If you’ve been looking for the perfect weekend getaway, Grace Farms has plenty to offer on our 80-acre preserve. An ideal trip for families or friends, our focus on arts, culture, and new experiences makes Grace Farms one of the 10 Best Day Trips from New York City. Try one of our suggested weekend itineraries below or create your own!
Suggested Itinerary | Saturdays
10:30–11:45am | Open Arts Studio for families in the West Barn
11:45am–12:45pm | Lunch in the Commons
12:45–2:15pm | Grace Farms Tour
2:15pm | Open Recreation and Games in the Court
Suggested Itinerary | Sundays
11am–12:30pm | Brunch in the Commons or downtown New Canaan
1–2pm | Experience Joy, still. in the Library and Sanctuary
2–3pm | Hike around Cattail Pond
3–4pm | Browse gifts and books for all ages in the Library
Arts and Architecture | Grace Farms provides a unique opportunity to experience the intersection of art, architecture, and nature. Our site has been recognized as one of the top architecture destinations to explore in New England, with visitors joining us throughout the year to tour our critically acclaimed, SANAA-designed River building. Five site-specific, permanent art works by internationally renowned artists, including Beatriz Milhazes, Teresita Fernández, and Thomas Demand, enhance the site and provide an additional draw for art lovers.
Visitors can also encounter the arts through a variety of programming including performances, exhibitions, talks, tours, and facilitated family workshops. From September 2018–March 2019 Grace Farms is featuring a collaborative, site-responsive sound art installation by artist Julianne Swartz. The installation—comprised of three multisensory works situated in a variety of spaces with different acoustic qualities—synthesizes the Foundation’s year-long Practicing Joy workshop, an interdisciplinary study involving poets, theologians, composers, musicians, choreographers, dancers, chefs, and humorists.
Families traveling with children can experience the arts too. Explore shape, color, texture, sound, space, light, movement, and rhythm during our Open Arts Studio on Saturdays from 10:30am-2:30pm.
Recreation and Relaxation | With abundant communal spaces and expansive landscapes, Grace Farms provides a retreat for all ages with opportunities ranging from active to meditative and shared to solitary. With over a mile of hiking trails around Cattail Pond and open recreation time in our Court—a partially below-grade gymnasium/multi-purpose space with basketball and game room—there’s plenty of family fun to be had during your getaway.
For a more leisurely experience, consider visiting our Pavilion for conversation over a pot of tea, or The Commons, for pastries and beverages from 10am–5pm, or lunch from 11am–3pm. Our community tables, harvested from trees on the property, are great for engaging with other guests or enjoying a private meal.
What to Bring | Grace Farms has everything you need to enjoy a day on site, including food and refreshments in the Commons. We also have lawn games and blankets if you’re looking to relax on one of several of our open lawns. For more information to prepare for your visit please visit our FAQ.
How to Get Here from NYC | We are a short Uber ride from the Darien or New Canaan train stations on Metro North Railroad (the latter requires a transfer in Stamford). We also have plenty of parking available for those who prefer to travel by car.
