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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!

ct attractions
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

Waterslides, rides, boardwalk among ocean park’s many attractions

Right away, you’ll notice the bustling boardwalk and beautiful sugar-sand beach at Ocean Beach Park. But, keep looking: An amusement park features old-time-favorite kiddie and adult rides. There are triple waterslides for the truly daring and a sprayground for the little ones. Test your skills at the 18-hole mini golf course or in the old-fashioned arcade. Relax in the Olympic-size pool, go for a stroll on the nature walk overlooking Alewife Cove, get in a workout at the health club, or make use of the picnic area. Entertainment ranges from magicians and fireworks to movies, bands, DJs and antique car cruises.
Parking fees (includes park admission): Weekends $23, Weekdays $17, Weeknights after 6pm $8, Fireworks Evenings $10. Seasonal parking passes available. Walk-in Admission $6.
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.
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

Centuries of art and culture on display at Slater Memorial Museum

Visit Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, Conn. and explore peoples and culture though 35 centuries and five continents. Created though a gift by philanthropist William A. Slater more than a century ago, this stunning example of Romanesque Revival style architecture popularized by H. H. Richardson was executed by Stephen C. Earle. The museum is set on the campus of Norwich Free Academy in Norwich CT and showcases a diverse collection of fine and decorative art, plaster replicas of sculpture from the ancient world, and historical artifacts. The collection continues to grow through gifts from Norwich citizens and NFA alumni. Enjoy an interpreter-guided tour -- free with admission – permanent and changing exhibits, events, and unique gifts at the Slater Museum shop.
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. Rain or shine.
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.
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.

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

Imaginative, interactive museum has an activity for every age group

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.
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.
Photo for Attractions 500x250 - IT Adventures - New Haven, CT
IT Adventure Ropes Course

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

Hard to beat indoor adventure ropes course in New Haven

This attraction hits all the buttons. The sound and lighting alone features a 1,000 nozzle Liquid Fireworks water fountain that goes to the beat of 41,000 watts of stereo sound designed by the company that created Radio City Music Hall and Michael Jackson’s Tour experiences. The star of this show, the Adventure Indoor Ropes Course, is the largest such course in the world with two 60’ high ropes courses spanning over 100 activities and four of the longest Sky Rail zip lines ever made. Participants can also Jump It on the free-fall exit from the tallest level to the ropes course, walk a 200’ long catwalk 40' in the air, and dare to take on vertical climbing structures that take you sky-high. Kids under 48” tall can enjoy their very own Little It making this place perfect for families.
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

All day fun and excitement at The Dinosaur Place

Children and adults will discover a wealth of fun and excitement at The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village. You’ll find a 60 acre outdoor adventure park with over 40 life-sized dinosaurs spread among a mile and a half of pristine nature trails. Children will love getting lost in a”MAZE”asaurus and playing on Monty’s playground featuring the SpaceNet, a 15 foot tall three-dimensional swinging, vibrating, climbing web. During the summer, cool off in New England’s largest SplashPad. Indoor adventures await in Discovery Depot at Nature’s Art Village where guests can dig for gems, pan for “gold” and unearth dinosaur bones. Plan an indoor or outdoor birthday party, scout, school or recreational group outing.
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

127 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor West 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.