For a fairly urbanized state, Connecticut is rich with places to enjoy and learn from the outdoors, including Audubon centers, science and nature centers, aquariums, observatories, and arboretums. Highlights of places where visitors, children, and families can enjoy forests, plant and bird and sea life, walks, and family activities include the Connecticut Audubon Society Birdcraft Museum in Fairfield, Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University, Bull's Covered Bridge River Walk in Kent, Science Center of Eastern Connecticut in New London, and the Dinosaur Place in Montville.
55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT, 06355 Phone: 860-572-5955
Where science and nature meet fun and learning
613 Riversville Road Greenwich, CT Phone: 203-869-5272
Flanders Road Woodbury, CT Phone: 203-263-3711
33 Pent Road Weston, CT Phone: 203-226-4991
Route 197 Union, CT Phone:
off of Route 6 at 23 Potter Road Hampton, CT Phone:
Great for hiking on short or long trails; enjoying nature; a boat ramp is available
Boothe Memorial Park, 5800 Main Street Stratford, CT Phone:
Route 97 Scotland, CT Phone:
109 Pequotsepos Road Mystic, CT, 06355 Phone: 860-536-1216
Open: Year-round, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed January 1, Easter, Christmas
Discover live owls, turtles, frogs, and snakes in new natural history exhibits. Experience “A Night in the Meadow” theatre, hike up to 8 miles of trails on beautiful 300-acre sanctuary, and view birds of prey in outdoor flight enclosures. Excellent birding; picnic areas; wildflowers; gift shop. Open daily. Adults $6, Children 4.
915 Whitney Avenue Hamden, CT, 06517 Phone: 203-777-1833
Cary Road Greenwich/Stamford border, CT Phone: 203-977-4692
Route 53 Redding, CT Phone: 203-452-3511
218 Day Road Pomfret Center, CT Phone: 860-928-4948
Oak Grove Street Manchester, CT Phone: 860-643-0949
Bull's Bridge Road Kent, CT Phone:
Granger Lane off Route 177 (Unionville Avenue) Plainville, CT Phone: 860-747-6022
10 Deerfield Lane Ansonia, CT, 06401 Phone: 203-736-1053
314 Unquowa Road Fairfield, CT, 06824 Phone: 203-259-0416
Route 69 Burlington, CT Phone: 860-675-8130
Route 20 East Granby, CT Phone: 860-346-2372
Open: Year round
182 Bayberry Lane Westport, CT Phone: 203-227-0925
Open: Year-round, Wednesday and Thursday evenings
Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT Phone: 860-832-3399
Open: Call for show times, also by appointment
33 Gallows Lane New London, CT, 06320 Phone: 860-442-0391
325 Cornwall Bridge Road / Route 4 Sharon, CT, 06069 Phone: 860-364-0520
10 Woodside Lane Westport, CT Phone: 203-227-7253
400 West Street Rocky Hill, CT Phone: 860-529-8423
1 Milford Point Road Milford, CT Phone: 203-878-7440
Open: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm
191 Farmington Avenue Kensington, CT Phone: 860-827-9064
Wintergreen Avenue New Haven, CT Phone: 203-946-6559
2325 Burr Street Fairfield, CT Phone: 203-259-6305
145 Lang Road Windsor, CT Phone: 860-285-1886
Kenyon Road Hampton, CT Phone:
1361 Main Street Glastonbury, CT Phone: 860-633-8402
Open: Tues-Fri, 1-5 pm; Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, 1-4 pm; Closed the last week in December.
Route 190 Somers, CT Phone: 860-346-2372
Open: Year round.
Route 10, Salmon Brook Road Granby, CT Phone: 860-653-7869
Open: Year round.
120 Brookside Road Darien, CT Phone: 203-655-7459
Open: Year-round, Monday - Saturday
56 Deer Run Road Ridgefield, CT Phone: 203-762-7280
70 Gracey Road Canton, CT Phone: 860-693-0263
151 Brookdale Road Stamford, CT Phone: 203-322-6971
175 Shrub Road Bristol, CT Phone: 860-589-6082
80 Whitehall Road (off Route 202) Litchfield, CT Phone: 860-567-0857
Route 219 West Granby, CT Phone: 860-379-2469
Open: Year round.
Flanders Road Woodbury, CT, 06798 Phone: 203-263-3711
Entrances at Avery Hill Road, Avery Hill Extension, Whalehead Road Ledyard, CT Phone:
144 Oenoke Ridge New Canaan, CT, 06840 Phone: 203-966-9577
Cady Lane Plainfield, CT Phone:
250 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT, 06103 Phone: 860-724-3623
Dennis Road Pomfret, CT Phone: 203-568-6270
on the grounds of Julian Curtis School, intersection of Milbank Avenue & East Elm Street Greenwich, CT Phone: 203-869-0376
Palmer Neck Road Pawcatuck, CT Phone:
163 Papermill Road New Milford, CT Phone: 860-355-3137
30 Greenfield Street Wethersfield, CT Phone: 860-721-2953
Open: Saturdays, 10 am - 1 pm
39 Scofieldtown Road Stamford, CT, 06903 Phone: 203-322-1646
43 Wilbur Road Washington, CT Phone: 860-868-1960
Open: Year-round, Friday - Sunday, 8am - 4pm
Hawthorne Avenue Derby, CT Phone: 203-734-2513
Junction of Routes 195 and 275 Mansfield, CT Phone: