Just in planning stages now - but we're expecting to stay in NYC in the fall or spring for about a week and want to take a day trip to Connecticut. DH hasn't been there, so we can go anywhere in the state. I've seen a lot of posts about parking in CT and taking the Metro North to Grand Central, but nothing about a reverse trip. I'm thinking we can have lunch somewhere and then head back to the city.

* Is Metro North our best bet, or should we try Megabus? I love the idea of leaving from GCS (have only been there once in all my times in the city) so personally I'd prefer the train. But lack of car might make it complicated.

* Where best to go in Connecticut?

* And then do we grab a taxi, or walk, or take a bus once we get to the train station? We will have two elementary-aged kids with us, and they're great travelers. However more than a mile of walking (even picturesque) isn't realistic.

What exactly would you like to do there? The nearer suburbs are pleasant, wealthy communities with little to offer the visitor. There are a few dodgy cities, Bridgeport and New Haven. One has a zoo -- I assure you nothing to compare with the Bronx. The other has Yale.

If your sights are not set too high, there is a small interesting community in South Norwalk, with some good restaurants and a "Maritime Aquarium" which the kids might like. All these are on Metro North.

If you want a longer and more interesting excursion, you could take Amtrak from Penn Station to Mystic, and tour the Seaport or the somewhat larger aquarium, or both. You'll need to use a taxi. This would make a very long day, however.

Maybe if you told us what you'd like to see we could better help.

Thanks for your suggestions!
I have no expectations of what to see. At a minimum we'd like to have lunch and head back. At most if there's a walkable area with shops or even a park that would be fantastic. Walking along a beach would be ok, though I don't think that's the least bit realistic. Overall we don't plan to spend more than a few hours total depending upon train schedule. Seaport or aquarium sound fun though I don't know how realistic the timing would be.

Would the nearer communities offer a place to grab lunch and maybe ice cream easily from the station? Or is South Norwalk close enough that wouldn't make a really long day?

Alternatively we could rent a car, but for just the day it seems easier to take the train. Correct assumption?

You could take Metro north to New Haven. Taxi to the area near Yale, then hoof . Yale campus is open, there are museums, plenty of places to eat,shops nearby. Metro is less expensive than Amtrack and has more frequent service.

You will either need to rent a car or take a taxi from whatever train station you head to - unless you go to Stamford (not sure what really to do there).

If you are thinking "countryside" or walking on a beach then IMHO car is necessary.

For what you want, emalloy's recommendation of New Haven is ideal.

The campus is great for walking and is in itself a museum of architectural styles and famous architects, the Yale Museum and the Yale Center for British Art will satisfy your cultural cravings, though the Beinecke rare book library is a must fir some. There are interesting shops. J Press is a Mecca for men's preppy clothing, and there is famous pizza. What's not to like? I didn't go to Yale.

If I were just going for lunch and a quick walk around, I'd go to Greenwich. It's on Metro North and has a nice downtown with some good restaurants and stores to stroll around. It's also pretty close to the city.

If you want more of an experience, then go to Mystic via Amtrak.

Though I actually think a more interesting trip is Princeton, NJ, but you have to take NJ Transit to Princeton Junction and then jump on the dinky into town. But once there, Princeton is rather lovely (lovelier in most ways than New Haven).

I'd second Doug's recommendation for Greenwich. Two towns further along on the Metro North line is Darien -- smaller, but with a train station right in the center. There are a few shops, some unique, others mall chains, and a good choice of restaurants. There is a small park a block or two off the main street.

I've never been to Greenwich so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but I have to second/third the recommendation to go to New Haven. I was just there a couple of weeks ago. The Yale campus is gorgeous, car-free in its center, and the art museums are a manageable size for a day trip. The British art center has a great shop with all kinds of fun English things. We ate at the famous Frank Pepe's Pizzeria which was everything it is supposed to be and more. I will definitely return to the city sooner rather than later. (note, I think the Beinecke library will be closed for renovations next fall, but if not, you would want to see it).

Yale has a shuttle bus from the railroad station to the campus now. And there were taxis galore when I arrived. Metro North from Grand Central is the way to go.

BTW, Grand Central has a great audio walking tour if you like the station. Worth the time and modest sum it cost.

Such wonderful suggestions - thanks everyone for the ideas. Much more ideal than randomly picking a town and hoping for the best!!

Side note - I was really hoping to do the walking tour of GCS which is a big reason for wanting to depart from there. So great to hear that it's worthwhile.

You could also just take the train up to the Bronx zoo or the arboretum if you are just wanting a train ride and something to do. I vote Greenwich over New Haven mainly because irs closer.

Or you can go in the opposite direction to Cold Spring, NY right on the Hudson with antique shops and plenty of restaurants, a few with a view of the river. That train leaves from GCT also. Train drops off you in town very close to the Hudson.

http://coldspringliving.com/

We ate at the famous Frank Pepe's Pizzeria which was everything it is supposed to be and more

If you do go, I personally prefer BAR pizza, and there, I love the mashed potato pizza. But Frank Pepe's is iconic (saying you had lunch at BAR doesn't have the same "cache").

If you want charming, I'd go with IMDonehere's suggestion of Cold Spring.

I really like the CT shore. You can take the Metro North train from NYC and then you switch at New Haven to the shoreline. I don't know if there is a ton to do in these places, but Clinton, Madison, Essex are oh so quaint shore towns and just so picturesque in the fall. They are more understated and less pretentious than going to like Greenwich, Westport, etc.

My favorite things to do are: Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale in Madison, Lobster Landing in Clinton, Bishops Orchards Farm Market in Guilford, the Griswold Inn in Essex.

A friend once lived in Madison, I recall it's a bit of a haul past New Haven. And if thinking Darien you have to change trains I believe at Stamford.
Better get current maps and train schedules before venturing anywhere or you'll spend an entire day on trains and waiting!!!

Some of the Metro North daytrips are in CT. like the Danbury Railroad Museum. But frankly, in the fall, heading north into the Hudson Valley is a prettier train ride along the Hudson and offers more options. Many of the excursions like Kyluit, the Rockefeller Estate, include transport from the train station. http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/outbound.htm

You do not change trains in Stamford to reach Darien. All trains to Darien are direct. There are, however, local and express trains. Pick express.

Madison is about one-half hour past New Haven.

Just be aware that Metro North from Grand Central to New Haven is about a two hour trip, so if you go all the way to New Haven and back you will spend a lot of time on the train for a simple day trip - going beyond that point adds to the time you spend looking out a train window. Don't know about train schedules but Mystic is about 40-45 miles beyond New Haven by car

I would think your elementary school travelers will be bored with Darien or Greenwich downtown areas. They might enjoy the aquarium in Norwalk (about an hour out of NY via the train) and there are a number of restaurant choices in that area

If you go in early fall (late Sept/early Oct), one of the shoreline beaches in lower Fairfield County might work - take a cab from the train station and get their number so you can call for a cab when it is time to get back to the train station