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Things to do in Connecticut with kids
Family Adventures await you in Connecticut ! Explore marine life at Mystic Aquarium, come face to face with exotic animals at Beardsley Zoo or explore a bit of maritime history at Mystic Seaport Museum. Connecticut has a wealth of different options for families looking for all types of fun.
If you are looking for that classic New England adventure, Connecticut is the place to head. It’s charming, quaint, and and utterly beautiful place to take kids. It’s also very close to big cities like Boston or New York, so you don’t have to travel far to find paradise!
Embrace the relationship with the ocean with adventures like Mystic Whaler Cruises or Sheffield Island Lighthouse Tour. Expose kids to the incredible wildlife with Mystic Aquarium (they can even touch a stingray!) or Action Wildlife Park.
Entertainment and education? A parents dream! This Constitution State has incredible museums - from the science-tastic Bridgeport Discovery Museum to the very colorful Barker Character Comic and Cartoon Museum.
Dinosaurs? In Connecticut? You bet! Dinosaur State Park have incredible displays, and history continues with the Mark Twain House and Historic Ship Nautilus.
Connecticut is filled with creativity and art, so why not get kids involved with activities like Pottery Piazza or Art Plus Studio? The whole family can get involved!
Connecticut is an incredibly family friendly with wonderful places to visit with kids. It really does feel like arriving home.
Planning your Trip to Connecticut
Planning a vacation to Connecticut with the kids? There are so many wonderful things to do including children’s museums, science centres, outdoor swimming and so much more! Connecticut caters to families with children of all ages. You will always find something age-appropriate, fun, and educational for everyone.
Family activities in Connecticut range from shipbuilding to tracking dinosaurs. Connecticut boasts lots of fun things to do with the little ones. Families that love to learn and enjoy interactive activities have the opportunity to visit one of the many exciting science museums. There is also so much to do indoors as well as outdoors.
Listed below are our top picks for cool places to explore and fun things to do in Connecticut with the kids.
Mystic Aquarium, Mystic
Explore the ocean and learn all about sea life and its natural habitats. The touch tanks are perfect for the little ones and tactile learners. The Aquarium hosts classes and camps for children of all ages.
Kid City Children’s Museum
This unique children’s museum provides handmade play exhibits created by local artists. The kiddies love the Toddler Sea Caves where they can dance with the mermaids and children of an older age can enjoy pretend fishing and the medieval village. Kid City is one of Connecticut’s favourite places to visit with kids and have a lot of fun.
Submarine Museum, Groton
The Submarine Museum is a budget-friendly option and allows families to walk through the narrow corridors of the Nautilus submarine. Enjoy over 10,000 artefacts, photographs, and books all related to submarines.
The Dinosaur Place, Oakdale
Enjoy both outdoor and indoor fun at the Dinosaur Place. They have an outdoor walking trail with over 40 life-size dinosaur models to view. They also have a splash pad that’s very popular in the summer. Kids can enjoy finding dinosaur bones, fossils, and large crystals. If you’re looking for fun and interactive activities, then Dinosaur place is a must-see.
Connecticut Science Museum, Hartford
The Connecticut Science Museum features over 150 hands-on exhibitions and activities for children of all ages. Children inspired to be builders will love the Lego room and budding botanists with be delighted with the onsite Rooftop Garden which is open seasonally.
Talcott Mountain State Park
Talcott is one the best places to visit whilst in Connecticut. With acres of sprawling beautiful countryside and the main attraction of Talcott Mountain State Park is Heublein Tower which can be reached by the yellow hiking trail which is just over 1.25 miles. The striking tower stands 165ft tall.
The surrounding area is the stunning Connecticut Forest where the trees shed annually and create the most beautiful and colourful landscape.
The best time to visit Connecticut is between mid-May to mid-October which encompasses late Spring right through to mid-autumn. During late spring you can experience warm temperatures reaching 65 Fahrenheit. May brings warm weather with very little rain. During this time, you can expect to pay more for activities and trips out and experience more visitors. If you’re looking to avoid this another wonderful time to visit Connecticut is the fall season which kicks off around mid-October when you can see the spectacular foliage displays.
For a fun-filled, active family vacation, Connecticut offers so many wonderful options to stay including, resorts, clubs, camping grounds shorelines, and riverside views. With so much to do, Connecticut offers families lots of fun options.
Listed below are our top-pick resorts to stay in.
Club Getaway, Kent
Club Getaway is situated on a picturesque lake that offers stays for families only. Offering numerous sports activities such as tubing, kayaking, archery, and rope courses. If parents are looking for a relaxing break also, Club Getaway offers onsite kids and teenager clubs.
Saybrook Point Inn and Spa, Old Saybrook
Saybrook Point Inn is great for a family vacation with children of all ages. The Saybrook Inn offers lots of family-friendly rooms and relaxing décor. If you’re looking for a spa experience, the onsite spa offers two pools and beautiful spa products.
Nelsons Family Campground, East Hampton
This friendly-family report features outdoor playgrounds, soccer, softball fields, and outdoor pools. Guests must supply their camper or tents but hook-ups are available.
Cave Hill Resort, Moodus
Cave Hill Resort features loads of family fun. Set in the heart of Connecticut River Valley surrounded by a forest and beautiful pond. Cave Hill is a beautiful place to stay with the kids. On-site, guests can enjoy the large playgrounds, showers, snack bar, and pool.
Hawks Nest Beach, Old Lyme
Hawks Nest Beach provides 47 vacation cottage rentals. Activities at Hawks Nest Beach include crabbing, swimming, kayaking, and beach sports. Every week, guests can enjoy visits from local scientists to talk about Oceanology. For adults, there are tennis courts and onsite shopping facilities.
Connecticut is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the US, especially during Autumn. Home to the most beautiful fall foliage. Connecticut has some of the most beautiful landscapes, art galleries, waterfalls, historical houses, and affluent riversides.
As well as this, Connecticut is packed full of fun activities for the little ones and plenty of thrilling adventures to be had.
Listed below are some of the best and most beautiful places to visit in Connecticut.
West Hartford
Ranked one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods to visit in Connecticut West Hartford is home to the Children Museum of Connecticut and lots of green spaces. There are many well-maintained recreational facilities for the kids to enjoy, including Elizabeth Park which is the perfect setting for a family picnic. Whilst in West Hartford take a stroll with the family around the Hartford Reservoir. There are also lots of shops and delicious restaurants to dine in.
Ridgefield
Ridgefield is an adorable town sitting in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Surrounded by beautiful pine forests and alpine backdrop and you’re an hour from New York City.
Ridgefield is perfect for families with children looking for something extra special. Families that enjoy spending time in the great outdoors and walking trails will enjoy visiting Ridgefield.
Greenwich
Greenwich is one the largest towns on Connecticut’s Gold Coast and home to Greenwich Avenue which boasts a large number of high-end shops and Bruce Museum which is a great place to visit with the kids.
Greenwich offers a lot of luxury and can be costly. If you’re looking to spend the day, you can travel easily via train.
Cheshire
Cheshire is situated between New Haven and Hartford. If you’re looking for that small-town charm, then a visit to Cheshire is a must. The little ones will enjoy the beautiful landscapes and waterfalls along with the orchards and horse barns. Spending the day will Cheshire will suit a child of any age. Soak up the countryside and spend the day relaxing and enjoying the scenic surroundings of Cheshire
Connecticut has some regional specialties that would satisfy the fussiest of eaters. Families that enjoy dining out and trying local delicacies will enjoy the choice of foods in Connecticut. Influenced by the English and seafood options, Connecticut has developed its take on American cooking.
Listed below are some of the foods you must try.
Colonial Foods
Connecticut is packed with food influences from around the globe. When the Puritan settlers arrived in Connecticut they brought some of their English cuisines with them, food such as potatoes, baked beans, Johnny cakes, and cranberries. With this created some wonderful dishes heavily influenced by the west and enjoyed by those visiting the area.
You can find some of these traditional dishes at Redding Road House which is a historic bed and breakfast and popular with tourists.
Clambakes and Cod
Seafood is very popular anywhere in New England thanks to its location close to the Atlantic. Fresh Lobster and clams give Connecticut the fresh ingredients to cook up a seafood storm. Connecticut excels at clambakes and cod dishes. Not only is the fish the freshest, the locals know what they’re doing when it comes to creating the local dishes. One of the local restaurants to try is the Chef Clyde Ripka of Ripka's Beach Café.
New Haven Pizza
New York and Chicago are famously known for their pizzas but supposedly the very first pizza which is the New Haven Pizza consists of crispy crusts and lushest tomato sauce combined with oregano and sprinkled with Romano Cheese. Originating in Connecticut the New Haven Pizza is popular with the little ones and even adults too!
