Journey up the road from New York City about 35 miles (57 kilometers) to Connecticut�s Coastal Fairfield County, and you�ll discover a region that blends the quaint antiques shops of New England with the trendy boutiques of the Big Apple. For over one hundred years, Coastal Fairfield County has been the place New Yorkers have visited for a taste of New England, offering the best of city cool and country charm.

Today, shoppers delight in the assortment of options that have emerged within this region that serves as the third largest home of Fortune 500 companies and second wealthiest county in the United States.

Seeking trendy boutiques with haute couture fashion? Then look no further than Greenwich Avenue. Dubbed the �Rodeo Drive of the East�, the area features upscale shops such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., and dozens of fine restaurants. Equally impressive for its collection of stores is Stamford Town Center, America�s first high-rise, downtown shopping mall. Further east, Trumbull Shoppingtown offers over 150 shops. Enjoy a stroll along Main Street in Westport and find shops such as Coach and Williams-Sonoma alongside such traditional favorites as Talbot�s and The Gap.

Antiques enthusiasts will find hundreds of shops and galleries. In Stamford, United House Wrecking has retained distinction as �Connecticut�s Largest Antiques Emporium� for over a decade. Offering 30,000 square feet of merchandise, it�s here that you�ll find one of those wonderful London telephone booths. In Stamford�s South End, a collection of multi-dealer antiques centers operate within a few blocks, and The Stratford Antique Center continues their legacy offering more than 200 dealers.

Interested in celebrity watching? Be sure to stop by Greenwich�s Bongiorno�s, an unassuming grocery store frequented by such celebrities as Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Another favorite spot among local residents, including Martha Stewart and Diana Ross, are the Hay Day Markets located in Greenwich and Westport. It�s a perfect place to grab a gourmet bite as you continue your shopping tour through Coastal Fairfield County!

A must see is the unique Stew Leonard�s, designated the �World�s Largest Dairy Store� by Ripley�s Believe It or Not and called the �Disneyland of Dairy�. Stew�s features animated performing animals, a petting zoo, garden shop and a barbecue area. Just down the road, explore the shopping of Historic SoNo with an appealing mix of unique boutiques, outlets and restaurants. For an enjoyable afternoon, take a drive on Monroe�s Route 25 for a collection of wonderful shops ranging from country crafts to eclectic gifts.

Need to bring home souvenirs? Stop at some of the attractions� gift shop for unique selections. You�ll find a variety of distinctive gifts at every price point at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Beardsley Zoo, Bruce Museum of Art & Science, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, and Barnum Museum. Or, for farm grown produce, flowers, fresh baked pies and jams and handmade gifts, don�t miss Jones Family Farm in Shelton, Silverman�s Farm in Easton, and Plasko�s Farm in Trumbull. Upscale to discount, antiques to boutiques, shopping in Coastal Fairfield County offers treasures for every pleasure!

Created in 1993, the Coastal Fairfield County Convention & Visitor Bureau represents all travel & tourism related organizations in the fifteen communities of southwestern Connecticut. These communities include the cities of Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport and the towns of Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Westport, Weston, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe, Trumbull, Stratford and Shelton. The Bureau serves as the primary contact point in the region for leisure travelers, meeting planners, tour operators, sporting event organizers, the film industry and media/travel writers.

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Media Contact: Mary Lukens +1 203 853-7770 x314 maryl@coastalCT.com