On a bit of a roadtrip down the Connecticut coast, we arrived in New Haven a little after 3pm, and…read moreI knew I had only had a little time before things/attractions closed at 5pm. So after hitting the Yale Center for British Art, we speed walked (sped walked?) over to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Why? Google it and you'll understand when you see the pictures. Beinicke is Yale's rare book and manuscript library - not their main university library or their law library. The reading room is open to registered researchers only, but the public are welcome to visit the library's exhibition hall. And everyone visiting New Haven should! The library was built in 1963, and the the architecture is incredible. The building is a granite veneer shell, fastened to a structural steel frame. Inside that structure is a glass-enclosed tower of book cases. The granite was milled to 1.25 inches thick to allow filtered daylight in - in the afternoon/early evening, the marble turned an amber color. We walked back past it at night for a different view of the building. It is really incredible architecture, and the library hosts exhibits you can see in the exhibition hall when you visit to enjoy the building (when we visited, the exhibit was "Taught By the Pen: The World of Islamic Manuscripts"). The building is incredible and definitely worth a visit if you're exploring the Yale campus!

One of the largest collections of rare books and manuscripts. Rotating exhibits for the general…read morepublic. During my visit, it was testimonies from Holocaust survivors. The general public has limited access, and this will be a short stop for most people, depending upon the exhibit. Let's be honest--most people stop by for a photo op, for the architecture and the huge column of books. I got a few great photos, got to say I've seen it, and it's cool. Worthwhile. If you're in the area.

We had our son's birthday party here. We couldn't be happier with their service. It's a great place…read morefor kids and they all had fun.

One tradition that I look forward to every Christmas season is the A.C. Gilbert Holiday Train…read moreDisplay at the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop. The New Haven-based A.C. Gilbert Company (known for originating the Erector Set) introduced their 'American Flyer' line of model trains just after World War II. The trains were very popular throughout the 1950s, but the rise of popularity with television sets and the death of company founder A.C. Gilbert created a decline in sales. The company was defunct by 1967. The Eli Whitney Museum has a large collection of old A.C. Gilbert products, including several American Flyer trains. Each year, the museum sets up a model railroad display from Thanksgiving to mid-January. Walter Zawalich is the museum's American Flyer Curator and he meticulously restores and maintains the trains and the display each year. I've been going to see the Holiday Train Display at the Museum since I was a young boy. My father used to collect American Flyer trains and we went to see the display often. I later introduced my wife to the tradition and now our two sons. In addition to the trains themselves, we love the attention to detail of the layout which resembles a miniature landscape of New Haven. You can continue to see the Holiday Train display on Saturdays and Sundays until January 14th and admission is FREE!

Great experience. I enjoyed the museum staff doing live, in-person educational demonstrations…read morethroughout the museum. Learning about Egyptian hieroglyphics--especially the signature pendants--was a highlight. The beautiful earth minerals were also fascinating to see among everything else. I'd definitely recommend a visit.

Interesting place to visit, they have a nice mineral collection and Animal collection…read more Admission is free and I literally parked in front of the front door.

I found Skyscape museum while walking in the area and trying to get out of heavy snow. I wasn't…read morefully sure what to expect but I left really happy we got to experience it. Skyscape is a really engaging and a well designed experience. Theres a lot to see and do, with interactive spy style missions that kept both me and my son entertained the entire time! My son was completely locked in the whole time and I was right there pretending I definitely understood the instructions on the first try. It's mostly a hands on experience, you're not just walking through exhibits, you're actually participating, solving challenges and learning as you go. Even better, it didn't feel crowded, which made it comfortable to move through at our own pace. We were able to go back and redo some of the exhibits we enjoyed, which made the experience even more fun the second (and third) time around. Overall, a great mix of entertainment and learning, especially for kids but enjoyable for adults too. 10/10. My son loved every second. I loved pretending I knew what was going on.

This was such a fun and unique experience! I surprised my boyfriend with this for his birthday, and…read morehe absolutely loved it. The challenges, puzzles, and games really make you think--you definitely have to process the clues carefully! There are multiple levels to complete, and throughout the experience you're asked questions that determine what type of agent you are, which was a really cool touch. It was challenging, but in the best way. Now that I understand how everything works, I definitely want to go back and do it again to see if I can do even better! If you're looking for something interactive, different, and a lot of fun, I highly recommend checking this place out. We'll definitely be back!

It's good for kids of all ages from toddlers to 10 year olds lots to do nothing to sophisticated.read more

Good thing kids get entertained with very little. I guess it beats staying home on a rainy day…read more Several themed room with items (music instruments, plastics insects, tons of books and gadgets) where kids can play. It really is a glorified playroom. NOT a museum. And cash only.

This was a nice little place to make a stop. It's very interesting with history of Pez and quite a…read morecollection of Pez dispensers. Everyone walks away with a free Pez dispenser!

After seeing the Pez visitor center featured on CBS Sunday morning, I knew I had to visit the next…read moretime I was in Connecticut. The visitor center/museum/store is quite small. The first floor has a lot of older has dispensers, character, dispensers, sports and animal dispensers as well as international dispensers. On the lobby wall you will see a display of 792 Pez dispensers. The gift shop is also on the first floor along with the world's largest Pez dispenser. There is a cute photo where you put your head on top of a pest dispenser. A Pez themed chopper built by Orange County choppers is on the second floor. We were given a Pezz bingo card when we entered, we needed to locate specific pest dispensers. With a completed bingo card you could spin the wheel and get a dispenser. Admission for kids 3-12 & seniors is $4 while adults are $5. You get two dollars back to spend in the store. There is plenty of parking in their lot.

We had a little trouble finding this museum since signage was lacking on the front of the building…read more We went on a weekday and this museum was pretty empty. Free admittance and free lockers are provided in the basement for our big purses, coats, and water bottles. We took their recommendation and started at the top on the 4th floor and made our way down. There are a lot of paintings so it took us awhile and we ran out of time. The museum closes at 5pm and we were only there for 90 mins.

WOW. As a bit of an architecture nerd, I made a point to visit the Yale Center for British Art when…read moreI was in New Haven a week or so ago, and I'm so glad I did. The museum was designed by Louis Kahn, and the building is incredible. It's built around two interior courtyards and has a spiral staircase hidden inside a concrete cylinder. Its design includes travertine, white oak, and concrete. As with his other museum that I love (the Kimbell in Fort Worth), the lighting is incredible (the skylights are designed in such a way as to allow in the most possible light, but diffused to protect the art). I knew when we walked in that we didn't have long in the museum, so I asked a docent for the architectural highlights, and he was kind enough to steer us to the most special aspects and rooms of the building's design. But so you don't think the museum is just an empty building, I should mention the art!! Their permanent collection is interesting - the largest and most comprehensive collection of British art outside the UK. When we visited, the museum also had some interesting temporary exhibits: "Tracey Emin: I Loved You Until the Morning" and "J. M. W. Turner: Romance and Reality." It's a really beautiful museum - both the architecture and the art. I'd love to return when I have more time - to really enjoy the collection and not just the architecture next time! What a museum!