1. Griffin Hospital
City: Derby, CT
Category: Health Care
Telephone: (203) 735-7421
Address: 30 Division St.
Description: With 160 beds and 280 physicians, Griffin Hospital serves the Lower Naugatuck Valley region. It is affiliated with Yale–New Haven Hospital. In addition to inpatient services, Griffin provides community outreach, mobile health, and school-based health resources. Fortune Magazine cited Griffin as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For.
2. Osbornedale State Park
City: Derby, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (203) 735-4311
Address: 555 Roosevelt Dr.
Description: This beautiful park above the Housatonic River was willed to the state in 1956 by Frances Osborne Kellogg, who gradually acquired this collection of separate farms during her career as a businesswoman and investor. Numerous trails of various difficulty levels can be found here, including one that makes a loop of the entire park. There are heavily forested areas, meadows, fishing ponds, and stone walls aplenty. At the southwest corner of the park, the Kellogg Environmental Center has a nice nature center and provides educational lectures and hands-on learning experiences. The small nature trail by the center is a great starter for kids just learning to hike, and the pond across the street from the center in the park proper is absolutely stocked with turtles. Check out the nearby 1698 General David Humphreys House at 37 Elm St. if you’re there on a weekday afternoon in the summer (203-735-1908, www.derbyhistorical.org).