Waveny Park

It’s hard not to love Waveny park. There are miles of looping trails in the woods, but I often wish they were longer than they are… of course the easy fix is to just do them twice and almost everybody does that. The big fields and trails find people with pets (on leash, of course because they give tickets!), golfers hitting chip shots, runners of all kinds and ages, and friends and couples walking in deep conversation. It’s really beautiful. I’ve never taken a tour of the house, but I’ve seen dozens of parties hosted there. I’m sure it’s a terrific location. I know there’s a great story about Christopher Lloyd’s family (Doc Brown from Back to the Future) but I’ll let you find it out on your own.

Waveny Park is the crown jewel of New Canaan — a stunning 300-acre estate turned public park right off the Merritt Parkway. I find myself here almost every Thursday, whether for the Rotary Club, Caffeine & Carburetors, or a quiet walk through the woods. The landscape is a masterful blend of open meadows, formal gardens, and shaded trails that wind past Waveny House, the historic Tudor-style mansion at the park’s heart. It’s one of those rare places that offers something for everyone — from dog owners and families to car enthusiasts and art lovers. The trails are peaceful, the lawns immaculate, and the gardens vibrant throughout the seasons. It’s where New Canaan gathers to celebrate, reflect, and recharge. There’s simply no better place to spend a warm afternoon, sip coffee with friends, or catch the golden light settling over the great lawn. Waveny Park is timeless, restorative, and deeply woven into the rhythm of community life here. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Always worth the visit, and somehow different every time.

A stunning park right off the Merritt with tons of space, numerous gardens, very dog friendly, and a great place to hang out on a warm day. Will definitely be back.

Absolutely stunning walk/running trails. Highly recommend walking through the gardens and taking in the nature, so peaceful and quiet.

Very beautiful park, great sledding in the winter, great for walks, great variety in the scenery. The greenhouse/canopy/mansion area is just beautiful, very well maintained, the variety in the flora is beautiful. I usually go here with my family, either in the winter for sledding, or just to walk around with the dogs and get some fresh air with some good views. There are a few areas which are nothing but huge grassy fields and open space, which is great for going off leash if you’ve trained your dogs to not run off, playing sports, or even picnics. I love just walking around and taking in nature here, the aesthetics are really amazing, especially for photography! There’s a nice lake/river right at the bottom of the hill, behind the mansion, that just stunning on nice sunny/partially cloudy days.