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

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. There is lots to do, indoors and out, in all seasons of the year.

Connecticut Renaissance Faire

Lions Fairgrounds
347 Gilead Street Hebron, CT 06428 Phone: 860-478-5954

Open May 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27 & June 2, 3 - 2012; 11am-7pm

The “Something Different” you’ve been looking for is closer than you might think. Escape to the past with family & friends to experience a romantic age lost to time at the 13th annual Connecticut Renaissance Faire. Thrill to a full day of continuous entertainment on eight stages including jousting, armored combat, fire eaters, comedy, magic, chivalrous knights, and the best variety entertainment of any New England Festival – all included with your admission! New acts and old favorites return to chase they cares away with smiles and laughter.

Explore New England’s LARGEST Medieval Marketplace featuring handcrafted and unique items you won’t find anywhere else. Dine on turkey legs, bread bowl stews, apple crisp and a variety of other delectable foods and desserts in our food courtyard. Learn about this enchanted period in time and perhaps even a bit about your own heritage. You’ll have so much fun you’ll be looking for reasons to come back again and again! And as always, costumes are encouraged but not required.

Argia Mystic Cruises

Schooner Wharf - 15 Holmes Street Mystic, CT 06355 Phone: 860-536-0416 Fax: 860-536-0000

Discover islands, lighthouses, and traditional windjammer sailing

Step aboard the traditional sailing schooner Argia for a 2 1/2 hour journey. Our experienced instructors will guide you through the sights and sounds and stories of our maritime past.

The adventure begins with a tour by water of the famous Mystic Seaport Museum. See the Tall Ships: the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan – a national historic landmark, the fishing schooner L. A. Dunton, the sail training ship Joseph Conrad, and many more. Peer into the museum village and the Dupont Preservation Shipyard. Pass through Mystic's Historic Bascule Bridge, another national historic landmark, as you watch the bridge operate and learn about its unique design and workings.

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

Connecticut College Arboretum

270 Mohegan Avenue New London, CT 06320 Phone: 860-439-5020

Over 750 acres of beautifully preserved open space

Connecticut College Arboretum's 750 acres include the college campus, plant collections, natural areas, and managed areas. Its three major plants collections for public enjoyment are the Campus Landscape with 120 acres of trees and shrubs from around the world; the Native Plant collection, with 20 acres of woody plants and wildflowers indigenous to North America with a pond, and walking trails; Caroline Black Garden with an exquisite display of diverse woody plants in a garden setting. Open every day from sunrise to sunset. Free public guided tours every Sunday afternoon May - October at 2 p.m. Call 860-439-5060 for more information. Private group tours can be arranged upon request.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

One Railroad Avenue Essex, CT 06426 Phone: 860-767-0103 Toll-Free: 800-377-3987 Fax: 860-767-0104

Ride the Steam Train, Ride the Riverboat!

Gather family and friends for the adventure of a sightseeing journey... aboard the only steam train and riverboat connection in the country! Your 2½ hour narrated journey begins at the historic 1892 Essex Station. Meander through the countryside aboard vintage rail cars pulled by an authentic steam locomotive. At Deep River Landing, you’ll be escorted onto to the Becky Thatcher Riverboat for a 1½ hour cruise along the Connecticut River - bursting with lush scenery and historic sights, such as Gillette Castle and Goodspeed Opera House. Upon Becky’s return to Deep River Landing, the steam train welcomes you for the return trip back to Essex.

Family Fun Mystic

Mystic, CT 06355

The Coolest Places under the Summer Sun are in Mystic Country

Looking for family-friendly places to visit this summer? Check out Family Fun Mystic Country for the coolest getaway packages that promise great times and fun memories for all ages. Soak up the summer sun and build castles on the white sugar sand of Ocean Beach; All aboard for an engaging ride through the countryside on the historic Essex Steam Train and Riverboat excursion; Explore America’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, at the Submarine Museum; or Discover a prehistoric land before time at The Dinosaur Place.

Don't miss a moment of fun! Plan a great escape with exciting two-day package starting at just $199 and get more of what your family loves. For details visit Family Fun Mystic Country website and reserve an amazing overnight family package today. Mystic Country is located in Eastern Connecticut, a short drive from Boston and New York City.

Florence Griswold Museum

96 Lyme Street Old Lyme, CT 06371 Phone: 860-434-5542 Fax: 860-434-9778

Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

The Home of American Impressionism gives visitors a glimpse of life in an artists’ colony not found elsewhere in America. At the heart of this historic site is the Griswold House, where the artists lived and worked. Their artwork can be seen in the famed dining room where they painted directly on the walls. The award winning Krieble Gallery hosts changing exhibitions and fun gallery games for children. Families will also enjoy scavenger hunts in the house and gardens. Free with your admission on Sundays, stop by the Hartman Education Center and pick up all the supplies you need (canvas, brushes, palettes, and paint) to make a painting down by the river or in Miss Florence's garden. All ages and skill levels welcome.

Mystic Country

27 Coogan Bolevard Mystic, CT 06355 Phone: 860-536-1205 Fax: 860-536-1480

Have you ever discovered Mystic, Connecticut? Mystic Country is defined by the three very different experiences that exist only miles from one another. These experiences take visitors from Adventure on the Coast to Entertainment at the Casino and back to Calm in the Mystic Quiet Corner. That contagious New-England hue that’s felt in Mystic comes from over 400 years of history and evolution. The Mystic locals, the landscapes, and the culture brim with life that still remains untouched – definitely something worth seeing! Rediscover New England and check out all Mystic has to offer for your family getaway here at MysticCountry.com

Mystic Seaport

75 Greenmanville Avenue Mystic, CT 06355-0990 Phone: 860-572-5315 Toll-Free: 888-973-2767

Open: Daily April through October, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and November through March, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.

Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and the Sea – encourages every child to discover their connection to the sea. Kids of all ages roll up their sleeves and find out what keeps a boat above water in our new interactive exhibit, How Boats Float. The Discovery Barn gives older children hands-on experience with nautical knots, signal flags and more, while the Children’s Museum encourages younger sailors to explore a lobster boat, cook in the galley and swab the decks. Help set a tall ship’s sails, participate in a traditional “dead horse” sailor’s ceremony and create nautical crafts at Inspiration Station.

Ocean Beach Park

1225 Ocean Avenue New London, CT 06320 Phone: 860-447-3031 Toll-Free: 1-800-510-SAND (7263)

C’mon in... the water’s fine... and so is that sand. Build a castle...

There’s family fun and more at Ocean Beach Park. New this year is our Splash Park for kids under 8. For more water fun we have the ocean, of course, an Olympic-size swimming pool and triple waterslide. Our award-winning lifeguard staff is on duty for your safety. For more fun we have rides, mini-golf, and a Family Fun Center with a video arcade. Kids can enjoy our playground and adults can work out in the health club. The nature walk and observation deck let you enjoy our natural beauty. When all the activity makes you hungry you can choose from our full-service restaurant, a food court, or ice cream stands. Ocean Beach Park can also accommodate picnics and corporate events. Our nightly entertainment schedule includes Classic Car Cruises on Mondays; kids movies on the beach Tuesday and Thursday; live magic on Wednesday; live bands on Friday; and family entertainment on Saturdays.

The Dinosaur Place

1650 Route 85 Montville, CT 06370 Phone: 860-443-4367 Fax: 860-443-0253

Discover an interactive science and nature adventure

Join us at the “The Dinosaur Place” for an adventure of the prehistoric kind! Visit the indoor Activity Center and check out geodes- volcanic formations that are million of years old! Choose one for us to cut open and be the first to see inside this ancient gas bubble! Children of all ages enjoy digging for gems and crystals, panning for “gold” and excavating a dinosaur skeleton.

Spend the day enjoying Outdoor Adventure! Over 25 life-sized dinosaurs can be found along 1 mile of easy walking trails. Visit the “What am I?” touch and learn stations and romp in Monty’s Playground. Bring sunscreen and flip-flops and enjoy New England’s largest SPLASHPAD®! Monty’s SPLASHPAD® is a zero-depth, fully automated interactive aquatic play system that consists of over 30 dinosaur-themed features designed to stimulate and cool off children of all ages. Changing rooms available. Picnic areas, snack bar and ice cream shop on site. Visit our website for hours, rates, and directions.