Connecticut Travel

The Wisdom House located in Litchfield is offering a series of four programs in January that focus on wellness living, introspection, and rejuvenation.

On Saturday, January 5 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm guests are invited to welcome 2019 with intention by joining a New Year-themed Self-Care Saturday, designed to clear out the old and welcome the new. Embrace your future with clarity, focus, and a feeling of expansiveness through restorative yoga, guided meditation, journaling, and spirit-lifting laughter. The place of quiet connection you find will let you reflect on and release activities of the last year. Intention-setting activities help guide you gratefully and gracefully into a rejuvenating and wisdom-filled new year. All are welcome. No previous experience necessary. Please bring a journal or small notebook and wear comfortable, stretchy clothing. This program includes lunch and is $60. To register click here.

On Thursday, Jan. 10 from 7 pm to 8 pm the Wisdom House is offering a Literature Discussion Group. The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been concealed by the answers,” James Baldwin wrote. This reading and discussion group will endeavor to lay bare the questions we find in literature, particularly in the contemporary novel. Our first book will be Marilynne Robinson’s Home. In what has been called a Prodigal Son story, we will be able to surface questions of exile, spiritual affliction, grace, and forgiveness. We will choose future works as a group. Bring a notebook for writing, your ideas, and the book we are discussing. Book not included in fee. This discussion group will take place every other Thursday – January 10 & 24, February 7 & 21, March 7 & 21, April 11 & 25. Creating a core group makes for a fulfilling experience, but attendance at each week is not required. Suggested donation at the door: $5 This is a free program, but registration is required. To register click here.

Finding a Rhythm to Walk in is a contemplative retreat being offered at The Wisdom House from January 11-January 13. This contemplative retreat invites us to connect with the Divine Center deep within us, that which calls to us and to which we may return. Gathered in silence and contemplative practice, we discover a rhythm to walk in these hurried and uncertain times, finding our way home to the Divine Center. During this retreat, we will have the opportunity to experience individual and corporate prayer and meditation, devotional reading, group spiritual reflection, journaling, and handwork. All meals are included. Click here for more information and to register.

On Fridays in January from 5:30 to 6 pm there will be an evening prayer and meditation session. Find out more by calling or emailing Program Director Sherri Reed at (860) 567-3163.

End the year – including a countdown to 12 o’clock noon – with special family fun on Mon., Dec. 31 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. The Aquarium is planning fun midday activities for families with young children who want to celebrate the end of 2018 together, but not at the stroke of midnight.  From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a disc jockey will provide the beat, as well as a countdown to 12 o’clock; 12 o’clock noon, that is.  “ ‘Noon Year’s Eve’ gives parents the chance to count down to a celebration with their children, but without the kids needing to stay up way past their bedtimes to do so,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth.

Special guests on Dec. 31 include:

strolling street magic by The Great Dubini
Using cards, coins and borrowed objects, New York-based magician Gregory Dubin will perform amazing sleight-of-hand magic and mentalism.  

“bubble-ologist” Kim Winslow
Winslow developed his skills with bubbles as a member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, which entertains patients in hospitals in New York and around the world. Simple soap and water become delicate kinetic sculptures that spin, glide, bounce and move in ways that will delight.

strolling family comedy and juggling by Peter Straus
Straus has toured America as a clown with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and worked extensively with the Big Apple Circus. He also has had numerous appearances on TV, including several spots on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and has been a featured comedian and fire juggler at New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

Admission to The Maritime Aquarium is $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors (65+), and $17.95 for children 3-12. Kids under 3, and Maritime Aquarium members, are free. Admission includes a choice of a spectacular IMAX movie, shown on a six-story screen: “Oceans: Our Blue Planet” at 11 a.m. and 2 & 4 p.m.; “Backyard Wilderness” at noon; and “Pandas” at 1 p.m.

Can’t make it to the Aquarium on Dec. 31? The Maritime Aquarium is open on New Year’s Day with regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Get more details about all exhibits, programs, IMAX movies and special events at http://www.maritimeaquarium.org.

The Norwalk Seaport Association is proud to present the inaugural “Ring in The New Year”, a unique and sparkling evening featuring the Music on the Hill Handbell Ensemble benefiting the historic Sheffield Lighthouse.

The event takes place on Sat. Jan. 19, 2019 and the Unitarian Church in Westport from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. “Not many people have experienced a handbell choir let alone one of the stature of Music on the Hill,” said Mike Reilly, association president. “The evening will include delicious hors-d’oeuvres, cocktails, a performance by a smaller sextet and will conclude with an impressive 61 bells”.

Tickets to this event are limited and are $100 each that includes shoreline appetizers, beer, wine and of course, champagne. “We’re looking forward to 2019 and couldn’t think of a better way to ring in the upcoming year than toasting the new year with friends of the seaport” added Reilly. “It will be a magical evening”.

Tickets are now available online at www.Seaport.org or by calling the Seaport office at 203-838-9444. “Tickets to this event make a great last-minute gift,” remarked Reilly.

One of Connecticut’s most popular summer attractions, Lake Compounce in Bristol transforms itself every December into a wonderous holiday experience that is perfect for families of all ages. This event takes place this year on Friday nights from 5 pm to 9 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 pm to 9 pm. when the park will be covered in hundreds of thousands of holiday lights and holiday music wafts through the crisp cold air.

A highlight is a brunch with Santa on December 22 starting at 2 pm. that is catered by Santa’s special elves! There will be holiday music, a sing-along, interactive reindeer games, a magical carousel ride and photos with Santa of course!

‘Holiday Lights’ will provide full family entertainment for all ages, and include festive activities such as a spectacular light show every half hour at the main gate, which will feature tens of thousands of dancing lights set to holiday music. Kiddieland rides and family-themed rides will be in operation. The Train will be transformed into the North Pole Railway, operated by a very special, uniformed train conductor with a magical holiday story to tell.

There will be indoor activities such as cookie decorating and gingerbread house making. Children will be given the opportunity to customize their very own letter to Santa, and will then receive a personalized letter sent directly to them, from Santa, just a few days later. On the Kiddieland stage children can enjoy Story Time with

Mrs. Clause. There will be carolers strolling throughout the park, an ice carver creating unique, frozen sculptures, and lots more festive entertainment including clowns making balloon animals and lots of holiday characters greeting guests. The childhood favorite; photos with Santa is not to be missed in the Winter Wonderland Starlight Theatre.

The park’s gift shops will also be loaded with holiday-themed merchandise for sale so guests can get their holiday shopping done, and new this year great food will be served hot from unique and festive food trucks. Another new attraction is the Holiday Craft Fair on Nov. 11 that will feature a selection of holiday craft vendors selling handmade items that are perfect for holiday décor or a gift for a special loved one.

There will be eight food trucks at the park offering everything from pizza to waffles, sliders to special festive beverages and sweets. There will also be a variety of rides open including the North Pole Express, the carousel, twister, American flyers, Zoomers gas and go, drop zone, caterpillar train, drum circus, flying elephants, jolly jester, a kiddie coaster, little critters, daredevils and rainbow riders.

Admission is $15.99 for adults, $11.99 for kids ages 4-10, seniors (60+) $11.99 and kids under three are free. Tickets are available online.