Work the kids' muscles and imaginations at outdoor adventures in Connecticut

Have an adventure out on the water — and come home with dinner! That’s the perfect combo they’re offering you when you book a fishing cruise at Blackhawk Sport Fishing. With a vessel specially designed for the party boat fishing industry, you’ll head out to fish for porgy, bluefish, striped bass or sea bass. Bring your own gear, or rent a rod and reel at the dock. And, yes, kids can fish, too — sometimes they can even honk the boat horns! Keep what you catch (as long as it’s legal in terms of size and season) — a mate will fillet and clean it for a nominal charge. Or, you can release the fish back into the water or have it contributed to a local soup kitchen or food bank.

Aboard the 81-foot sailing vessel Argia, a modern replica of a 19th century packet schooner, you can travel back into the past – gliding by history-rich Mystic, helping the crew hoist and trim the sails – or just enjoy the view of islands, lighthouses and scenic coastlines from the vessel’s spacious wooden deck. The Coast Guard licensed schooner sails protected waters during the day and, for those seeking the romance of the sea at twilight, at sunset. Pack a picnic and a bottle of wine (or order snacks from us when you book) to make this excursion truly memorable. There are seats for all 49 passengers and a lovely little main salon down below.

Make tracks today to The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village, a 60-acre outdoor adventure park that features over 50 life-sized dinos on 1.5 miles of pristine, easy-to-walk nature trails. Pose for a selfie under the belly of a 40-foot-tall Brachiosaurus, explore dino-filled caves, feel the vibrations of a rumbling volcano at Raptor Bay, a 7-acre lake. Other outdoor attractions include New England’s largest Splash Pad, a dinosaur-themed maze and Monty’s Playground with a variety of climbing, jumping, balancing and sliding activities. At the T-Rex Tower, climb through a crazy obstacle-filled tower, swing across on a zip line and slide down a super-slick slide. There’s also an 18-hole Old West-themed mini golf course.

Experience the outdoors from a truly unique vantage point when you book a train, boat or combination trip at Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. Vintage coaches pulled by a steam engine will rumble through the Connecticut River Valley where you might see the ducks, swans, blue heron, egrets and eagles of the tidal wetlands of Pratt Cove and Chester Creek. The narrated eco-excursion also includes a look at undeveloped Selden Neck State Park, accessible otherwise only by boat. Take a round trip back to historic Essex Station or board the Mississippi-style riverboat, the Becky Thatcher, for a cruise along the Connecticut River past quiet coves, inlets, marshes and stretches of rocky shoreline and well as wildlife. The smaller Adventure riverboat also is available for sunset, foliage and tree swallow cruises. Please check our website for current train & riverboat schedules.

Historic Wethersfield has more to celebrate than its heritage: It also has a number of parks and other places sure to please every outdoor enthusiast. At Mill Woods Park, you can hike wooded trails, explore wildflower meadows or enjoy the skate park, beach, outdoor swimming pool, bocce courts and pond skating and fishing. Standish Park has tennis courts and a wheelchair-friendly playground; Wintergreen Woods features 110 acres with scenic nature trails. The Heritage Way Bike Trail meanders 10 miles through parks and woods, and the 3-mile Heritage Walk takes you past the Cove Warehouse Maritime Museum, through meadows and past the Ancient Burying Ground. Launch your boat at the Cove, fish at the reservoir or go sledding at Farms Village Park.

Explore the great outdoors from the comfort of your seat in a coach, first-class or lounge car, part of a vintage train leaving from the Railroad Museum of New England. Scenic tours follow the Naugatuck River, through inviting woodlands and over the famed Thomaston, CT Dam, with panoramic views of the river valley. The scenery outside, as you travel past trees and over bridges, is as compelling as the interiors of train cars, styled from their appropriate era of travel. There are special excursions during the winter holidays and Eastertime, a trip to a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch and foliage tours in the fall, and a day trip to Torrington, CT for shopping and dining in the summer. Back at Thomaston Station, check out the steam and diesel locomotives and cabooses.