South Norwalk, CT
 

I would like to go to SoNo for a weekend but don't know the area. I want a well known hotel or nice b&b right in SoNo so I can walk to everything. I don't want to drive back and forth into town. Any suggestions?

There are no hotels withing walking distance of SoNO. Most are medium level chain hotels (doubletree?) about a 10 minute drive away. I suppose there could be a B&B in the area, but I've never seen or heard of one.

SoNo isn't a B&B type place. It has some trendy (by CT standards) bars and some pretty good restaurants, a few shops and an aquarium geared towards kids. So you have some ok nightlife, but you'd be hard-pressed to spend a full weekend browsing around. It can also be kind of rough off Washington Street.

wow things must have changed in recent years. i went to school in Norwalk and South Norwalk was the "bad side" of town rather than a vacation destination.

Suze --

They've been trying to turn it around and have succeeded at the core -- but a few blocks off it's the same old place. There are a lot of restaurants and bars/clubs which attract both an upscale crowd and drunken twenty-somethings.

There are a number of chain places on Rt 7 in Norwalk proper.

Lots more to do in Stamford CT at night and lots of nice hotels there too. It is due south of SoNo on I 95, maybe 10 minutes. Or go a bit further south and there are nice places in Greenwich CT too, wonderful restaurants too. A bit longer ride to Greenwich than Stamford, but a really nice spot.

If you want a B &B you'll want to go towards New Caanan or Ridgefield CT. These are both quaint towns with great restaurants and shopping and each has nice B&B's [if interested, I'll give you names of B&B's]. Again, a short ride to SoNo, as they are both east and inland of SoNo. Truthfully, I don't know why you would want to stay in SONo when there are so many nices places close by. Just MHO.

BTW the Aquarium is NOT just for kids, I love it. And they have science/explorer ferry/boat that goes out to the nearby islands which are great too.

Hope this helps...
Debi

interesting!

I would agree that staying IN south norwalk is probably not ideal. I cant really think of any hotels within walking distance to all the attractions in South Norwalk. There are hotels on Westport Ave, East Ave and nearby though (although not terribly scenic).

I would consider staying in Westport (as there is also lots of nice shopping and sightseeing there -- and I dont know if SoNo will keep you busy ALL weekend). There is a REALLY nice b&B in Westport called "Inn at National Hall" right by the water. But I think it is very expensive.
There is also a nice place called the Cobbs Mill Inn in Weston, (about a 20min drive from South Norwalk) which would give you a taste of the surrounding area.

Other South Norwalk pointers.
- Be careful not to wander too far...because it does get a bit sketchy off the main track.
- I think the Norwalk Aquarium runs "discovery" boat excursions in the summer for a reasonable price.
- There are many good restaurants in SoNo - I would particularly recommend Barcelona, a wonderful TAPAs restuarant.
- Lillian August is wonderful for furniture shopping!

Silvermine Tavern is a nice place to stay!