Danbury was founded by colonists in 1685, when eight families migrated from what are now Norwalk and Stamford, Connecticut. The area was initially known as Pahquioque, named after the Algonquian-speaking Pahquioque Native Americans.

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Located about an hour from New York City in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Danbury has a population of over 85,000 people. It is the 7th largest city in the State of Connecticut. Danbury earned the nickname "Hat City" due to its prominence in the American hat industry during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Danbury is my home, in fact I live right downtown. I'd like to think I've participated in everything the city and surrounding areas have to offer but let's see. The Stanton House Inn recently published their 8 Things to Do in Danbury list. Now, I've reviewed them so I can tell you upfront that not all of these places are actually in the Hat City but the ones that are not, aren't far away.

Let's see how many you've been to.

8 Things to Do In and Around Danbury, Connecticut

The Stanton House Inn recently published its list of the 8 best things to do in and around Danbury, CT. Let's explore their recommendations:

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

I've been to six of the eight places. I've not had the pleasure of visiting the Stanton House Inn in Greenwich but I'm always open to "special invitations." I've also not used the Ives Trail Greenway but these are both going on my list.

Some people get upset when you say here are the 5 best things to do in ___ place and 2 of them are actually in another town. The reality of living in the Greater-Danbury area is kind of like that. If you want to have new and diverse experiences in this part of Connecticut they are available to you but you may have to move around a bit.

8 Fun Facts About Danbury Airport

I think there are a handful of places in Danbury that residents are really curious about but never bother to look into, one of those places is the Danbury Airport. We pass it on the way to the mall, or leaving after a day of shopping. We look down on it from Route 7 and wonder about it, but most of us simply don’t know.

Thankfully, we have Mike Allen who made the airport the subject of the most recent episode of “The Place You Live”. On Tuesday (2/1/22), Allen shared his research with us and these are 8 fun facts we learned about Danbury Airport. 

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

8 Award Winning Restaurants Considered the Best in Connecticut

Every year, CT Visit, Connecticut's tourism arm, releases their list of the top restaurants in the state. With one selection from each of Connecticut's 8 counties, these establishments truly represent the cream of the crop. Take a look at CT's 8 Best Restaurants.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

100 Diverse Danbury Eateries to Keep Your Taste Buds Busy

It's a lot to take in, Danbury has well over one hundred places to eat, these just happen to be the 100 Hat City spots that I can remember from the top of my head.

NOTE: There is a link in the description box to each businesses' menu or website.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

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