An afternoon in South Norwalk is a busy affair. Bordered by the Norwalk River and Norwalk Harbor, SoNo, as the locals fondly call it, is a dreamy destination for mariners and wayfarers alike.
On Washington Street, SoNo’s main drag, a bustling hub of bars and eateries spill out onto the sidewalk in an appealing tangle of tables, chairs and umbrellas. There is an international assortment of delicious places to dine, whether you’re craving naan or nachos. South Norwalk, Connecticut is old, and as you walk along the thoroughfare, make a habit of occasionally looking up to enjoy facades dating back to the late 19th century.
Last weekend, oM discovered you can see the sharks and the sights in SoNo with a roundtrip budget of $40.
Getting there and back: $25.00
SoNo is an hour away from the city via Metro-North. Take this trip on the weekend to ensure you’re getting the best deal with an off-peak ticket. Ride the New Haven Line to South Norwalk.
Things to do
South Norwalk Maritime Aquarium | $15.95/kids, $22.95/adults | 10 North Water St. | maritimeaquarium.
*Purchase your aquarium ticket with your Metro-North train ticket for total of $39.25 for adults.
Just a ten minute walk from the train, the aquarium is easy to reach and not to be missed on your visit. Admission will gain you access to several, well-curated underwater exhibits. An indoor/outdoor seal pool will hold your interest for much longer than anticipated and the dark, extraterrestrial jellyfish tank is so beautiful it’s trippy. The aquarium itself is well-laid out and by simply following the path through the space, you will go on a journey that includes everything from stingrays to tree frogs. And there are plenty of activities along the way: during our visit, we learned you are never too old to stand in line to pet a shark.
Washington Street
Washington Street is a pleasant boulevard of unique sidewalk shops and cafes.
Here you will also find several galleries like the popular Perry-Matto Gallery, where jewelry and art pieces from all over the world hang side by side. If you’re looking to visit later this summer, mark your calendars for the SoNo Arts Celebration in August.
Eat & Drink
Barcelona | $6+ | 63.65 N. Main St. | barcelonawinebar.com
After strolling the streets on a hot summer day, grab a seat on Barcelona’s patio and people watch while sipping a glass of white wine sangria and munching on tapas.
Donovan’s | $5 – $15 | 138 Washington St | donovanssono.com
This SoNo monument is worth a stop. The pub, once owned by mayor Jeremiah Donovan, has been an institution in this small town since the nineteenth century. The busy menu at Donovan’s has all of your pub food favorites and is a great place to go if you feel like a burger and fries and a draft beer for lunch. The friendly staff and the quick service is also a plus, and if you’re hungry after touring the town, you will have a fully sated stomach in no time.
The SoNo Baking Company & Cafe | $3 | 101 Water St. | sonobaking.com
After lunch, if you’ve saved room and a few bucks, try the applause-worthy apple almond tart at this in-house caterer for Martha Stewart. The perfectly cooked pastry is the right size to split between two. Stay at the darling shop, or take it to go and enjoy the sweet with some scenic views on your train ride home.
Photos: Kea Krause, Maritime Aquarium, Strada 18. Lead photo by Shinya Suzuki
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Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram