Quantcast
 
 

Fun for children and families, from riverboats to dinosaur hiding places

Connecticut > State > Families and Kids > Family Activities

Family activities in Connecticut include things as diverse as tracking evidence of dinosaurs to exploring a shipbuilding village of 1830 to visits with Beluga whales.

The state boasts lots of child-oriented and science-oriented museums that will keep kids occupied for hour after hour. There is lots to do, indoors and out, in all seasons of the year.

Lots of resorts and hotels and inns welcome kids with family friendly lodging.

Follow these links for: Zoos, Aquariums & Animal Parks – Outdoor Adventures – Rainy Day Activities

Looking for more great things to do with the whole family? Sign up for our free newsletter delivered right to your inbox.

Sign up for free >>

Family Activities in Connecticut
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!
Learn More
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.
Book a Trip
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.
Learn More
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.
Learn More
Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!
Family Activities - Lake Compounce - Bristol, CT
Lake Compounce Amusement & Water Park

185 Enterprise Drive Bristol, CT, 06010 Phone: 860-583-3300

From single-day adventures to weekend getaways, Lake Compounce has been the place for great family escapes for generations. With uniquely themed attractions of all shapes and sizes, America’s first amusement park offers endless fun for everyone. Fill your day with surprises at the one park where the smiles are bigger, the laughs last longer and the memories are forever.

Join us for the Ultimate Season of Family Fun with unforgettable events all year long! From summer splashes to Halloween thrills and dazzling holiday lights, there’s something for everyone to experience. Mark your calendar and get ready for a season packed with fun!
Learn More
Father & Son Apple Picking - Lyman Orchards - Middlefield, CT
Lyman Orchards

32 Reeds Gap Road Middlefield, CT, 06455 Phone: 860-349-1793

Named Connecticut's Best Pick-Your-Own Farm for 2024 by Connecticut Magazine

Lyman Orchards offers nearly 100 varieties of fruits from mid-June to late October including Honeyberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Jostaberries, Peaches, Nectarines, Squash, Apples and Pears. We take pride in growing top-quality, eco-certified apples and peaches using sustainable practices. Located just 30 minutes from Hartford, Waterbury, and New Haven, CT, Lyman Orchards offers more than fruit picking. Visit the Apple Barrel Farm Market for handmade desserts and sandwiches, explore our seasonal Sunflower or Corn Maze, dine at the 1741 Pub & Grill, or enjoy one of our award-winning golf courses!
Learn More
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!
Learn More
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.
Learn More
Fall Cornfield Kids - Bishop's Orchards - Guilford, CT
Bishop's Orchards

1355 Boston Post Road Guilford, CT, 06437 Phone: 203-453-2338

No one ever is bored at this farm and orchards, with plenty of fun activities for the whole family

If you have heard “there’s nothing to do” one time too many, pack everyone in the car and head straight to Bishop’s Orchards, where no one has ever uttered that phrase. Pick-your-own season starts in June with strawberries and goes all the way to Halloween in the pumpkin patch. The kids will love picking their own blueberries and apples (a tractor-trailer will take you to the apple orchards). In the fall, there are activities from scarecrow-making and outdoor movie nights to the hay maze. Holiday season means cookie-decorating, visiting Santa and the holiday Apple Train. Check the calendar for kids’ book club meetings and other special events. And did we mention the Creamery with flavors from Sea Salt Caramel to Fly Fishing Fudge and Moose Tracks?
Learn More
Summer View of The Mather Homestead - Darien, CT
The Mather Homestead

19 Stephen Mather Road Darien, CT, 06820 Phone: 203-202-7602

This Mather Homestead is Darien’s only National Historic Landmark. The home was built in 1778 on 100 acres of farmland by Deacon Joseph Mather, son of the fiery Patriot Reverend Moses Mather. It was raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War who came searching for valuables. and expanded by Stephen Tyng Mather, an avid conservationist and the first Director of the National Park Service. He installed beautiful gardens which still grace the seven acre property today. The home is open for tours which tell stories of Revolutionary War times and the establishment of our current National Park System.
Admission: Adults, $10; children, $5.
Learn More
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.
Learn More
Toddler at IT Adventures Rope Course - New Haven, CT
IT Adventure Ropes Course

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

Giant ropes course features huge variety of obstacles, lots of fun and learning experiences for all

Here’s a dream scenario for a parent: an activity where the kids can have a blast and, at the same time, learn a little something. That’s the perfect combination you and your family will find at theIt Adventure Ropes Course inside Jordan’s Furniture in New Haven, CT. The world’s largest indoor ropes course includes everything from zip rails, rope ladders and swinging beams to cargo nets and bridges. For little adventurers, there’s the Little It ropes course, with platforms three feet off the ground, where adults can step in to assist. Four climbing walls provide a fresh take on traditional climbing. The activities encourage critical thinking and teamwork — all while everyone is having the time of their lives! The facility is also great for birthday parties or field trips - give us a call for group rates.
Learn More
Front View - Mark Twain House & Museum - Hartford, CT
Mark Twain House & Museum

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

Explore a slice of life in the home of Mark Twain

Step into the world of one of America’s greatest literary icons at The Mark Twain House & Museum. This historic home invites visitors to explore a slice of life in the home of Samuel Clemens—better known as Mark Twain. Kids and adults will marvel at the beautifully restored Victorian home complete with Louis C. Tiffany & Co. interior decoration and stenciling, period furniture, photos, paintings, and more. Embark on a guided tour of the 3-story mansion where Sam and his wife Olivia raised their family and Sam wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Enjoy a 22-minute film by Ken Burns, check out changing exhibits in the museum center, and don’t miss the gift shop for Twain-inspired keepsakes.
Learn More
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.
Learn More
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk - Norwalk, CT
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

10 North Water Street Norwalk, CT, 06854 Phone: 203-852-0700

Kids and parents can visit nose-to-nose with sharks, seals, river otters, wrinkly sea turtles, and stinging jellyfish. Educational public cruises, changing exhibits, a working boat shop, hands-on touch tanks, toddler play area, and an IMAX movie theater with a screen that’s six stories tall make this a place of seafaring adventure.
Bushnell Park Carousel - Hartford, CT - Photo Credit Bushnell Park Foundation
The Bushnell Park Carousel

Bushnell Park - 1 Jewell Street Hartford, CT, 06010 Phone: 860-232-6710

Kids and adults both are entranced by this hand-carved carousel with 48 horses, two chariots, stained glass windows, mirrors reflecting 800 twinkling light bulbs, and a Wurlitzer band organ. Open May to October, Tuesday to Sunday; September and October, Thursday to Sunday. Call for seasonal changes in hours.
Ansonia Recreational & Nature Center - Ansonia, CT
Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center

10 Deerfield Lane Ansonia, CT, 06401 Phone: 203-736-1053

This nature center is a wonderful place for kids to run, play, climb, explore, and also learn about nature. There is a large variety of interesting activities. Open daily, year-round.