When planning this feature for our annual “Explore” issue, I thought back to the last time I had encountered a sense of exploration, that feeling when you know you’ve uncovered a hidden gem. The first place I thought of wasn’t anywhere in Westport, but it wasn’t some far-flung locale, either: it was the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven. A few months ago, a friend suggested a day trip there with our families, and I was blown away at the quality of the University’s collections—absolutely on par with the American Museum of Natural History in N.Y.C., but a 35-minute drive away, and completely free. “Thanks to the generosity and foresight of our lead donor, we were able to permanently remove cost as a barrier to entry to the museum, allowing more people to see what we have to offer,” Steven Scarpa, the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at the Yale Peabody Museum, tells me. “There are iconic dinosaurs, breathtaking gems, fantastic animals, and objects that take you back to ancient civilizations.” The breadth of their exhibits truly has something for everyone, from toddlers to grandparents. “Our director, David Skelly, grew up in Wilton and was inspired to become a scientist by his experiences at the Peabody,” says Steven. “A trip to the Peabody can often be a transformative experience, one that illustrates the world and our place in it.” Top your visit off with a meal at an iconic New Haven pizzeria, and hopefully you’ll leave Yale with the same satisfaction—in both body and mind— we felt that day (and all on a single tank of precious gas).
For more information or to plan your visit, visit peabody.yale.edu