Connecticut is a rich resource of fun things to do with Kids. You just need to know where to find them. Let us help you plan your day and your weekend with your kids and your entire family with one hundreds fun things to do with kids in Connecticut.
From the shores of Southeastern Connecticut to Mystic down to Fairfield County and then over to Litchfield County there is always something new and exciting to explore about Connecticut.
Mystic Area
Visit the Mystic Aquarium, a popular attraction featuring a variety of marine life exhibits and interactive displays, including beluga whales, sea lions, and sharks.
Explore the Mystic Seaport Museum, a living history museum that tells the story of America’s maritime past, with historic ships, demonstrations, and exhibits.
Spend the day at Olde Mistick Village with unique shops, restaurants, and activities for kids, including a playground and an ice cream shop.
Stop by the Mystic River Bascule historic drawbridge that spans the Mystic River and offers views of the boats and ships passing by, stop at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream shop that offers over 30 flavors of hand made ice cream, sundaes, and shakes and then sit on benches at the Mystic River Park and watch boats and kayaks going by.
Book an adventure to the Fields of Fire Adventure Park in Mystic, an outdoor adventure park with ziplining, ropes courses, and climbing challenges for kids and adults.
In the summer plan to go to the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival held in downtown Mystic with over 200 artists, food vendors, and activities for kids.
Visit B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill – A historic cider mill in Mystic that offers tours, tastings, and a chance to see the cider-making process.
Each lunch at Mystic Pizza – A pizza restaurant made famous by the 1988 movie of the same name, with pizza, salads, and sandwiches.
Visit the Mystic Arts Center.
Visit the Mystic Shipyard.
Take the kids to the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center with hiking trails, wildlife exhibits, and educational programs for kids and families.
Fairfield County Area
Visit the Stepping Stones Museum for Children – An interactive children’s museum in Norwalk with hands-on exhibits and programs for kids of all ages.
Visit the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk.
Take a boat tour of the Thimble Islands.
Visit the Fairfield Museum and History Center.
Go to the Greenwich Point Park.
Spend the day at the Bartlett Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Stamford with over 90 acres of natural beauty and outdoor educational programs for children.
Play at the Chelsea Piers Connecticut Sports Complex in Stamford
Spend the day at the Darien Nature Center – A nature center in Darien that offers exhibits, live animal encounters, and nature programs for kids and families.
Visit Earthplace – A nature center in Westport that offers hands-on exhibits, live animal encounters, and nature trails.
Madison
Spend the day at the beach, go camping at Hammonasset Beach State Park and visit Meigs Point Nature Center in Madison, Connecticut
Rocky Hill
Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill is a unique and educational destination for visitors of all ages that offers a glimpse into Connecticut’s prehistoric past and provides a fun and interactive experience for anyone interested in dinosaurs and paleontology. Outside of the main exhibit area, the park offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and a playground. Visitors can also enjoy fishing and boating in the nearby Connecticut River.
Go on a family hike in Sleeping Giant State Park
Groton
Visit Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park in Groton. This park is the site of the Battle of Groton Heights, a Revolutionary War battle in which American troops defended Fort Griswold against a British attack. The park features a monument and several markers that commemorate the battle and the soldiers who fought and died there.
Climb to the Groton Monument. This historic landmark commemorating the Battle of Groton Heights, with a 135-foot granite obelisk that offers panoramic views of the Thames River.
Spend the day at Eastern Point Beach in Groton. The beach features a lighthouse that was built in 1829 and has been in operation ever since. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and other activities on the beach.
Visit the USS Nautilus & Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton. The Submarine Force Museum, located on the Thames River, is home to the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine. The museum also contains exhibits and artifacts related to the history of submarine warfare and the US Navy’s submarine force.
Plan a trip to the Avery-Copp House in Groton. The Avery-Copp House is a historic home that was built in the late 18th century. It served as a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty during the Revolutionary War, and today it is a museum that features exhibits and artifacts related to the town’s colonial history.
Bridgeport
Visit the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport with over 300 animals from North and South America, including endangered species. While you’re there take a ride on their classic carousel
Essex, Chester, Haddam, Ivoryton
Take a train ride on the Essex Steam Train
Take a tour of the Essex Village
Take a tour of the Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam.
Litchfield County
Go to the Litchfield Jazz Festival.
Go to the Litchfield County Agricultural Fair
Middlefield
Go apple picking at Lyman Orchards
Hartford
Visit the Connecticut Science Center
Explore the Mark Twain House and Museum
Visit the Old State House in Hartford.
Windsor Locks
Visit the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks. The New England Air Museum is an exciting place for kids to learn about the history of aviation and aerospace technology. Kids can explore over 100 aircraft and engines, climb into the cockpit of a real airplane, and learn about the pioneers who made significant contributions to the field. The museum’s interactive exhibits and displays make learning about aviation fun and engaging, and kids can even watch restoration work in progress in the museum’s restoration facility. The New England Air Museum also offers educational programs and events for kids, including camps and workshops, where they can learn about the science of flight and build their own model airplanes.
Amusement Parks
Spend a day at Lake Compounce Amusement Park where kids can splash in the wave pool, ride Boulder Dash, Zoomerang, and Revolution and eat cotton candy to their heart’s content.
Festivals and Fair
Go to the Glastonbury Apple Harvest Festival in the Fall.
Go to the Riverview Farms Fall Festival
Go to the Litchfield County Agricultural Fair
Go to the Old Saybrook Arts and Crafts Festival
Go to the Guilford Fair
More Things to do
Take a hot air balloon ride with the kids
Go on a whale watching tour in Long Island Sound.
Take a bike ride on the Farmington Canal Trail.
Visit the Peabody Museum of Natural History.
Visit the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut.
Visit the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven.
Visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center.
Take a kayaking trip on the Housatonic River.
Take a historic house tour of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, a historic mansion in Norwalk that offers tours and educational programs for kids and families.
Stop by the Silvermine Arts Center cultural center in New Canaan that offers art classes and workshops for kids of all ages.
Visit the Hill-Stead Museum.
Go to the New Britain Museum of American Art.
Go to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.
Visit the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Go to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in the Fall.
Visit the Slater Memorial Museum.
Go on a Connecticut River cruise.
Visit the Weir Farm National Historic Site.
Go to the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Visit the Bushnell Park Carousel
Take a trip to the Connecticut River Museum in Essex
Visit the Silver Sands State Park
Go to the Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail
Go to the Annual Meriden Daffodil Festival
Go to the New Haven Jazz Festival
Visit the Nathan Hale Homestead
Go to the Plainville Hot Air Balloon Festival
Visit the Florence Griswold Museum
Visit the Connecticut Trolley Museum
Go to the Simsbury Fly-In and Car Show
Visit the Museum of Connecticut History
Visit the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
Go to the New London Maritime Festival
Visit the Shore Line Trolley Museum
Visit the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry in Storrs
Go on a paddleboat ride at Elizabeth Park in Hartford
Go strawberry picking at a local farm
Explore the Litchfield Historical Society in Litchfield
Visit the Connecticut Children’s Museum in New Haven
Go swimming at Lake Waramaug State Park in New Preston
Visit the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield
Visit the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center in Mashantucket
Explore the Discovery Museum and Planetarium in Bridgeport
Go bird-watching at the Audubon Society of Connecticut
Visit the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury
Take a hike at Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury
Take a tour of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum in Wethersfield
Take a tour of the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead in Windsor
Go fishing at one of Connecticut’s many lakes or rivers
Attend a show at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford
Go kayaking or canoeing on the Farmington River
Go skiing or snowboarding at one of the state’s many ski resorts
Go ice skating at the Rinks at Shelton
Go on a horseback riding adventure
Visit the Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum in Cheshire
Go hiking in Bluff Point State Park
Swim and picnic at Eastern Point Beach, Ocean Beach, or Esker Point Beach
Take in a play at the Ridgefield Playhouse that offers performances for children and families.
Check out the Connecticut Audubon Society – Coastal Center at Milford Point – A nature center in Milford that offers educational programs and bird watching opportunities for kids and families.