating contests. Carnival-style entertainment rounds out the festivities, ranging from a mechanical bull to inflatables for tots.