Insider's Guide

As a true and loyal Fairfielder, you have uncovered how to make the most of living in this vibrant community.

1. For the fitness-minded on a budget, an annual membership fee of just $130 (less for seniors) gains entry to the town’s clean and compact Fitness Center at the Eunice Postol Recreation Center. This place offers treadmills, Stairmasters, Elliptical crosstrainers and weight machines for pennies a day. 75 Mill Plain Rd.

18. Job-hunting folks, the career workshops sponsored by the Fairfield Public Library—which can include priceless one-on-one counseling—are exceptional, free, and ongoing. They’re an inspired way to get motivated and polish up that resume. 1080 Old Post Rd.

26. If a beach perch is what you have in mind—and you want to ditch the crowds—check local calendars for Westport’s town fireworks. The view from Fairfield’s public Sasco Beach (you’ll need a town beach sticker) is extraordinary and Westport’s event rarely conflicts with Fairfield’s show so the crowds are more manageable. Insider’s tip: Go early—Sasco’s parking lot fills up by dusk. 1401 Sasco Hill Rd.

38. Tucked alongside Fairfield Woods Road (right past the baseball diamonds behind Fairfield Woods Middle School), a smaller family farm operation vends everything from plump pumpkins and vine-ripe tomatoes to delectable honey.

57. Did you know your favorite backyard game, Wiffle ball, started with an inventive Fairfield dad? Trying to help his son hit a ball better, he ended up inventing a better ball. Now three generations in business, Wiffle is key to America’s fave backyard game, too.

64. There’s something about old-fashioned customer service that just can’t be duplicated in your average chain store. This explains why healthy loyalists continue to bring their prescriptions to family-owned and operated Lupe’s Pharmacy, which, since its founding in 1954, still delivers! 2035 Black Rock Tpk.

To read all 85 insider tips, pick up a copy of the January/February 2013 issue of Fairfield Living magazine.