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Connecticut > Mystic Eastern > Families and Kids > Family Activities

Family Activities - Mystic & Eastern CT

Everybody Can Help - Argia Mystic Cruises - Mystic, CT
Argia Mystic Cruises

75 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.

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!
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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

Something for everyone when you experience this train ride, riverboat cruise combination

Some of the family loves the idea of a train ride; others want to experience a river cruise: Essex Steam Train & Riverboat to the rescue! Hop on the train at the historic Essex Station for a narrated round trip into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. Your vintage cars (including caboose seats!) will be pulled by steam locomotives through quintessential New England towns. Get off at Deep River Landing and board the Becky Thatcher, a Mississippi-style riverboat, for a cruise along the river, with its coves, inlets, rocky shoreline and wildlife visible from multiple decks. The train, which also has a dinner train featuring 1920s Pullman-made dining cars, also offers a variety of special excursions, from Thomas the Tank Engine extravaganzas to a murder mystery dinner train. Please check our website for current train & riverboat schedules.
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Bluefish Girls 500x250 - Black Hawk Party Boat - Niantic, CT
Black Hawk Sport Fishing

Sailing from Cini Memorial Park Niantic, CT, 06357 Phone: 860-448-3662 Toll-Free: 800-382-2824

Families, 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.
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Atractions Outdoor Adventure - The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village - Oakdale CT
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village

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

Families 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!
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Sailing Past a Lighthouse - Lighthouse Cruises - New London, CT
Cross Sound Cruises

2 Ferry Street New London, CT, 06320 Phone: 860-444-4620

Catamaran 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.
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Departing - Cross Sound Ferry - New London, CT
Cross Sound Ferry

2 Ferry Street New London, CT, 06320 Phone: 860-443-5281

Smooth Sailing Between Connecticut and Long Island

Cross Sound Ferry offers a fun and efficient way for families to travel between New London, CT and Long Island, NY. The fleet includes high-speed and traditional ferries, many of which allow vehicles, making it easy to bring your car, pets, and bikes along for the adventure. On board, families can relax in spacious indoor seating areas or enjoy the fresh air from the open-air decks. The Cross Sound Deli serves breakfast, sandwiches, snacks, craft beers and specialty cocktails, and there are clean restrooms and comfortable seating with wifi and TV’s throughout. Kids will love watching the passing boats and lighthouses during the scenic trip. The ferry operates year-round and makes for a convenient and quick start to a beach day, road trip, or family getaway across the Sound.
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Cruising - Block Island Express - New London, CT
Block Island Express

2 Ferry Street New London, CT, 06320 Phone:

A 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.
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Gallery Girl - Connecticut River Museum - Essex, CT
Connecticut River Museum

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

Families 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.
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