>> TRAVEL WEST ON I-80 FORD TOWARD CONNECTICUT AND YOU')LL FIND SOME TAVEL STATUS.
>> YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN BUT DON’T FEEL LIKE IT.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO.
>> WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT.
KNOWN FOR ITS ELEGANT NEIGHBORHOOD, EXPENSIVE PUBLIC BEACH, AND THE ARTS.
CLOSE TO AN IMMACULATELY GROOMED CENTER.
THE WESTPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY DIRECTOR.
>> WE ARE 45 MILES FROM NEW YORK CITY.
ABOUT ONE HOUR ON THE TRAINS.
IN THE 20TH CENTURY IT WAS A BOHEMIAN TWOWN.
WE HAD ARTISTS, ILLUSTRATORS LIKE PAUL NEWMAN LIVED HERE.
>> COBBLE BEACH AND MARINA IS A PARK OPENING ONTO ISLAND SOUND.
IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, THE BRITISH LANDED HERE TO INVADE DAN VERY.
>> THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE BEACH FAMOUS BUT THE BEAUTY AND THE FACT THAT THE HOTEL -- THAT THE WHOLE TOWN IS THERE MAKES IT SO PROMINENT.
>> HISTORIC PROPERTIES ARE APLENTY HERE, INCLUDING THE LONGSHORE BUILT IN 1890.
THE INN BOASTS A WATERVIEW AND GOLF COURSE.
CLOSE BY, A HOUSE WHERE IT IS BELIEVED F SCOTT FITZGERALD WROTE THE GREAT GATSBY.
THE EYE-CATCHING COLONIAL DATES BACK TO 1795.
IN THE HEART ABOUT DOWNTOWN IT IS A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC.
>> THE CURRENT EXHIBIT IS ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN BORDERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS PERIOD.
>> A FAMED ATTRACTION HERE IS THE WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE.
>> WE ARE IN A THEATER-RICH STATE, ONE THAT IS CLOSEST TO NEW YORK CITY.
ALL OF OUR ACTORS, DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, ARE FROM THAT POOL.
>> STARS THAT PERFORM HERE INCLUDE JAMES FONDA, JAMES EARL JONES, PAUL NEWMAN, AMONG MANY OTHERS.
>> IT WAS FOUNDED BY MEMBERS OF THE THEATER GUILD IN NEW YORK CITY WHO WERE LEGENDARY PRODUCERS.
THEY WANTED A PLACE OUTSIDE THE CITY WHERE THEY COULD DEVELOP NEW PROJECTS AND DO CLASSIC PLA YS.
>> BRENDA PRESSLEY’S EXTENSIVE RESUME INCLUDES ROLES IN THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF CATS AND DREAM GIRLS, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE FILMS AND TV SHOWS.
SHE RECENTLY STARTED THE PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION OF FLYING WEST.
>> THEATER CHANGES LIVES.
THE BETTER THE THEATER, THE BETTER THE JOB OF THE ARTISTS INVOLVED.
YOUR AUDIENCES WILL COME AND TELL THEIR FRIENDS TO COME.
IT SUSTAINS ITSELF.
>> IF I HAD WINGS, I WOULD HAVE SET OFF FLYING.
>> NATURE HAS A STARRING ROLE AS -- IN WESTPORT AS WELL.
A 62 ACRE SANCTUARY WITH MORE THAN TWO MILES OF TRAILS AND A LEARNING CENTER.
>> CHINCHILLAS HAVE AWESOME FOR THAT IS VERY DENSE AND VERY SOFT . >> THIS AND YOU CARE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINS THAT CHINCHILLAS HAVE 50 TO 80 HAIRS PER FOLLICLE.
>> SHE WOULD GET SUNBURNED IF SHE LIVED IN THE SUN.
THEY ARE NOCTURNAL ANIMALS.
A PAIR OF BALD EAGLES WHO CAN NO LONGER FLY.
GUESS WHICH ONE IS CHATTY?
BRIDGET MARINER IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THE KIDS LOVE TO EXPLORE INTERACTIVE DISCOVERY AREA.
>> OF CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH NATURE’S CREATURES.
THE FOUNDATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AND LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
THEN A SINCE OUTDOOR X CLINIC -- EXPLORATION IS BIG IN WESTPORT, MANY LOCALS SHOP THE BANKS OF THE RIVER.
STAFFERS HERE TEACH PADDLE WITH YOUR PUP.
DOC MANAGER, ALEX KENNEDY.
>> IT IS A GREAT WAY TO BOND NOT ONLY WITH YOUR DOG BUT IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS TOGETHER, BRING THEM WITH YOU.
>> MEET THIN, OTTIS, JASPER, AND COOKIE.
PADDLING WITH A POP CAN BE TRICKY OR SIMPLE.
>> FOR MY DOG IT IS EASIER TO LEARN IT BECAUSE HE DOESN’T KNOW ANY DIFFERENCE.
>> JASPER IS INDEED A PUPPY.
>> HE IS A GOLDENDOODLE ABOUT NINE MONTHS OLD AND HE WEIGHS 85 POUNDS.
HE IS A HUGE GUY.
>> COOKIE BELONGS TO MAUREEN CHOW AND MIRABELLE.
>> WE ARE HERE ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND.
IT HAS BEEN AMAZING HOW EASY IT IS.
I HAVE DONE MOONLIGHT PADDLES WITH MY HUSBAND.
NOW WE HAVE OUR DOG ON THE BOARD.
I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW EASY IT WAS.
>> BACK TO WESTBOROUGH COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE -- WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE.
A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE HAVE COME THROUGH.
>> GENE KELLY WAS DISCOVERED THERE.
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER MADE HIS STAGE DEBUT.
STEPHEN SONDHEIM WAS AN INTERN.
THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF GREAT TALENT AND PROBABLY STILL COMING THROUGH.
>> FIND A SHADY SPOT CLOSE TO HOME.
>> IT IS THE BIGGEST AND LITERALLY COOLEST THING IN THE BOSTON AREA.