Connecticut

The biggest event in the area is the Norwalk Oyster Festival. If you love fresh seafood, you need to check out this annual event in early September. Sample local fare and get some salt in your veins aboard one of the tall ships - some of the oldest vintage sailing craft still afloat. Culture abounds in Stamford. The Rich Forum and the Palace Theatre, both part of the Stamford Center for the Arts, feature a world-class mix of dance, theater and music.

The Trumbull/Bridgeport area and nearby New Haven is a pool of culture and youthful energy stemming from the region's colleges and universities. Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University and Yale are all located here. The weekends are packed with young professionals and college students alike hitting the bars, clubs and restaurants in the area.

Want to rub elbows with Ivy Leaguers? Head down to the clubs and bars of New Haven, home of Yale University, to enjoy an after work cocktail or some live music. Locals rave about Toad's Place; Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan both have been rumored to play unannounced here. Others to check out include Newt's Café and Gotham Citi Café. For those who enjoy an eatery with a view, head to the Sage American Grill. Located near Long Island Sound, this restaurant features the best scenery in the area. Caffeine addicts may want to fill up at New Haven's own Willoughby's Coffee and Tea with locations scattered throughout the city. For a pasta fix, New Haven's Little Italy is home to Tre Scalini, offering an extensive traditional Italian menu as well as creative fusion dishes.

Like most Connecticut cities, Trumbull/Bridgeport and New Haven have an array of cultural outlets. Yale gives the community a distinctive artistic flavor. Check out the Yale Repertory Theatre, The Yale Art Gallery, The Yale British Art Center and the Yale Philharmonic Orchestra. And if that's not enough, the Shubert Theater and Woolsley Hall are two other venues for art lovers.