Danbury is only about 50 miles northeast of New York City. This city, despite its small size, is commended by the United States as one of the most vibrant and habitable areas in the country, so there are plenty of fun things to do in Danbury CT.
This city is well-known for being the place of the train station in one of Alfred Hitchcock’s films.
But there’s more to this city; it’s home to Candlewood Lake, a stunning natural body, as well as specially designated nature areas where you can hike, fish, horseback ride, and boat.
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Here are the top things to do in Danbury CT to help you plan your trip.
1. Tarrywile Park & Mansion:
Tarrywile Park is widely regarded as the state’s largest park, spanning an area of more than 700 acres.
The garden is owned by the city and is full of lovely features such as forests, rocky hills, and meadows, all of which combine to create spectacular landscapes.
You’d also appreciate the hiking trails, which stretch for over 20 miles and can be biked or walked with your family.
The park has a lot to offer visitors. Yes, there is a beautiful lake in the forest, and the stunning and varied instinctual terrain mesmerizes the eyes.
2. Jumpz Trampoline Sports Danbury:
If you’re looking for a place to tire the kids out with fun activities that you can also participate in, then Jump Trampoline Sports Danbury is the place to go during your visit to Danbury.
This is an enclosed fun space with a range of popular to keep everyone entertained with one sport or another. Activities include laser tag, wall-to-wall trampoline, volleyball, dodgeball, basketball, foam pits, swing, super slide, and much more.
You’re in for a good time at Jump Trampoline Sports Danbury; add it to your list of nice activities to do in Danbury, CT while you’re there.
3. Squantz Pond State Park:
This 270-acre body of water was formed in the 1920s as a result of reservoir filling.
It is especially beautiful in the summer when you can relish activities such as motor-boating, fishing, and swimming.
To enjoy the water, you can rent kayaks and canoes. There is also a picnic area in the park, as well as views from the nature center.
4. Danbury Museum & Historical Society:
The Danbury Museum & Historical Society has the history of Danbury on a platter for anyone interested in learning more about it.
These historic structures include the John Dodd Hat Shop (1790), the Marian Anderson Studio, the Little Red Schoolhouse (18th century), the John Rider House (1785), and finally the Huntington Hall (1963)
The hall houses the majority of the exhibitions and displays. There, you will learn about Danbury’s culture, characteristics, and history.
5. Danbury Fair Mall:
The Danbury Fair Mall is one of the largest (specifically, the fifth largest) shopping malls in all of New England and the second-largest in Connecticut.
The mall opened in 1986 and is located off I-84, across from Danbury Municipal Airport. This is an ancient fairground with an area of over 1.2 million square feet.
The mall has around 200 different stores and provides a variety of services. Michael Kors, H&M, Macy’s, L.L. Banana Republic, Sears, Bean, JCPenny, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Gap are among the well-known upmarket, massive department stores, and mid-market retailers.
The mall also has some of the best restaurants in town.
They also host the SummerStage event as part of their efforts to preserve history.
As part of their efforts to preserve history, they also organize the SummerStage event, which includes arts and crafts, outdoor concerts, and the collection of funds for children.
This event, which takes place in July and August, reignites that feeling.
6. Danbury Railway Museum:
A visit to The Danbury Railway Museum is one of the fun things to do in Danbury. It is the old Union Station of the Metro-North Railroad, which operated from 1903 until 1993 when it was decommissioned due to the construction of a new station.
Then there’s the Danbury Railway Museum, which was built to preserve the history of railroads in Danbury and its surrounding areas.
The structure is designed in the Richardson Romanesque style and is adorned with model train layouts.
If you are a train enthusiast, you will be drawn to the depot and the railyard event (about 6 acres).
More delight can be found in the surrounding ancient appliances (over 70 pieces) and artifacts.
Take a train ride for about half an hour to add to your excitement!
7. Danbury Ice Arena
The Danbury Ice Arena, which opened in 1999, has a capacity of 3000 people and offers a broad array of skateboarding initiatives and other general populace sessions.
Following its establishment in 2004, there was a massive expansion.
This arena caters to people of all ages with its skating lessons, which are available all year long.
Students receive free admission to public skate sessions when they attend classes during the semester.
Their expert trainers help students improve their puck-handling and skating skills, as well as organize youth leagues.
Over the last two decades, this arena has hosted a few professional teams and games. The Danbury Whalers were once based in Hartford.
8. Danbury Sports Dome.
The Danbury Sports Dome is one of the fun things to do in Danbury for sports fans. It is the East Coast’s largest dome structure.
Throughout the year, this facility hosts a variety of events and activities.
Visitors can participate in games such as drop-in soccer, pick-up lacrosse, and lawn bowling.
The indoor fields are still available for rent, as are the battle balls. You can get some decent food and drinks at the nearby food counter.
They also host special events like birthday parties.
9. Bear Mountain Reservation:
The Bear Mountain Reservation, located in the city’s northwestern outskirts, is a 140-acre site with a range of interesting paths for your enjoyment.
These trails are rewinding and beautifully connect. Some can be simple to hike through, while others can be difficult.
The Orange Trail, on the other hand, is a steep path that leads to the shore of Candlewood Lake.
You’d enjoy the beautiful water scenery and the 1.7-mile Red Trail, the area’s longest color-coded trail.
There are also a few shady picnic areas where you can unwind. You are welcome to bring your car because it is a parking lot purchasable.
10. Ives Concert Park:
Charles Ives, a well-known modernist composer, inspired the creation of the Ives Concert Park (1874-1954). He was a city dweller at the time.
It is a lovely 40-acre pond-side park that functions more like an amphitheater for a variety of events. This park’s aesthetics are enhanced by lush gardens and forests.
Throughout the year, there are music concerts and theater productions.
Shakespeare plays, country harvest hoedowns, classical shows, and reggae concerts all make an appearance. Other unique events, such as sip nights and auto shows, are held here on occasion.
Plan a visit to this beautiful park.
11. Wooster Mountain State Park:
This park was built in 1920 and is located within the city limits. It has a land area of 444 acres and its main activity is hunting.
In the Park’s shooting range, you can also practice target, trap, and skeet shooting. Yes, it’s about 50 yards if you don’t enjoy hunting.
The Ives Trails and Greenway run through Wooster Mountain State Park, making it ideal for hiking.
12. Shelter Rock Winery:
This is the state of Connecticut’s first urban winery.
The Shelter Rock Winery is unique in that it is a club that allows its members to produce their wine according to their preferences. The atmosphere is very social and welcoming.
The grapes used in the production are sourced from Northern California. And because the owner, an Italian, is very skilled in the winemaking business, members have the option of selecting their preferred varietals.
The winery has a lot more to offer tourists, and those who can’t make it (due to time restrictions) can enjoy the banquets, trips, or wine tasting.
13. Lakeside Watersports:
Lakeside Watersports is a boating company-owned and maintained by two friends who are watersports geeks.
Even though they are still a small business, they provide lessons to those who are interested in using Candlewood
Lake.
One can choose from a variety of water sports to participate in. Water skiing, wake surfing, and kneeboarding are all available to try out, with all necessary equipment readily available.
14. Monster Mini Golf:
The Monster Mini Golf is an 18-hole golf course with recreation and fun activities for your amusement and the enjoyment of your family.
Adorned with black lights around the course, with many glow-in-the-dark components and even some animatronic monsters upstaged to bring in reality experience.
There is also a laser tag course. It is a 2,500-square-foot space intended for both individual and team competition.
You can host your birthday party in any of the arena sections (mini or laser tag) and have a memorable occasion.
15. Veterans Walkway of Honor:
This passageway is nicely crafted with bricks that bear the names, service areas, and currently ranked of these veterans.
The pictures of these humble men and women can be found on the website. Profits are directed toward war vet activities and charitable organizations.
16. Richter Park Golf Course:
Another outstanding golf course is widely regarded as the best in Danbury.
The public golf course has been designed by golf architect Edward Ryder and is located near the West Lake Reservoir, just by the shores.
It has 18 holes with a par of 71. But it’s a tricky one, and 14 of them have ocean views, with the green well-protected by 49 bunkers.
17. Escape 101:
This is a type of entertainment in which friends, families, and team members (usually 4-10 people) enter a festive room full of puzzles, the room is locked shut, and a timer is set to 60 minutes.
This gives players time to fix intricate puzzles by accumulating clues within the room, with getting keys to unlock the room.
18. Candlewood Lake:
The lake is a majestic body, its beauty radiates that which attracted some of the mostdearestates to be established by its shores
As a tourist, you will find golf courses, marinas, and beaches spread on the shoreline. And like we’ve discussed already, by the south of the shore is the Inglewood Town Park, with lots of attractions for you.
19. Hemlock Hills:
These parks have a connection of walking trails, the Pine Mountain and Hemlock Hills are linked by the Red Trail and Yellow Trail.
They are both very much friendly for you to enjoy with your family, though steep. You can also enjoy mountain hibikingnd fishing at the base of the hills.
20. Blue Yards Orchards:
Blue Jay Orchards is one unique setup for fruits.
You would see about 15 distinct species grown on the farm, including the Galas, sweet Braeburns orandhe Granny Smiths.
Between September and late October, the sumptuous apples are ready for picking and you could join in selecting from any of the varieties.
21. Collis P. Huntington State Park:
The park has been enhanced by landscaping completed in the twentieth century. There are also five ponds, path systems, and a boathouse on one of the islands.
At the entrance, you’d be greeted by sculpted wolves and bears.
22. Ives Trail & Greenway:
The trail passes through four towns and private and public lands. Interchanging terrains include smooth rolling hills, notable glacial erratics, rugged precipices, and ice-age deposited boulders.
Going on a tour through this trail necessitates some prior experience. As a result, visitors are informed to turn back when they come to a point that appears unsafe or risky.
All adventure lovers should visit here.
Conclusion:
As you may have noticed, Danbury has a plethora of enjoyable activities.
Its landmarks, waters, museums, sports centers, shopping malls, pleasant parks, monumental sites, reserved areas, and much more are all here to make you happy.
I’m sure you’re gearing up for vacation right now or later, and you can always use this piece as a manual to your checklist.