Do It Like a Local - A Weekend Guide to New Haven, CT

I grew up in New Haven, CT, and fled the city when I was 24. Now that I'm...a little bit...older and I have 2 kids, I see the city with new eyes when I return to visit family. Here are some of the local haunts for kids and parents - and where to go when Grandma can babysit.

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Omni New Haven Hotel At Yale
Located right in the thick of it, the Omni Hotel at Yale has a great reputation for being extremely helpful. Room prices are reasonable, amenities for families are available, and many New Haven activities are in walking distance. Bonus!
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Claire's Corner Copia
A neighborhood fixture since I was a little kid and stayed away because it was full of "hippies," this is exactly where I'd take my kids now. It's relaxed, noisy, colorful, and has a huge menu of reasonably priced healthy meals, desserts, and snacks. Claire's is vegetarian and vegan, with a stress locally-grown organic foods and they... More >
A neighborhood fixture since I was a little kid and stayed away because it was full of "hippies," this is exactly where I'd take my kids now. It's relaxed, noisy, colorful, and has a huge menu of reasonably priced healthy meals, desserts, and snacks. Claire's is vegetarian and vegan, with a stress locally-grown organic foods and they have a gluten-free menu. Look, I'm a big meat-eater, but for neighborhood ambience, you just can't beat this spot.
A neighborhood fixture since I was a little kid and stayed away because it was full of "hippies," this is exactly where I'd take my kids now.
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Sleeping Giant State Park
Most towns in Connecticut are located in, or surrounded by, the natural beauty of the New England forests. New Haven has several rocky parks, but Sleeping Giant is a favorite from my youth and young adulthood. A network of trails, ranging from easy to challenging, winds its way over this 6-mile ridge of rock shaped like a sleeping ma... More >
Most towns in Connecticut are located in, or surrounded by, the natural beauty of the New England forests. New Haven has several rocky parks, but Sleeping Giant is a favorite from my youth and young adulthood. A network of trails, ranging from easy to challenging, winds its way over this 6-mile ridge of rock shaped like a sleeping man. The fire road up to the tower that leads from the main parking lot is a popular "hike" for families - kids love to run around the hill and up and down the stairs of the stone observation tower. More ambitious hikers should head for the blue trail, which climbs the almost vertical face of the giant's "head."
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Yale Repertory Theatre
Long Wharf and the Schubert Theater are hardly more recognizable names than Yale, but the Rep offers a little bit more esoteric theater than those other cats. If you have a budding performer in your family, or even a washed-up has-been, then you might enjoy checking out an envelope-pushing performance on a stage that gave us many of t... More >
Long Wharf and the Schubert Theater are hardly more recognizable names than Yale, but the Rep offers a little bit more esoteric theater than those other cats. If you have a budding performer in your family, or even a washed-up has-been, then you might enjoy checking out an envelope-pushing performance on a stage that gave us many of the entertainers we know and love today.
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Peabody Museum of Natural History
Did you ever take your kids to a giant science museum and find yourself rushing them through the exhibits, like a frenzied parent at Disneyland trying to "make it through the whole park?" Clearly, kids are not to be rushed. And why rush them if they're having fun doing something educational? The Peabody is just the right size for ki... More >
Did you ever take your kids to a giant science museum and find yourself rushing them through the exhibits, like a frenzied parent at Disneyland trying to "make it through the whole park?" Clearly, kids are not to be rushed. And why rush them if they're having fun doing something educational? The Peabody is just the right size for kids under 10. With only three floors of exhibits and a small interactive touch-and-feel room, this natural history museum has plenty of dinosaur bones, stuffed animals (and not the cuddly kind), and cool interactive displays to kill a half a day, and then you can head to lunch. Beware the crappy parking in the area, but don't let it scare you away. This one's a winner.
A network of trails, ranging from easy to challenging, winds its way over this 6-mile ridge of rock shaped like a sleeping man.
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Amato's Apizza & Restaurant
You can't go to New Haven and NOT have pizza, especially if it's your first visit. And don't tell me you don't like pizza. You're lying. There is a famous stretch of pizzerias in Wooster Square: skip those. Skip even the more popular Modern Pizza on State St. and go straight to Amato's - the small shop isn't pretentious or rude, there's never a line, the pizza is fantastic, and every night the staff sings "That's Amore... More
You can't go to New Haven and NOT have pizza, especially if it's your first visit. And don't tell me you don't like pizza. You're lying. There is a famous stretch of pizzerias in Wooster Square: skip those. Skip even the more popular Modern Pizza on State St. and go straight to Amato's - the small shop isn't pretentious or rude, there's never a line, the pizza is fantastic, and every night the staff sings "That's Amore" except substituting the word "Amato's" for "Amore."
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About the Author

Kim Tracy Prince
Kim Tracy Prince
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