Family Activities
Fun for children and families, from riverboats to dinosaur hiding places
Family activities in Connecticut include things as diverse as tracking evidence of dinosaurs to exploring a shipbuilding village of 1830 to visits with Beluga whales.
The state boasts lots of child-oriented and science-oriented museums that will keep kids occupied for hour after hour. There is lots to do, indoors and out, in all seasons of the year.
Lots of resorts and hotels and inns welcome kids with family friendly lodging.
Follow these links for: Zoos, Aquariums & Animal Parks – Outdoor Adventures – Rainy Day Activities
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12 listings
Mystic, CT
Featured listing: Argia Mystic Cruises
75 Steamboat Wharf 860-536-0416Haul Away! Bring the whole family sailing
Sail away aboard the traditional sailing schooner Argia for a journey into the past. The adventure begins as the Ship's horn blows and you depart from Mystic's historic Bascule Bridge, a national historic landmark. As the ship travels down the Mystic River, join the crew in raising sail the old-fashioned way...or lend a hand steering the ship! Morgan Point Lighthouse and the quaint fishing village of Noank greet you at the river’s mouth, followed by islands and peaceful sailing.
Enjoy our lowest rates Weekdays on our first trips of the day! Pack a picnic and bring the family aboard ARGIA for a 2-hour day-sail!
Niantic, CT
Featured listing: Black Hawk Sport Fishing
Sailing from Cini Memorial Park 860-448-3662Families, kids of all ages are more than welcome aboard this sport-fishing and specialty cruise boat
Is there such a thing as being too young to fish? Not according to Black Hawk Sport Fishing, where kids are more than welcome. (They might even get to honk a boat horn or win a T-shirt!) Bring your own gear or rent a rod and reel, then settle back as an experienced captain and crew head out in pursuit of everything from stripers to fluke. Or, choose a fireworks, sunset or nature cruise, or a seal or eagle watch cruise. Private charters are also available for family gatherings or reunions. There’s a galley with burgers, hot dogs, snacks and beverages. Check the website for specialty trips: last-minute day trips, seal watches and fireworks cruises. Come see why Black Hawk was voted Southeastern Connecticut’s number one party boat.
Oakdale, CT
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village
1650 Hartford-New London Tpke. (Rt. 85) 860-443-4367Families always have a roaring good time at this dinosaur-themed adventure park
Where can you find a roaring good time as a family, with something to satisfy everyone from tots to teens? At The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village! Start with the dinosaurs, of course — 60 of them, life-sized, to be discovered along an easy-to-walk, 1-5-mile trail. Then there are the T-Rex water cannons and other delights at the Splash Pad. Over at T-Rex Tower, dozens of challenging features mean the kids will love this 2 1/2-story playscape. Little guys will enjoy Monty’s Playground and Melody Magic, a musical playground for all ages. There’s also mini golf, a “mine” where you can dig for crystals and minerals — and over at Thunder Creek, you can pan for fools gold. Enjoy burgers and snacks at Monty’s Munchies or bring your own picnic!
Essex, CT
Connecticut River Museum
67 Main Street, Steamboat Dock 860-767-8269Families can explore the Connecticut river with indoor, outdoor exhibits and activities
At the Connecticut River Museum, families can learn about and enjoy the great river with indoor and outdoor activities. In the Museum, exhibits tell the history of the river from Indigenous peoples through the 20th century, and describe its environmental impact and how it has been used over the years, from a power source for mills to quarrying and fisheries and for recreation. Outside the Museum building, you can board the re-created 1614 sailing vessel Onrust for an afternoon or evening cruise (or explore the unique ship at the dock) or board the 64-foot RiverQuest eco-tour boat for scenic tours of the river. Every passenger is offered binoculars for better viewing and kid-sized binos are always available. Check the calendar for a series of cruises designed just for kids and their families throughout the season. Everyone will have an opportunity to use binoculars, learn nautical terms, and birdwatch.
New London, CT
Cross Sound Lighthouse Cruises
2 Ferry Street 860-444-4620Catamaran lighthouse tours are Instagram-worthy, educational — and fun for everyone in the family
The kids are going to love this tour! Two-hour lighthouse cruises from Cross Sound Cruises depart New London, CT and Orient Point, NY and go past a variety of famous, and much-loved, lighthouses, including Race Rock Light and New London Ledge Lighthouse (both said to be haunted); Orient Point Lighthouse, nicknamed “The Coffee Pot” by local mariners; Watch Hill Light, whose construction was authorized by Thomas Jefferson; and New London Harbor Light, one of the original 12 colonial lighthouses in the country. Tours — there are three to choose from — also go by Revolutionary-Era forts. Ride in comfort on a catamaran with air-conditioned cabins and lounges and large outside decks. Snacks and beverages, including ice-cold cocktails, are available. Each cruise is narrated by an experienced guide.
Middlefield, CT
Lyman Orchards
32 Reeds Gap Road 860-349-1793Named Connecticut's Best Pick-Your-Own Farm for 2024 by Connecticut Magazine
Lyman Orchards offers nearly 100 varieties of fruits from mid-June to late October including Honeyberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Jostaberries, Peaches, Nectarines, Squash, Apples and Pears. We take pride in growing top-quality, eco-certified apples and peaches using sustainable practices. Located just 30 minutes from Hartford, Waterbury, and New Haven, CT, Lyman Orchards offers more than fruit picking. Visit the Apple Barrel Farm Market for handmade desserts and sandwiches, explore our seasonal Sunflower or Corn Maze, dine at the 1741 Pub & Grill, or enjoy one of our award-winning golf courses!
Hartford, CT
Mark Twain House & Museum
351 Farmington Avenue 860-247-0998Explore a slice of life in the home of Mark Twain
Step into the world of one of America’s greatest literary icons at The Mark Twain House & Museum. This historic home invites visitors to explore a slice of life in the home of Samuel Clemens—better known as Mark Twain. Kids and adults will marvel at the beautifully restored Victorian home complete with Louis C. Tiffany & Co. interior decoration and stenciling, period furniture, photos, paintings, and more. Embark on a guided tour of the 3-story mansion where Sam and his wife Olivia raised their family and Sam wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Enjoy a 22-minute film by Ken Burns, check out changing exhibits in the museum center, and don’t miss the gift shop for Twain-inspired keepsakes.
Darien, CT
The Mather Homestead
19 Stephen Mather Road 203-202-7602The Mather Homestead, Darien’s only National Historic Landmark, is a beautifully preserved 1778 home with a rich American story spanning more than two centuries. Built during the Revolutionary War, the home was designed to keep the Mather family safe from Tory raids. Deacon Joseph Mather, son of the influential patriot preacher Reverend Moses Mather, lived here with his wife and their eleven children. In 1906, Stephen Tyng Mather, borax entrepreneur and first director of the National Park Service, occupied the home as his summer residence and added the beautiful gardens that continue to grace the property. Today, guided tours (Monday through Friday) tell the Mather family story and bring American history to life, from the Revolutionary era through the early 2000s, when the home was entrusted to The Mather Homestead Foundation.
New London, CT
Block Island Express
2 Ferry StreetA Fun, Fast, and Family-Friendly Way to Travel to Block Island
Block Island Express offers a fast and comfortable ferry ride from New London, CT or Orient Point, NY and Block Island, RI - perfect for families planning a day trip or vacation. The high-speed ferry gets you to Block Island in just over an hour, giving you more time to explore and less time in transit. On board, passengers enjoy spacious seating, air conditioning, clean restrooms, and a full-service snack bar with sandwiches, drinks, and kid-friendly options. There’s ample space to walk around, and outdoor decks provide panoramic views of Long Island Sound. Bikes, strollers, and beach gear are welcome, and pet-friendly areas are available. The trip itself becomes part of the adventure, offering families a fun and scenic start to their island getaway.
Ansonia, CT
Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center
10 Deerfield Lane 203-736-1053This nature center is a wonderful place for kids to run, play, climb, explore, and also learn about nature. There is a large variety of interesting activities. Open daily, year-round.
Norwalk, CT
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
10 North Water Street 203-852-0700Kids and parents can visit nose-to-nose with sharks, seals, river otters, wrinkly sea turtles, and stinging jellyfish. Educational public cruises, changing exhibits, a working boat shop, hands-on touch tanks, toddler play area, and an IMAX movie theater with a screen that’s six stories tall make this a place of seafaring adventure.
Hartford, CT
The Bushnell Park Carousel
Bushnell Park - 1 Jewell Street 860-232-6710Kids and adults both are entranced by this hand-carved carousel with 48 horses, two chariots, stained glass windows, mirrors reflecting 800 twinkling light bulbs, and a Wurlitzer band organ. Open May to October, Tuesday to Sunday; September and October, Thursday to Sunday. Call for seasonal changes in hours.