Things to do in Connecticut – Things to do with Kids
Mystic Seaport, Aquarium & Historic Town of Mystic.
Mystic offers so much for kids and adults. The quaint historic town is lined with shops and ice cream right on the Mystic river. Take a trip through Noank the Stonington Borough and Groton Long Point where you can catch a ride an a sail boat, go to the beach, or what boaters while having a Lobster Roll at Abbots Restaurant! Mystic Seaport offers Historic vessels to tour, visit the Children’s Museum, playscapes and the Discovery Barn.
The borough of Stonington has quaint shops and restaurants right on the water. Traveling through the village you will enjoy the historic homes and lighthouse. Mystic has wonderful shops, food, and ice cream for the kids. Wander through the streets of Noank and watch all the sail boats go by. Groton Long Point has been a family vacation spot for years with deep sense of community. Just over the line in Rhode Island is Watch Hill with shop, a carousel and one of the most beautiful beaches I have every been to.
SAILING
BEACHES
CONNECTICUT SHORELINE
Things to do Connecticut – Beaches, CT shoreline, Sailing, Swimming and more!
Groton Long Point
Groton Long Point is a popular summer destination by families as a summer playground. It is a friendly town where kids riding bikes all day and families enjoying the summer night breeze on front porches. If you are lucky you can catch a summer music jam party on a neighbors porch.
The Groton Long Point Yacht Club has many classes for kids including swimming, sailing, sports, and tennis lessons. I have enjoyed sailing with friends, playing music on beach and spectacular fireworks. The Yacht Club also organizes evening events such as dances, movies, and scavenger hunts for children. The homes and gardens Noank are beautiful. Take a bike ride, enjoy the sights. Don’t miss the concerts at nearby Esker Point. I love to end the day with a lobster roll at Abbott’s and watch the boats go by!
Hammonasset State Park
Hammonasset State Park offers 3 miles of beach, campsites and a nature center. It is the largest shoreline in the state where kids can enjoy the gentle surf or take a stroll on the boardwalk.
Ocean Beach Park – New London
Rocky Neck
Old Lyme
TRAINS
Essex Steam Train and Riverboat Ride
Essex Steam Train begins at the historic 1892 Essex Station and travels down the Connecticut River Valley thought the beautiful towns foe Deep River and Chester. The kids love the 12 mile journey on the vintage coaches with views of natural habitats of any birds including Bald Eagles.
You board the Becky Thatcher riverboat at the Deep River Landing, and cruise the cruise along the Connecticut River viewing wildlife and historic sites.
Old Saybrook Pizza Works – Train models and Running Trains
Danbury & East Windsor Train
AMUSEMENT PARKS & BASEBALL
Lake Compounce
Quassy Amusement Park & Sailing Camp
Ocean Beach
Six Flags, MA
LAKES
Nepaug Reservoir ~ Silver Lake ~ Lake Terramuggus ~ Farmington River Reservoir ~ Lake Zoar ~ Lake Compounce ~ West Hill Pond ~ Lake Waramaug ~ Bantam Lake ~ Barkhamsted Reservoir ~ Lake Mcdonough
Lake Compounce
Quassy Amusement Park & Sailing Camp
WINDING TRAILS FARMINGTON
Things to do Farmington CT Winding Trails
WEST HARTFORD RESERVOIRS
Lake Compounce
West Hill Pond
Lake Waramaug
Bantam Lake
Barkhamsted Reservoir
Lake Mcdonough – Swimming
CONNECTICUT ANTIQUES TRAIL
Woodbury Antiques Trail
CT WINE TRAIL
Connecticut Wineries – CT WINE TRIAL
| Bishop’s Orchards Winery (866) 2BISHOPW 1355 Boston Post Rd, US Rte 1 Guilford, CT 06437 |
Jonathan Edwards Winery (860) 535-0202 74 Chester Maine Rd, North Stonington, CT 06359 JEdwardsWinery.com |
Saltwater Farm Vineyard (860) 415-9072 349 Elm Street, Stonington, CT 06378 SaltwaterFarmVineyard.com |
| Chamard Vineyards (860) 664-0299 115 Cow Hill Road, Clinton, CT 06413 Chamard.com |
Jones Winery (203) 929-8425 606 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Shelton, CT 06484 JonesFamilyFarms.com |
Savino Vineyards 128 Ford Road Woodbridge, CT 06525 (203) 389-2050 Savinovineyards.com |
| Connecticut Valley Winery (860) 489-9463 1480 Litchfield Turnpike, New Hartford, CT 06057 ctvalleywinery.com |
Land of Nod Winery (860) 824-5225 99 Lower Road, East Canaan, CT 06024 LandOfNodWinery.com |
Sharpe Hill Vineyard (860) 974-3549 108 Wade Road, Pomfret, CT 06258SharpeHill.com |
| DiGrazia Vineyards (203) 775-1616 131 Tower Road, Brookfield, CT 06804 DiGraziaVineyards.com |
Maugle Sierra Vineyards (860) 464-2987 825 Rte. CT 117, Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, CT 06339 MaugleSierraVineyards.com |
Stonington Vineyards (860) 535-1222 523 Taugwonk Road, Stonington, CT 06378 StoningtonVineyards.com |
| Gouveia Vineyards (203) 265-5526 1339 Whirlwind Hill Road, Wallingford, CT 06492 GouveiaVineyards.com |
Miranda Vineyard (860) 491-9906 42 Ives Road, Goshen, CT 06756 MirandaVineyard.com |
Sunset Meadow Vineyards (860) 201-4654 599 Old Middle Street, Rte. 63, Goshen, CT 06756 SunsetMeadowVineyards.com |
| Haight-Brown Vineyard (860) 567-4045 29 Chestnut Hill Road, Litchfield, CT 06759 HaightVineyards.com |
Paradise Hills Vineyard (203) 284-0123 15 Windswept Hill Road, Wallingford, CT 06492 ParadiseHillsVineyard.com |
Taylor Brooke Winery (860) 974-1263 848 Connecticut 171, Woodstock, CT 06281 TaylorBrookeWinery.com |
| Holmberg Orchards & Winery (860) 464-7305 12 Orchard Lane Gales Ferry, CT 06335 HolmbergWinery.com |
Preston Ridge Vineyard (860) 383-4278 100 Miller Road, Preston, CT 06365 PrestonRidgeVineyard.com |
White Silo Winery (860) 355-0271 32 Route 37 East, Sherman, CT 06784 WhiteSiloWinery.com |
| Hopkins Vineyard (860) 868-7954 25 Hopkins Road, Warren, CT 06777 HopkinsVineyard.com |
Priam Vineyards (860) 267-8520 11 Shailor Hill Road, Colchester, CT 06415 PriamVineyards.com |
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| Jerram Winery (860) 379-8749 535 Town Hill Rd, Rte 219, New Hartford, CT 06057 JerramWinery.com |
Rosedale Farms & Vineyard (860) 651-3926 25 East Weatogue St., Simsbury, CT 06070 Rosedale1920.com |
CONNECTICUT FARMS
FLAMIG – WEST SIMSBURY
Arethusa Farm, Litchfield
Arethusa Farm has open barn tours of the dairy farm, they own bakery, a great ice cream shop and a gourmet restaurant, al tavolo in Bantum, CT. The grounds of the Farm consist of stunning black and white barns nestled in the countryside of Litchfield. .
Southwind Farms
Halls Farm, Simsbury
Pickin’ Patch, Avon
Tulmeadow Farm
Westmoor Park, West Hartford
Lyman Orchards – sunflower and corn mazes, apple picking, bike ride around Shuttle Meadow Reservoir.
Meadow View Farm – corn maze and flowers everywhere!
Horseback Riding & Polo
Pools – Swimming
Cornerstone Aquatic Center – West Hartford
MUSEUMS
Hillstead Museum
New England Carousel Museum
Peabody Museum
Wadsworth Atheneum
Railroad Museum of New England
Aldrich Contemporary Museum of Art
Connecticut Trolley Museum
Artspace
Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
Bruce Museum of Arts and Science
Canton Historical Museum
Connecticut Air and Space Center
Children’s Museum Southeastern CT
Children’s museum in West Hartford
Connecticut Children’s Museum – New Haven
Connecticut Audubon Society Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary
Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum
Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
Connecticut Trolley Museum
Contemporary Art Galleries at UConn
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum
Discovery Museum and Planetarium – Bridgeport
Kidcity Children’s Museum – Middleton
Lutz Children’s Museum – Manchester
Montville Dinosaur Park
New Britain Youth Museums
New England Air Museum
New England Carousel Museum – Bristol
Benton Museum of Art
Peabody Museum of Natural History – New Haven
Benton Museum of Art
Peabody Museum of Natural History – New Haven
HISTORIC SITES
Noah Webster House – West Hartford
Old New-Gate Prison
Phelps Tavern Museum – Simsbury
Northwest Park Nature Center – Windsor
Historic Sites in Simsbury, West Hartford, Farmington and more!
Stanley-Whitman House
The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village
Unionville Museum
Stepping Stone Museum for Children – Norwalk, CT
Weir Farm National Historic Site (Wilton)
Wadsworth Mansion
William Benton Museum of Art – Storrs, CT
Rivers – Tubing, Boarding, Kayaking
Farmington River
Bantum River
Sandy Brook
Connecticut River – Music Festivals, Taste of Hartford, River boat KID cruises
HIKING
Talcott Mountain State Forest
Kent falls
West Hartford Metropolitan District
Bear Mountain
Jones Mountain Preserve
Macricostas Preserve
Millington Trail (Devil’s Hopyard)
Housatonic River Walk (South Kent)
Tunxis Trail (Barkhamsted)
Little Pond Trail & Plunge Pool (White Memorial Conservation Center)
Taine Mountain Trails
CT Hillstead Museum Trails
Metacomet Trail
McLean Game Refuge Trail
The McLean Game Refuge and Trout Pond encompasses over 4400 acres in Simsbury, Granby, and Canton Connecticut.
Bear Mountain in Salisbury has the tallest peak in the state of Connecticut at 2,316 feet. The highest point in Connecticut is 2,380 feet on a mountainside of Mt. Frissel whose peak is in Massachusetts. I have hiked this many time with children, adults and alone. It is a beautiful drive thought the hills of northwest Connecticut and a spectacular view from the top! Stop in Salisbury for some dinner or a farm for some apple pie!
White Memorial Conservation Area in Litchfield, CT offers a wide area of activities including, guided nature walks for school children, hiking, cycling kayaking, and Bantum lake. Visit the are of the old ice houses and the amazing museum. Great for kids!
Lakes, Ponds and Rivers of White Memorial, Litchfield, CTWATERFALLS
ROCK CLIMBING
Pinnacle Peak Rock, 600 feet, is a located 10 miles southwest of Hartford, Connecticut in the towns of Farmington and Plainville. The local rock climbers enjoy this place to test their skills outside and take a break from the indoor climbing establishment like the Stone Age Rock Gym in Manchester, CT. It is part of the Metacomet Ridge. Pinnacle Rock, popular as an outdoor recreation destination in the metropolitan Hartford area, is known for its clifftop scenic vistas. Pinnacle Rock is traversed by the 51-mile Metacomet Trail.
CYCLING
Farmington Rail Trail, Simsbury country roads, Shoreline rides…
Cycling Groups
Rides during the work week leave from designated areas in Hartford County, West of the Connecticut River. Check the Weekday Cyclists Facebook page for daily details. The pace is usually 14+mph and they ride 40+miles.
ART
Greater Hartford Arts Council
Yale University Art Gallery
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Florence Griswold Museum
Hill-Stead Museum
Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center
New Britain Museum of American Art
Farmington Valley Arts Center
Yale Center for British Art
Mystic Museum of Art
Entertainment & Performing Arts
Palace Theater
Warner Theater
The Bushnell
Bridge Street Live
Infinity Hall
Little Theater of Manchester
Schubert Theater New Haven
Levitt Pavilion – Weds Free Kid Concerts
Bank Street Theater
Simsbury Performing Arts Center
Hartford Stage Company
Bushnell Park Jazz & Blues Festivals
Park Road Theater
Schubert Theater
FINE DINING
Visit West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square for some amazing culinary delights. Simsbury offers some great dining as well. Litchfield has some great local pubs: The Village and Arethusa.
PUBLIC GARDENS
Connecticut Gardens
Sunken Garden & Poetry Readings at Hillstead Museum
Gardens By Eileen-West Simsbury, CT
WHITE FLOWER FARM
Things to do Connecticut, Perennial Beds, Annuals, White Flower Farm Litchfield, Shade Gardens, Trees, Shrubs, Bulbs, Bird Baths, Landscape Design
Elizabeth Park – West Hartford, CT
Laurel Ridge Daffodils Wigwam Road in Litchfield
WINTER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Things to do with kids CT – Winter – Ski Sundown, Farmington Trails Rec Center, cross country skiing, sledding, ice skating.
Winding Trails Recreation Center, Farmington, CT
SKI SUNDOWN
Gillette Castle State Park
Camping
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GrandView CampResort & Cottages
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Hammonasset Beach State Park
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White Memorial Foundation Family Campground…
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River Bend Campground
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Devil’s Hopyard State Park Campground 366 Hopyard Road, East Haddam, CT 06423
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Macedonia Brook State Park Campground
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Black Rock State Park and Campground – Watertown, CT
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Waters Edge Campground
Nature Centers
Roaring Brook – Canton
White Memorial Conservation Area -Litchfield
Northwest Park – Windsor
Farmers Markets
Stonington Village Farmers’ Market
Litchfield Farmer’s Market
Fairs
Goshen Fair
Hadam Neck Fair
Woodstock Fair
Bethlehem fair
Harwingtown Fair.
Hebren Harvest Fair
Durham Fair
Berlin Fair
The BIG E!
EVENTS – RACES
Running, Cycling, Swimming
Bike Races in Connecticut
Running Races in Connecticut
Kids Triathlons in Connecticut
Triathlons in Connecticut
Kids Fun Run – Celebrate West Hartford:
Children 10 & under may participate in the half mile Kids’ Fun Run which starts in Blue Back Square at 8:30 am (registration required). New Fun Run Course in 2017! Click here for Kids’ Fun Run map. Every participant earns a medal!
Hot Air Balloons – Plainville, CT
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Halloween Parades in West Hartford & Collinsville, CT
Holiday Strolls West Hartford and Simsbury, CT
City of Hartford, CT
Bushnell Park
Enjoy the artistic vintage 1914 carousel with your kids Bushnell Park. The parks puts on a host of summer concerts including the Hartford Jazz Festival and the Blues Festival. It has ice skating and fireworks at the First night event on Jan 31 each year an host s the famous Hartford Marathon.
Things to do Connecticut Hartford
Mark Twain House
Connecticut Villages
Restaurants and Boutique Shopping
Community and Real Estate information was provided by Eileen Anderson, a recognized leader in her field. Eileen can be reached via email at Eileen@eileenandersonrealtor.com or by phone at 860-966-2112. Eileen has helped people move in and out of many Connecticut towns since year 2000.
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