In a city as spirited, lively, and diverse as Stamford, there is always something to do. Whether you’re walking the 19 miles of shoreline, drinking and dining at the bars Downtown, or hiking the scenic trails of North Stamford, you’ll quickly find that there is never a dull moment in this city.

The Stamford Town Center mall boasts 130 shops including J. Crew, H&M, Macy's, Saks off Fifth, and Brooks Brothers. It also features a pedestrian-friendly restaurant row which includes The Capital Grille, Peter Chengs, Plan B Burger Bar, The Cheesecake Factory, and Pieology.

There are more than 150 restaurants throughout the city, six major hotels, and 18 movie screens. Stamford has over 40 parks and recreational areas, many include access to Long Island Sound. They may feature a marina, tennis courts, softball fields, horseshoe pits, playgrounds, skating rink, picnic areas, fishing, and more. Mill River Park has become a mini Central Park in the heart of Downtown Stamford with various events throughout the year in a beautifully landscaped park. Science and nature lovers can enjoy the Stamford Museum & Nature Center and the Bartlett Arboretum.

One of the most anticipated events of the year, Alive@Five is an outdoor summer concert series in Stamford’s Columbus Park that brings in big names each year, such as Cee Lo Green, Plain White T's, Third Eye Blind, Sugar Ray and much more. Alive@Five runs an impressive six Thursday concerts in a row, ensuring that there's always time to see a few after work.

The Palace Theater is home to world-renowned performers, major off-Broadway musicals, the Stamford Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Grand Opera and the Connecticut Ballet, the state's professional ballet company. The Avon Theater is an "art cinema" featuring the best in independent and art nouveau films on two screens.

Stamford’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the largest helium balloon parades in the country, drawing over 100,000 spectators annually. It features award-winning marching bands, eye-catching floats, large colorful balloons, and guest appearances. It's great fun for the whole family!

HISTORY

Settled by families from Wethersfield, Stamford incorporated as a borough in 1830, and later as a city in 1893. By the 18th century, Stamford was a successful commercial center - attributed largely to it’s canal and harbor which shipped and received goods with New York and the West Indies. Today, Stamford is known primarily as a suburb of New York City and home to the headquarters of numerous corporations.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

• Cove Island Park

• Cummings Park

• Cummings Park West

• Dorothy Heroy Park

• Scalzi Park & Cubeta Stadium

EDUCATION

Elementary Schools

• Davenport Ridge

• Hart Magnet

• Julia A. Stark

• K. T. Murphy

• Newfield

• Northeast

Middle Schools

• Cloonan

• Dolan

High Schools

• AITE

• Stamford

• Westhill