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With gas prices well above $4 a gallon, the traditional
summer road trip may be a stretch this year. Crowded
airports, more crowded planes and spiraling ticket prices
make family air travel less appealing. But don’t despair.
Connecticut is a state small in acreage but rich in
activities that children and adults will enjoy. With a
little planning and a lot of flexibility, you could make
2008’s home vacation very memorable.
BEACH
Summer is traditional beach weather in Connecticut, and the
crown jewel of its public ocean beach system is
Hammonasset State Park in Madison. For $7 ($10 on
weekends) plus gas, you can park your
Connecticut-registered car and enjoy more than two miles of
white sandy beach. The Meig’s Point Nature Center, though
small and open only Tuesday-Saturday, will provide some
additional diversion, as will the boardwalk and walking
trails. The park offers a very pleasant tent camping
experience if you can secure one of the 558 campsites, which
are a bargain at $15 per night plus $9 reservation fee, and
an excellent opportunity for busy families to bond. Call
(877) 668-2267.
New Haven’s Lighthouse Point Park is another popular
Long Island Sound beach with combed sand, an inviting beach
playground and other activities. Its new “Splashpad” of
fresh-water fountains abruptly start and stop to the delight
of children and the adults who accompany them. A historic
carousel operates weekends 1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m. and costs
50-cents per person to ride. Large grassy areas and
picnic/cookout facilities are well used for eating and
impromptu Frisbee tournaments. There’s a $10 parking fee.
Free for New Haven-registered vehicles. Call (203) 946-8790.
Other notable shoreline beaches include:
• Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme. Similar
facilities and rates as Hammonasset. Call (860) 739-5471.
• Sherwood Island State Park, Westport.
Swimming, fishing. Parking $7 ($10 on weekends) for
Connecticut-registered cars. Call (203) 566-2305.
Beyond the ocean, Connecticut offers numerous state and
local lakes and streams for swimming and hiking. The
dramatic falls at Wadsworth Falls State Park in
Middlefield is a particularly pretty place to cool down
with older children, and there’s a small sandy beach nearby
for younger ones. The beach sometimes gets crowded on hot
weekends. Parking $5 ($7 on weekends) for
Connecticut-registered cars. Call (860) 404-3200.
Below is a sampling of other family activities to consider
this summer. Please call ahead before you go.
CRUISES
• Thimble Islands boat rides, Stony Creek section
of Branford. In July and August, 45-minute narrated tours.
$10 adults and $5 children under 12. Cash and check only.
Call or check Web for daily schedules. Volsunga IV from
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except Monday afternoons and if
there is a charter. Call (203) 481-3345 or
www.thimbleislands.com. Sea Mist from 10:15 a.m. through
4:15 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Call (203) 488-8905 or visit
www.thimbleislandscruise.com/tours.html.
• Essex Steam Train and Riverboat Cruise,
Essex. Enjoy a 2 ˝-hour ride on antique steam train and
riverboat along and on Connecticut River up to Gillette
Castle and East Haddam bridge or a 1-hour ride on the steam
train. June 23-Labor Day. Train-boat rides11:00 a.m., 12: 30
p.m. and 2 p.m.; train only ride 3:30 p.m. For combination
train and boat ride: adults $26; children 2-11 $13; under 2
free. For train only: adults $17; children 2-11 $9; under 12
free. Family passes for two adults and up to six children:
$80 for combination ride, $50 for train only. Call (860)
767-0103 or visit www.essexsteamtrain.com.
• Connecticut River Expeditions at Connecticut
River Museum, Essex. Offers 1˝-hour narrated cruises during
the week and 1˝-hour and 1-hour cruises on weekends through
Sept. 7. Narrated cruises explore Essex harbor and the
lower Connecticut River up to Gillette Castle. 1˝-hour
cruise leaves at 1:30 p.m., 1-hour cruise leaves at 3:30
p.m. Price: 1˝-hour cruise only: adults $20; children 2-12
$15, under 2 free. Add $5 to adult fare, $3 to child’s fare
for combination cruise and museum admission. 1-hour cruise:
adult $15; children 2-12 $10; under 2 free. Cruise is
weather-dependent. Call (860) 662-0577 or visit
www.ctriverexpeditions.org.
• Hartford Belle at Charter Oak Landing,
Hartford. 1-hour riverboat cruises leave at 1:30 p.m. and
1˝-hour cruises depart at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Closed
Monday and Tuesday. Fares for 1-hour cruise of Hartford
riverfront $12 adults, $7 kids. The 1˝ -hour cruise of the
Hartford riverfront and Wethersfield Cove is $18 adults; $9
kids. Call (860) 665-9428 or visit www.hartfordbelle.com.
• Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co.
Ferry Access Rd., Bridgeport. Offers passenger-only ($25
adults; $17 seniors over 60; free children 12 and under) and
auto trips (one-way fare is $51 for car and driver; $14.75
per adult passenger or $67 for car with unlimited
passengers) to the historic seaport of Port Jefferson, Long
Island. Boats leave about every 90 minutes from Bridgeport
and Port Jefferson from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., but may
leave more frequently during the summer. Call (888)
443-3779.
• Voyager Cruises, Holmes St., Mystic. Offers
2˝-hour cruises on the 81-foot topsail schooner Argia at
10:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. and sunset cruises at 5:30 p.m.
Where any sailing cruise goes depends on the wind and tides.
Snacks and soft drinks are included. Fare $40 per adult; $37
per senior over 60 and $30 for each child under 18. Call
(860) 536-0416 or visit www.voyagermystic.com/argia_daysails.htm.
MUSEUMS
• Mystic Seaport, a nationally-known museum that
depicts life in a 19th century seaport town. Has a
children’s museum and discovery barn, boat rides and other
family activities. Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fee
$18:50 adults; $13 children 6-17. Call (888) 973-2767 or
visit www.mysticseaport.org.
• Noah Webster House Museum, West Hartford. Home
of the creator of the American dictionary. Check for
activities. Open Thursday – Monday, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee $6 adults; $4 children 6-18; free under 6. Visit
www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call (860) 521-5362.
• Mark Twain House, Hartford. 19th century home
of noted humorist. Open Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 5:30
p.m., Sunday noon-5:30 p.m. Admission by guided tours only.
Fee $14 adults over 17; $8 children 6-16; under 6 free.
Call (860) 247-0998.
•
Peabody Museum of Natural History. Hall of
Dinosaurs and many interactive exhibits especially
interesting for children. Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00
p.m., Sunday noon-5:00 p.m. Free admission Thursdays, 2:00
p.m.-5:00 p.m. Other times $7 adults, $5 children 3-18 and
college students with ID. Visit www.peabody.yale.edu or call
(203) 432-5050.
• The Children’s Museum, West Hartford.
Interactive science museum with new dinosaurs exhibit and
wildlife and planetarium shows. Tuesday-Saturday 10:00
a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday noon – 5:00 p.m. Admission $11 per
person. Call 860-231-2824 or visit
www.thechildrensmuseumct.org.
• Olde New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine, East
Granby. Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Open
mid-May-Oct. Fee $5 adults; $3 kids 6-17; under 6 free. Call
(860) 653-3563 or
visit www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp.
• The CT Children’s Museum, New Haven. Families
with children 3-10 play and learn together. Friday and
Saturday, noon-5:00 p.m. Fee $5 admission (cash or checks).
Closed August 22-23, and 29-30. Visit
www.thechildrensbuilding.org or call (203) 562-5437.
• Stepping Stones Museum for Children, South
Norwalk. Hands-on approach to early learning for children
under 10 with waterscape, simulated trains, color coaster.
Summer hours 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. every day. Fee $9 adults
and children over 1 year. Call (203) 899-0606 or visit
www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.
• Dinosaur State Park – 20-million-year-old
fossil track way, interactive exhibits and cast your own
dinosaur footprint to take home. Fee $5 age 13 and over; $2
age 6-12; under 6 free. Call (860) 529-8423 or visit
www.dinasaurstatepark.org.
AQUARIUMS
• The Maritime Aquarium, South Norwalk. Features
playful otters, ray touch pool, sea turtles, jellies,
sharks, feeding of the seals, a rare albino alligator and
several IMAX movies. Open every day 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Aquarium admission $11.75 adults; $9.75 children; IMAX movie
extra. Visit www.maritimeacquarium.org or call (203)
852-0700.
•
Mystic Aquarium/Institute for Exploration,
Mystic. Whales, fish, seals, discovery lab, shows. For an
additional fee, encounters with Beluga whale or penguin.
Daily 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Fee $23 adults; $17 children aged
3 and over. Call (860) 572-5955 or visit
www.mysticaquarium.org.
CHILDREN’S CONCERTS
• Music Mountain, Falls Village Free Family
Festival. Aug. 16. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bergoni Quartet
(classical) plus folk, country, rock, jugglers, dancers,
puppeteers, storytellers. Call (860) 824-7126.
• Jay Mankita at Trumbull Library, Trumbull. July
12, 11:00 a.m. Call (203) 891-5248; New London Public
Library, Aug. 8, 10:30 a.m.; Voluntown Public Library, Aug.
8, 6:00 p.m.; Bristol Public Library, Aug. 14, 10:00 a.m.
Call (800) 268-9148.
CHILDREN’S THEATER
• The Ivoryton Playhouse, Ivoryton. July 18,
Casey Carle’s Bubblemania; July 25, Show White and the
Seven Dwarfs; Aug. 1, Steve Johnson’s Magic Variety Show;
Aug 15, stories from Hans Christian Anderson; Aug 22,
Crabgrass Puppet Theatre’s The Last Dragon on Earth. Show
times 11:00 a.m. plus additional performance of Snow White
and Hans Christian Anderson at 1:00 p.m. Fee $10 per head.
Visit www.ivorytonplayhouse.org or (860) 767-7318.
• Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford. Kaleidoscope
Children’s Theatre Wednesday mornings: Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs, July 9; Pinocchio, July 16; Cinderella, July
23; Jack and the Beanstalk, July 30; Cinderella’s Wedding
Band (concert) Aug. 7; Goldilocks, Aug. 13; Little Red
Riding Hood, Aug. 20. Timings 11:00 a.m. Fee $6.50 per head.
Visit www.ticketmaster.com/venue/23764.
• Westport County Playhouse, Westport.
Cinderella’s Mice, July 27 (grades K-4); Emilio and the
Enchanted Cow, Sept. 7 (ages 5 and above). Timings 1:00 p.m.
and 4:00 p.m. Fee $15 per head. Call (203) 227-4177 or visit
www.westportplayhouse.org.
NATURE
• Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection’s
No Child Left Inside.org Web site features activities
at the state’s parks. Check local libraries to borrow free
parking pass to state parks. Also check calendar of free
swim lessons at www.ct.gov/dep.
• Roaring Brook Nature Center, Canton. Admission
$5 adults; $3 children. Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00
p.m.; Sunday 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Call for information on
special activities and Wednesday evening nature walks July
16 – Aug 20, 7:30-p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Visit
www.sciencecenterct.org.
AMUSEMENT PARKS
• Lake Compounce Amusement Park. Monday–Thursday,
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00
p.m. Admission $34; $25 for people under 52 inches; free for
children 3 and under; $18 after 5:00 p.m. plus $5 for
parking. Visit http://www.lakecompounce.com or call (860)
583-3300.
• Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury.
Sunday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday–Saturday,
11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Single ride $3; book of 12 tickets
$27; all-day pass $21; $17 for people under 45-inches; $9
after 5:00 p.m. Check Web site for coupons. Visit
www.quassy.com or call (203) 758-2913.
• Ocean Beach Park, New London. Large sandy
beach, Splash Park for children under 8, an Olympic-size
swimming pool and waterslide, a nature walk and observation
deck, rides, mini-golf and a family fun center. Nightly
entertainment includes kids movies on the beach on Tuesdays
and live magic, talent shows and family entertainment on
Saturdays. Admission $14 on weekends and $25 on holidays.
Night parking is $5. Separate charges for some other
activities. Call (800) 510-7263 or visit
www.ocean-beach-park.com.
• Bushnell Park Carousel, Hartford.
Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. $1 per ride. Call (860)
585-5411 or visit www.thecarouselmuseum.org.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
• Fruit picking at 4-H Center at Auer Farm, Bloomfield.
Learn about agriculture; pick blueberries or raspberries on
a 120-acre farm. Call (860) 242-7144.
• Horseback rides at Lee’s Riding Stable, Litchfield.
Trail rides $35 per hour; private lessons $65 per hour/$35
per half hour; group $35/$30; pony rides $10. Call (860)
526-0785.
• Angel on Horseback, Somers. Trail rides $35 /rider
ages 5 and up. Lessons, birthday parties.Call (860) 749-6867.
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