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Year-round adventures for children and families in Mystic CT

Connecticut > Mystic Eastern > Families and Kids > Family Activities
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village Atractions Outdoor adventure Oakdale CT
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village

1650 Hartford-New London Tpke. (Rt. 85) Oakdale, CT, 06370 Phone: 860-443-4367

Dino-Sized Family Fun Awaits!

Just minutes from Mystic, Conn., The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village offers a full day of family fun. The Giant T. Rex Mascot, Monty, welcomes your family to this 60 acre outdoor adventure park. Explore over a mile of dinosaur-filled nature trails featuring more than 40 life-sized dinosaurs and wrapping around a manmade lake with an active volcano! During the summer, cool off in New England’s largest SplashPad. Children will love getting lost in a”MAZE”asaurus and playing on Monty’s playground featuring the custom-made SpaceNet, a 15 foot tall three-dimensional swinging, vibrating, climbing web. More adventures include digging for gems, panning for “gold” and unearthing dinosaur bones in Discovery Depot.
Train 500x250 - Connecticut River Museum - Essex, CT
Connecticut River Museum

67 Main Street, Steamboat Dock Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-8269

Inside and out, lots to fascinate and entertain families along our riverbank!

There are so many things to do outside at the family-friendly Connecticut River Museum – winter cruises to see majestic bald eagles, sailing adventures aboard the 1614 replica ship Onrust, canoeing or kayaking on a quiet cove, strolling the harborside grounds, walking to historic Essex Village for lunch – that you might forget to go inside. But don’t! The kids will love to examine the handmade tools used for fishing and hunting in and along the river, old navigation tools, the model train layout set up every fall, the three-story river mural that snakes up and down staircases and the model of the very cool Turtle, the first submarine to be used in combat (during the Revolutionary War).
Interior Slater Memorial Museum and Converse Art Gallery Norwich Connecticut
Slater Memorial Museum and Converse Art Gallery

Norwich Free Academy - 108 Crescent Street Norwich, CT, 06360 Phone: 860-887-2506

Family fun and learning in Norwich

Experience fun and learning at this enchanting museum stocked with art and historical artifacts. People and cultures through 35 centuries and five continents are featured here on the campus of Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT. Along with art treasures there is a unique gift shop to browse and shop for prints , the work of Connecticut artisans, books, CDs, puzzles, bags and other accessories. Started by a gift from philanthropist William A. Slater more than a century ago, the museum is itself a treasure done in Romanesque Revival style architecture by Stephen C. Earle. You can all enjoy an interpreter-guided tour -- free with admission – as well as permanent and changing exhibits, film screenings, discussions and regularly scheduled events.
California Sealion Show 500x250 - Mystic Aquarium - Mystic, CT
Mystic Aquarium

55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT, 06355 Phone: 860-572-5955

A must SEA for every family

A destination for kids of all ages, Mystic Aquarium provides families the opportunity to learn about their ocean planet all while having fun! With thousands of marine animals including beluga whales, penguins, seals, fish, frogs, alligators and more – Mom, Dad and each of the kids will have their own Aquarium favorite. Hands-on exhibits welcome curious children to touch sharks, stingrays and even some exotic reptiles. Daily complimentary sea lion shows provide a truly unique opportunity to see these fascinating animals up-close and in action. You can even take in a 3-D show at one of our two theaters. And, come face to claw with animatronic dinosaurs in ‘Jurassic Giants’ – that is, if you dare! Plus, special events and activities all year long make the Aquarium a destination worth revisiting often. SEA more at MysticAquarium.org.
Stay in Warwick, See Rhode Island! Kid Fun, Unique Cuisine, Ocean View
Ocean Beach Park Pool New London CT
Ocean Beach Park

1225 Ocean Avenue New London, CT, 06320 Phone: 860-447-3031 Toll-Free: 800-510-7263

Everyone can be a kid at oceanside amusement park, beach

Ocean Beach Park is for kids of all ages – including Mom and Dad. Little tykes will love the tiny cars and trains in the amusement park and the playground – and sprayground! Older kids will want to hang out on the sugar-sand beach, in the Olympic-size pool, on the triple waterslides or in the arcade. And everyone will want to visit the mini-golf course (you can beat that windmill), grab a cone on the boardwalk or take a nature walk overlooking an estuary. Family dining options include full meals at the Sandbar Cafe overlooking the ocean, faster food in the Boardwalk Galley and a picnic area. Entertainment runs from DJs and bands to magic shows and beach-blanket movies.
Riverbank Family 500x250 - Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - Essex, CT
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

One Railroad Avenue Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-0103 Toll-Free: 800-377-3987

Much more than a Choo Choo

Climb aboard the only steam train and riverboat connection in the U.S! Kids will enjoy riding in the vintage coaches alongside farms, ponds, and boat yards, and spotting swans, ducks, and egrets. The 12-mile, narrated roundtrip brings passengers to Deep River Landing, where the riverboat continues the adventure with a 1¼-hour cruise on the breathtaking Connecticut River. The steam train returns visitors to Essex station. Throughout the year, there are several special events specifically for kids: In April and May, Day Out with Thomas; mid-November through December, Santa Special (daytime) and North Pole Express (nighttime).
Kids at the Helm! 500x250 - Argia Mystic Cruises - Mystic, CT
Argia Mystic Cruises

12 Steamboat Wharf Mystic, CT, 06355 Phone: 860-536-0416

Haul 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. Snacks and lemonade are provided.

May 1st through late mid-October, choose a day or sunset cruise aboard ARGIA!