“Fall” for: Fairfield County in Connecticut

ADVENTURE ON FOOT:

Westport’s perfectly manicured Main St is every fashionista and home décor-lover’s dream, and it’s an even more beautiful walk when the leaves are falling: You’ll find retailers like Kate Spade, Theory, Lucky Brand, J. Crew, Vineyard Vines and Lululemon (to name a few) all on the same brick path, plus Williams Sonoma, West Elm and Pottery Barn too. New Canaan (Elm St) and Greenwich (Greenwich Ave) boast shopping areas for those building their fall wardrobes.

MUSEUM/ATTRACTION-HOP:

You’ve probably never seen anything like The Glass House, which sits on pristine grounds and only seems to amplify its natural surroundings. The residence-turned-museum is open for small tours and offers art galleries within a series of modern, sculptural buildings (199 Elm St, New Canaan; theglasshouse.org). While we’re on the subject of art, Bruce Museum—also formerly a private home—is dedicated to art, science and natural history with stunning permanent and rotating collections (1 Museum Dr, Greenwich; 203-869-0376, brucemuseum.org). If you’d like more in the way of marine science, head to the beloved Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk to meet adorable seals, otters and other fascinating marine life (10 N Water St; 203-852-0700, maritimeaquarium.org).

EAT:

Keep your dining experience casual with picks like a cheesy slice and soda from Joe’s Pizza (190 Main St; 203-227-7887, joespizzaitalian.com) of Westport, which is located in the middle of the town’s best shopping area. You also won’t want to miss Farmer’s Table (12 Forest St, New Canaan; 203-594-7890, farmerstablenc.com), where farm-to-table American fare is made to order, and Baldanza Natural Market & Café (17 Elm St, New Canaan; 203-966-4000, baldanzabc.com), which offers seasonal soups, a mouth-watering breakfast menu and a variety of fresh fish and homemade pasta entrees. For a fancy night out, don’t miss Schoolhouse at Cannondale, which serves American cuisine in a former one-room schoolhouse on the Norwalk River (34 Cannon Rd, Wilton; 203-834-9816, schoolhouseatcannondale.com).

STAY:

Fairfield County is packed with charming bed and breakfast options for visitors—it’s so hard to mention just a few! We’d start with three-star Cos Cob Inn, which looks like anyone’s dream CT home, but is instead a temporary stop to many enjoying the area’s fall splendor (50 River Rd, Cos Cob; 203-661-5845, coscobinn.com). The Inn at Longshore (260 Compo Rd S, Westport; 203-701-7150, innatlongshore.com), located on the Long Island Sound, is a perfect spot for those who love outdoor activities: Stay privileges include golf, tennis and sailing in fall! For even more recommendations in the area, visit ctvisit.com.

EXTRA FALL FUN:

If a breath of fresh New England air is what you’re after above all else, dedicate your visit to the best outdoor adventures Fairfield County has to offer, including a visit to Silverman’s Farm which has, over the years, grown into an all-out PYO paradise that has apple picking, a pumpkin patch and an animal farm with all kinds of neat critters (451 Sport Hill Rd, Easton; 203-261-3306, silvermansfarm.com). You might also wander around at Weir Farm, a wooded 60-acre National Historic Site that’s dedicated to art, nature and getting visitors into both: The farm offers painting bags with supplies that you can take with you on your adventure through the woods (735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton; 203-834-1896, ctvisit.com). Grace Farms similarly offers many acres of open space for visitors to explore and encounter impressive artwork in various mediums (365 Lukes Wood Rd, New Caanan; 203-920-1702, gracefarms.org).