When you’re planning to take a day or two off for some quality time with the family, it can be a challenge to find something to do, especially at the last minute. But there’s always something fun to do in Connecticut!
The next time you’re looking for a fun activity for the kids this summer, start by asking them what they want to do. If they can’t think of anything (or just can’t agree) then you can turn to this list for some ideas on ways to get you out of the house for a few hours or the whole day.
Whether your family likes to be adventurous or is into educational bonding, we’ve got the perfect list of ideas for you to choose from.
Water Parks, Watersports, and Outdoor Spots for Kids
Looking for a place to cool off with your younger kids? Check out these 10 awesome CT water parks for kids, which include the world’s largest interactive splash pad at The Dinosaur Place and a more leisure day at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk.
Bored teens and tweens will love Lakeside Watersports in Danbury, which offers an awesome day of tubing and wake surfing on the water.
Looking for something a little more action-packed? Check out Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park in Portland, where kids and adults alike can swim, snorkel, zip line, rock climb, wakeboard, and more. (And check out this post for a list of other fun outdoor adventure spots.)
Awesome Playgrounds for Young Kids
Good family fun doesn’t have to include extreme sports or spending an obscene amount of money on amusement park rides. Connecticut is home to the best playgrounds for your children to spend their days running around it, including the Clinton Town Beach Playground in Clinton, Imagination Station in Ridgefield, and Kids in Motion Playground in Cheshire. Every day doesn’t have to be a beach day!
Get in Touch With Nature
Looking to get in touch with nature instead of spending time at a park, playground, or some other activity? Bring your kids to check out one of these 7 awesome kid-friendly pick-you-own berry farms, where they can eat delicious fruits while gaining a deeper understanding of how their food is grown. The list includes Lyman Orchards and Jones Family Farms, real CT favorites!
We’ve covered a ton of family-friendly outdoor activities over the years. Below are a handful of our favorites:
- CT’s Top Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails
- The Thrice-Cursed Island: A History of Charles Island
- Explore Watertown’s Famous Leatherman’s Cave
- CT’s Most Scenic Hike: Spruce Brook Ravine
- Hike Bear Mountain: CT’s Highest Peak
Indoor Fun for Hot or Rainy Days
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean that the sun is always going to shine. Here in Connecticut, we can get quite a bit of rain, even during summer months. So next time the weather is unpredictable and rain clouds appear on the horizon, check out these 30 fun indoor activities for kids, or, if you really want to get the kids out of the house, bring them to one of these 15 great rainy day places for kids.
Here are a few more fun indoor activities for you and the family:
- Spark Your Child’s Imagination with a Trip to the Discovery Museum and Planetarium
- Children’s Must-Do in CT: The Connecticut Science Center
- The Submarine Force Museum in Groton Will Teach and Amaze
- 5 Hands-on CT Museums for Kids
Don’t Sleep on Connecticut
It may be small, but Connecticut is home to an endless amount of fun places for families to visit—there’s no reason that you should ever be bored! Don’t miss out on the fun: Plan your next family day out now!
