August 2015
While looking for someplace to stop for a few days on the way back from Kingston in the Catskills, we settled upon Norwalk, Connecticut, a city I've driven through/past hundreds of times but never visited. They have a cool aquarium along the waterfront on the Long Island Sound. We also took a boat trip out to Sheffield Island to tour the lighthouse. Our spare time was spent exploring the SONO (South Norwalk) neighborhood where we found some fantastic food. On our way out of town, we stopped at the world's most fun supermarket, Stew Leonard's. A friend suggested it and you'll have to look at the photos to really appreciate it as much as I appreciate her telling me about it!
Just a buoy on a street corner
The Maritime Aquarium is a fun place to spend an afternoon
One of the seals at Maritime Aquarium
One of the seals at Maritime Aquarium
One of the seals at Maritime Aquarium
Maritime Aquarium seal show
The seals do their shark impression
Stingray
Chinese Water Dragon
Meerkat swing
It’s amazing to watch how fast the meerkats dig
American Bullfrog
Turtles. Don’t ask me what species.
A rare blue lobster
This guy managed to avoid a dinner plate thanks to his pretty color
The sea turtle is ready for a close-up
The sea turtle is ready for a close-up
The sea turtle is ready for a close-up
In the butterfly house at Maritime Aquarium
In the butterfly house at Maritime Aquarium
In the butterfly house at Maritime Aquarium
In the butterfly house at Maritime Aquarium
In the butterfly house at Maritime Aquarium
Apparently one butterfly snuck out with me
Looking up the Norwalk River
Local Kitchen and Beer Bar had delicious food. It was the only restaurant we went to twice.
SONO = South Norwalk, a fun neighborhood
Post Road Diner was another cool little place we found
Post Road Diner was another cool little place we found
Looking up Washington Street in South Norwalk (SONO)
This railroad bridge runs right through the center of SONO
SONO = South Norwalk, a fun neighborhood
SONO = South Norwalk, a fun neighborhood
Headed into the Long Island Sound
According to the tour guide, this is a Double Crested Cormorant
Double Crested Cormorants
A pair of Peregrine Falcons staring me down
Heading home with a fish for dinner
It’s not very visible but that’s Manhattan, NYC across the way
Arriving at Sheffield Island Lighthouse on Sheffield Island
Sheffield Island Lighthouse
The lighthouse keeper’s cottage
Sheffield Island Lighthouse
That is one big bird’s nest
Greens Ledge Light as seen from Sheffield Island
Standing on the beach at Sheffield Island
This beach is made entirely of little seashells
A quick pano from the Sheffield Island beach
Sheffield Island Lighthouse
Sheffield Island Lighthouse has been around since 1868
Sewing area in Sheffield Island Lighthouse
Bedroom in Sheffield Island Lighthouse
Inside Sheffield Island Lighthouse
The most important room, the kitchen
I really hope there are not still oysters in those cans!
Heading out on a walk in McKinney Nature Preserve on Sheffield Island
Heading out on a walk in McKinney Nature Preserve on Sheffield Island
Our ferry heading back to pick us up
Sheffield Island beach
I don’t remember why this was built but it makes for a nice photo
Double Crested Cormorant
Double Crested Cormorant, up, up and away
Double Crested Cormorant, up, up and away
Many people probbaly know what kind of birds these are. I do not.
Norwalk Fire Department boat
Amazing crab and artichoke fondue at Local Kitchen and Beer Bar
Thai popcorn chicken at Local Kitchen and Beer Bar
Keep going through this album to see what’s unique about this lighthouse
We enjoyed an incredible seafood dinner out on the deck at SONO Seaport Seafood
Stuffed clams at SONO Seaport Seafood
SONO Seaport Seafood seafood combination. Those things you might not recognize are belly clams.
When’s the last time you saw a lighthouse lit with neon beer signs?
Stew Leonard's is a grocery store worthy of a tourist stop
Stew Leonard's is a grocery store worthy of a tourist stop
At Stew Leonard’s the butter sings. (We took some home too, it was so much better than regular grocery store butter!)
The milk can’t get much more fresh than this
My mother made a friend
The milk can’t get much more fresh than this
A milk band? Sure why not.
Your grocery store doesn’t have a duck in a life vest?
Bees are busy restocking the honey display
Musical bears
Stew Leonard’s milk van
This goat lives in the zoo out in the parking lot
What dairy store doesn’t have a cow statue?
Rooster in the zoo out in the parking lot
That’s a flexible calf
My mother attracts friendly livestock
Somehow this guy represents deli products
Cindy Celery and Larry Lettuce entertain shoppers
Chiquita Banana hawking her wares