Things to Do in Stamford

Jenks Productions has been handling the nuts and bolts of consumer trade shows for 33 years. Partnering with local and national businesses, Jenks specializes in home, bridal, and pet shows, which fill sprawling spaces with vendors eager to share their wares and visitors looking for inspiration. The services that Jenks Productions provides are extensive, as the team can do everything from onsite event management and budget planning to marketing efforts such as developing newsletters, logos, and jingles that rhyme the words “impending nuptials.”

Behind a sunny picture window, visitors at The Natural Beauty In You recline in Adirondack chairs, digging their toes in the sand and gazing at a relaxing scene of blue ocean merging into pale-blue sky. This mini indoor beach reflects the easy-going, relaxed atmosphere at the fitness center and mini beauty zone. Throughout the week, experienced instructors teach fitness classes such as Zumba, Pilates, and yoga. Staffers also work to enhance natural beauty holistically, such as organic spray tanning and foot detoxification baths.

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.