New Canaan

 

Part of Connecticut’s stunning and affluent Gold Coast, New Canaan is a beautiful hideaway just an hour train ride from Manhattan. With a phenomenal school system and a lively downtown, there are many reasons to love New Canaan!

Rich in history, this long-established New England town has roots dating back to 1731. In those days, New Canaan was known as an agricultural community, but it quickly developed after the Revolutionary War with an influx of settlers. Many of them moved to town as it became a shoemaking business hub.

Today, New Canaan is known for its diverse architecture, with homes ranging from sprawling Colonials to upscale condominiums. Many modern homes designed by Harvard Graduate School of Design students were built in the 1950s and 1960s and still stand today.

 

• A thriving and vibrant downtown 
• Stellar public school system
• Beautiful public parks

New Canaan is a charming suburb not far from the bustle of New York City, offering residents a taste of country life with all the comforts of home. This thriving community offers a host of traditional events and an expansive town center.

Families with school-age children are drawn to New Canaan due to its nationally-ranked public school system. Condominiums are popular with retirees or empty-nesters looking to downsize.

 

New Canaan’s lively downtown center caters to residents with diverse interests and a taste for all things trendy. Walking down the main streets, you’ll find stylish boutiques, cozy coffee shops, and fabulous restaurants to try.

You’ll also find booming businesses, from bookstores to antique shops to interior decorating stores. There’s cosmetics store Bluemercury, stylish boutique Sara Campbell, and jewelry and accessory shop Wave, along with high-end retailers like Ralph Lauren and J.Crew.

There are also plenty of delicious restaurants to try in New Canaan. In addition to usual favorites like Starbucks and Le Pain Quotidien, there’s high-end dining at Sole and American comfort food at Rosie. Located in the stunning countryside is Roger Sherman Inn, which serves drinks, healthy breakfasts, and an incredible seasonal menu. For more of a casual dining experience, South End is a rustic American eatery with plenty of organic options.

 

No matter the time of year, New Canaan always has something fun and exciting going on! From fall festivals to summer carnivals, there are activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Since 1916, caroling on God’s Acre has been a Christmas Eve tradition; singers gather around the town Christmas tree and sing with the Town Band. During Easter, the Young Women’s League of New Canaan organizes an Easter egg hunt for kids, and children (with their dogs!) are welcome to march in the annual Halloween Parade.

New Canaan’s parks are popular with locals and are a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family. 300-acre Waveny Park has jogging trails, sports fields, tennis courts, picnic areas, and even a dog park! There’s also Meade Memorial Park, which features eight clay tennis courts and several other areas for sports practice. The private New Canaan Winter Club is the perfect place to play ice hockey or figure skate.

 

The New Canaan Public School District is routinely ranked as one of the best in the state of Connecticut, regularly producing National Merit Scholars and above-average SAT scores. There are three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, New Canaan High School, in this district. Local private school opportunities include:

 

• St. Luke’s School, 5-12, secular college preparatory day school
• St. Aloysius School, K-8, Roman Catholic school 
• New Canaan Country School, PK-9, independent day school