New Haven was once a thriving seaport, and the colonial merchants who built their fortunes in shipping endowed Yale University in 1714. Although the city as a whole has suffered economic decline, Yale's sprawling campus is still vibrant and architecturally stimulating. We suggest you start your visit with a walking tour of the Green, the town square that's surrounded by historic buildings. Next, take a look around the campus and make time to visit the university's superior array of museums. We consider the University Art Gallery a must-see because of its enormous and wide-ranging collection. The university's Center for British Art is impressive, and we're also fond of the Collection of Musical Instruments, which is particularly strong in string and keyboard instruments. You might also consider visiting Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History, an excellent museum with a variety of exhibits, including detailed dioramas, a reconstructed dinosaur skeleton and The Age of Reptiles, a famous mural revered by paleontologists. The university's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is a book-lover's delight. While in New Haven, be sure to see one of the area's many theatrical performances. For many years, the city was one of the towns where producers tried out and retooled plays before they hit Broadway (Joseph Heller even wrote a Vietnam-era antiwar play called We Bombed in New Haven). While the pre-Broadway development of plays has changed, New Haven still offers playgoers an abundance of choices. Area theaters include the Yale Repertory Theatre and the Long Wharf Theater (both in New Haven) and the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam (specializing in musicals, both new and revivals). New Haven has two parks worth a visit: Lighthouse Point Park, a recreation area and nature preserve, and West Rock Ridge State Park, which is located on an upland area north of the city. (You can also make a nice day trip to Madison, home to Hammonasset Beach, the state's largest beach park.) When you're hungry, go for some pizza -- New Haven's pies are said to be some of the best in the country. Try Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana or Sally's. Or order a hamburger: New Haven stakes a claim to being the birthplace of the all-American classic. If you're a history or film buff, you may want to inquire whether the schooner Amistad is in port. New Haven is its home port, but the historic ship that Steven Spielberg centered one of his movies around travels most of the year. When you find her in town, which is most likely during the summer, you can take a tour or go for a sail. New Haven is 40 mi/65 km southwest of Hartford.