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Connecticut attractions include sea history, roller coasters, dinosaurs, and more

Connecticut > State > Things to Do and See > Attractions

Connecticut attractions offer an wide variety of great things to do during your CT vacation. Learn about Connecticut’s ship building history at the Mystic Seaport in Mystic, discover the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, experience the thrill of the Wooden Warrior award-winning roller coaster at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, and enjoy the only steam train to riverboat Connecticut in the entire country at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat in Essex. The number and variety of family activities is legendary!

Attractions in Connecticut
Aug 2020 Image - IT Rope Adventures at Jordan's Furniture - New Haven, CT
IT Adventure Ropes Course

40 Sargent Drive New Haven, CT, 06511 Phone: 203-812-9981

Get your heart rate going on the world’s largest indoor ropes course

There’s a thrill-a-minute adventure waiting for you inside Jordan’s Furniture: the it Adventure Ropes Course, the largest indoor ropes course on the planet. Securely connected at all times in your full-body harness and sling line, you’ll climb, scramble over and through over 100 obstacles and challenges, including bridges, zig-zag swinging beams, cargo nets and crisscross angle rope ladders. You’ll also do some soaring, over a liquid fireworks water show from one end of the course to the other, with zip rails that sit at heights up to 56 feet. For kids under 48 inches tall, there’s a specially designed Little It course, with platforms less than three feet from the ground and adult chaperones close by to help out if needed.
Excursion Train 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

A Connecticut River adventure by train and boat

Gather family and friends for a sightseeing adventure aboard the only steam train and riverboat connection in the United States! This 2½-hour narrated journey explores the nature and beauty of the Connecticut River Valley, designated as one of “the last great places on Earth” by The Nature Conservancy. View historic sites such as Gillette Castle and the Goodspeed Opera House. Excursions begin and end at the historic 1892 Essex station. Please check our website regularly for 2020 schedules and updates.
Penguin Habitat 500x250 - Mystic Aquarium - Mystic, CT
Mystic Aquarium

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

Mystic Aquarium is a destination of its own

At Mystic Aquarium, meet New England’s only beluga whales. See over 300 species in both indoor and outdoor exhibits including African penguins, seals, sharks and fish galore. Discover extraordinary animals including 30 different amphibian species in ‘frogs!’ or some of nature’s most outrageously bizarre animals in ‘Weird & Wonderful’. And in ‘Jurassic Giants: A Dinosaur Adventure’, you’ll encounter breathing, clawing, roaring dinosaurs that practically come to life! Daily complimentary sea lion shows provide a truly unique opportunity to see these fascinating animals up-close and in action. Plus, with a robust schedule of shows in our two theaters, seasonal events and activities, Mystic Aquarium is a year-round destination worth revisiting often. Learn more at MysticAquarium.org. SEA more at Mystic Aquarium!
Stepping Stones Museum for Children Lighted pegboard Norwlak CT
Stepping Stones Museum for Children

Mathews Park - 303 West Avenue Norwalk, CT, 06850 Phone: 203-899-0606

Currently Closed - We look forward to seeing you again soon!

The idea behind the Stepping Stones Museum for Children is that kids learn best by doing, and everything inside and outside the museum backs that up. Children can create artwork, learn about their emotions, discover exactly how you work a wrench or use a needle and thread, “drive” a school bus, catch a toy fish in a pond and perform in a kid-centric “American Idol.” Even babies can engage with toys and puzzles in Tot Town or sit quietly as their parents read to them in a book nook. Outside, they can climb in the Celebration Courtyard or see who is visiting the butterfly garden. When it’s time for lunch, the Healthyville Cafe serves up locally sourced meals that are delicious and nutritious. Daily drop-in program topics range from science to the arts and nursery rhymes with Mother Goose.
Explore New England TV - New Episodes Premiering June 6 on NESN!
Who knew history could be so awesome!
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

Life-sized dinos, water fun, jungle gyms, mini-golf: It’s all here at the park

At The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village, it all starts with those prehistoric creatures: More than 50 life-sized dinosaurs can be found along the park’s 1.5 miles of easy-to-walk nature trails and caves. The dino theme continues at the A”MAZE”asaurus, with its twists and turns (you have to slide through a T-Rex mouth to escape!) and the two-story enclosed T-Rex Tower with slides and bridges. Jungle gyms for all ages can be found at Monty’s Playground, featuring a three-dimensional climbing web that swings. Over at the Splash Pad, over 30 dinosaur-themed features include water cannons and dumping buckets. This 60-acre park also has mini-golf, six great shops, The Village Ice Cream Shoppe and a snack bar.
Cruising off Rathbun's Square 500x250 - Argia Mystic Cruises - Mystic, CT
Argia Mystic Cruises

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

Sail Away!

Discover islands, lighthouses and the beauty of sailing as you bask in the sun and salt air aboard the traditional schooner, Argia. This unique trip aboard one of the last sailing ships in New England offers you an ideal way to see the quaint maritime village of Mystic CT and its beautiful shoreline. Step aboard for a journey into the past. Depart from Mystic's historic Bascule Bridge, a national historic landmark, and sail down the Mystic River. 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 and you may bring your own beer or wine.

June 26th through late mid-October, choose a day or sunset sail aboard ARGIA!
Goat Kids - Beardsley Zoo - Bridgeport, CT
Beardsley Zoo

1875 Noble Avenue Bridgeport, CT, 06610 Phone: 203-394-6565

It’s all about animal magnetism at this friendly, expansive zoo

Who doesn’t want to spend a day at the zoo? And at the Beardsley Zoo, there is so much to see and do. Check out everything from boa constrictors to bison, from the two-toed sloth to the Siberian tiger, at this zoo, where endangered and threatened species are front and center but where variety rules. There’s the Madagascar hissing cockroach, for example, if you think small. Want something a bit bigger? Check out the Siberian tiger or the giant anteater. You can rent a stroller, grab lunch at the Peacock Cafe and go for a spin on the zoo’s colorful carousel. Check out a full slate of events and activities designed for kids of all ages.
Turner Bay 4th Floor - Yale Center for British Art - New Haven, CT - Photo Credit Richard Caspole
Yale Center for British Art

1080 Chapel Street New Haven, CT, 06510 Phone: 203-432-2800 Toll-Free: 877-274-8278

Masterworks by artists who lives & worked in Britain on display at YCBA

The museum houses the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom - Among them are paintings by Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable and J. M. W. Turner. The YCBA is also home to sculptures, drawings and watercolors, prints, rare books and manuscripts from the Elizabethan era onward. A vast array of activities for children and adults are available free of charge, including concerts and gallery talks, introductory tours, and sketching sessions for all levels. Find refreshments at the neighboring Atticus Bookstore and Cafe or, in season, on the patio at Harvest Wine Bar and Restaurant.
Outdoor View - Harriet Beecher Stowe Center - Hartford, CT
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

77 Forest Street Hartford, CT, 06105 Phone: 860-522-9258

Conversation part of the interactive tour at Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

Visitors are key to the experience at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, where guided tours of the author’s Victorian Gothic cottage also involve conversations about not only the issues of Stowe’s time – slavery and the role of women, for example – but also the issues, like social justice, we face today. Through storytelling, photographs, writings and rotating educational exhibits, visitors will hear about Stowe’s childhood, travels, family and what compelled her to the life of an activist and abolitionist – and author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” as well as other books. The home’s interiors have been beautifully restored in the Victorian style, and the gardens are notable for their variety and beauty. The center is a National Historic Landmark and a stop on the Connecticut Freedom Trail.
Billiards Room - Mark Twain House & Museum - Hartford, CT - Photo Credit John Groo
Mark Twain House & Museum

351 Farmington Avenue Hartford, CT, 06105 Phone: 860-247-0998

Voted #1 Fan Favorite Destination in Connecticut, the Mark Twain House & Museum offers visitors a chance to explore the home of one of America’s greatest author, where he lived for 17 years and wrote some of his most famous works like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. The Museum Center hosts informative exhibitions, documentaries, a café, and a museum store with one of a kind memorabilia. Tours run daily beginning at 9:30 A.M. with the last tour leaving at 4:30 P.M. while the Museum Center is open for self-guided visitation during regular hours.
Big Fish 500x250 - Black Hawk Party Boat - Niantic, CT
Black Hawk Sportfishing

Sailing from the Niantic Bay Marina Niantic, CT, 06357 Phone: 860-448-3662 Toll-Free: 800-382-2824

Whether fishing or sightseeing, sailing on the Black Hawk means fun!

No vacation at the shore is complete without a day spent reeling in the big ones. When you ready to enjoy deep-sea fishing, board the Black Hawk in Niantic, Connecticut. Powered by twin 750 horse power diesels, she's one of the fastest boats of her kind in New England. She is also U.S. Coast Guard inspected every year. Our experienced captains know where to find blue fish, porgies, cod, striped bass, sea bass, and other fish you'll enjoy catching. We also offer sightseeing trip from time to time. Watch Fourth of July fireworks from our deck, or let us take you where you can watch dolphins and seals sport and play. Schedule your own trip for a child's birthday party or a reunion with friends.
Mashantucket Museum and research Center
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center

110 Pequot Trail Mashantucket, CT, 06338 Phone: 800-411-9671

Permanent exhibits on the Native and natural history of southern New England include a cool descent into a glacial crevasse from 18,000 years ago. Walk through a 1550 Pequot Village. Interactive computer programs, films providing additional information and interpretation of the exhibits. Two research libraries, one for children. Museum store and restaurant. Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; last admission at 4 p.m. Admission: Adults, $15; seniors, $13; children age 6-15, $10; under 6 free. Information: www.pequotmuseum.org.
Visit New Haven

28 Orange Street North Haven, CT, 06473 Phone: 203-777-8550

A restaurant renaissance has made Greater New Haven a most exciting culinary destination. And then there's Yale University: with its medieval courtyards and stunning buildings -- from Gothic revival to acclaimed modernism. Can you name another area this size with world-class museums, theater and music? There are town greens to rival any in New England and preserved historic homes in even the smallest village. And alongside every town green are tiny boutiques and eclectic shops as well as superb bookstores. Now add the outdoors for long: sandy shores, nature preserves, centuries-old orchards, rocky hikes.
Central CT Regional Tourism District

One Constitution Plaza Hartford, CT, 06103 Phone: 860-787-9640

Since 1974, the Central CT Regional Tourism District has marketed and promoted the Hartford region as a convention and meeting destination. We provide complimentary services to all convention and meeting planners. We can assist you in finding a meeting facility, provide promotional literature and much more. For more information, please call us at (860)787-9640.