Things to Do in Stamford

After the birth of his third son, Jerry Petrini opened his own family fun center. Within 20 years, the space expanded into what My Three Sons Family Fun Center is today: a 22,000-square-foot family entertainment center that now employs his three sons and daughter. There, local youngsters descend from the two-level soft-play gym for a ride on the real working train below, fire 16 pedestal-mounted air cannons at targets in the black-lit balladium arena, and pursue opponents through the laser-tag arena flooded with fog imported from London. The mining expedition's thousands of balls in a wall-length trough conceal bounty that grants guests entry into the cave treasure room, where kids open chests growing on trees to obtain the redemption tickets inside. More than 100 games and video simulators dispense additional tickets for prizes, and the center's in-house pizzeria revitalizes visitors with slices of its old family recipe made from scratch.

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.