The 2016 Summer Bucket List has been brought to you by the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford. With so many wonderful summer programs, the Mandell JCC has summer fun for everyone! Encourage your budding artist to bloom at Arts Camp. Have a kiddo with a flair for the dramatic? Sign them up for Theater Camp! If sports is their thing, Sports Jams in many popular sports–including dance, golf, soccer and more–keep them active. There’s also the quintessential camp experience at Camp Shalom with arts, sports, aquatics and plenty of outdoor adventures. And fun for the whole family at the JCC’s Swim & Tennis Club.
A great big THANK YOU to the Mandell JCC for supporting our site. And thank YOU for supporting the organizations that support Out and About Mom!
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Please note that some of the suggested outings are businesses that have been or are currently sponsors of our site. All opinions are 100% our own.
Are you ready for summer? After that crazy long winter I know we are!
For the third year in a row, we have put together a list of over 50 destinations, activities, and events in and around Connecticut that your family is sure to enjoy this season. And just like in previous years, these are all places that we have personally been to with our families and written about on our blog. So not only do we provide you with this great list of ideas, but we’ve also included a link to our blog post about each destination so you can get all the details you’ve come to expect from Out and About Mom.
And this year, we’re trying something NEW. We’ve created a handy dandy FREE printable checklist for our 2016 Summer Bucket List. That’s right! You’re very own copy to hang on your wall, stick on your fridge, pin to your bulletin board or just carry around in your bag for when inspiration strikes. And all you need to do to get it is subscribe to our FREE weekly emails. (If you’re already an Out and About Mom subscriber, don’t worry, the list is on its way to your inbox!) Fifty ideas for summer fun now, plus a new family-friendly outing idea delivered to your email inbox for FREE every week. Sounds pretty good right? 🙂 Sign up now!
So whether you’re a mom, a dad, a grandma, a grandpa, an aunt, uncle, cousin, friend, nanny or anyone else who sees summer days with some kiddos in their future, we hope this list helps you plan your best season yet.
Summer is short. Let’s get out there and have some fun while it lasts!
Here we go (listed in no particular order) . . .
- Explore Connecticut’s maritime history and take a boat ride at Mystic Seaport in Mystic. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Let the kids have fun while you relax at the fully fenced-in playground at Brodie Park in New Hartford. (FREE)
- Enjoy an easy adventure at the smaller-scale Zoo at Forest Park in Springfield, MA. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Have the book, “Make Way for Ducklings” come alive with a ride on the Swan Boats in Boston’s Public Garden.
- Head to the shoreline and enjoy the indoor and outdoor play spaces at the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut in Niantic. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Kick off the pick-your-own fruit season with strawberries at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield.
- Have a beach day at Hammonasset State Park followed by dinner at Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale Restaurant in Madison. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Download the Tides Near Me app and plan your perfect day at Harvey’s Beach in Old Saybrook.
- Let your child explore their artistic side at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Visit with animals, go on a nature walk, and let the kids play on the natural playground at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Enjoy a delicious glass of local wine while the kids burn off some energy at Lost Acres Vineyard in North Granby.
- Conquer the kiddie rides and then cool off in the water park at Lake Compounce in Bristol.
- Grab a lobster roll and watch the passing trains at Dad’s Restaurant in Niantic.
- Relax in air conditioning while the kids watch a FREE movie at Bow Tie Cinemas in Hartford, Stamford, and Trumbull. (FREE)
- Let the kids master the bumper cars, boat ride, and giant slide at Quassy Amusement and Waterpark in Middlebury.
- Have a low-key and cool morning at the Fernridge Park or Wolcott Park spray pads in West Hartford. (FREE) (Open May 28th)
- Let imaginations run wild at Kidsplay Children’s Museum in Torrington. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Let the kids dig in the sand and float in the water at Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury. (FREE on weekdays)
- Don’t miss the amazing views at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford.
- Let the kids play house at the hayloft playscape then pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner at March Farm in Bethlehem.
- Plan an indoor day with your favorite marine life at Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Mark your calendar for the beautiful and delicious fundraising event, Sunflowers for Wishes at Buttonwood Farm, from July 23-31 in Griswold.
- Take a family hike and then cool off in the pond at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Challenge your kids to conquer the extremely tall tower at Pease Place Playground in Woodbridge. (FREE)
- Find delicious fruit and vegetable picking opportunities on the shoreline at Scott’s Yankee Farmer in East Lyme.
- Take your little monkeys to play on nearly a dozen different jungle gyms at Kloter’s Ice Cream Barn in Ellington.
- Have a wet and wild morning at the Colchester Spray Park (FREE) and follow it up with a visit to the nearby Colchester Farmers’ Market.
- Say hello to the farm animals (FREE) and saddle up for a pony ride at Ray of Light Farm in East Haddam.
- Chill with Monty and 40 other life-sized dinos along the family-friendly trails, then cool off at New England’s largest SplashPad at The Dinosaur Place in Montville.
- See history come to life at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum’s 17th Century Encampment (June 24th & 25th) in Mashantucket.
- Discover the beautiful grounds, visit fine feathered friends at the Aviary and find the model train in the Sensory Garden at Wickham Park in Manchester.
- Feed a giraffe and watch the elephants take a bath at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI. (Museum Pass may be available)
- Experience the family-friendly Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, then stop in to try this year’s Senior Scoop at the UConn Dairy Bar in Storrs.
- Cruise along the Connecticut River while enjoying beautiful views and a family-friendly atmosphere aboard the RiverQuest Kids Cruise in Haddam.
- Surprise a friend or family member with a beautiful bouquet of pick-your-own flowers from Petersen Farm in South Windsor.
- Dine seaside at Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough in Noank.
- Savor a delicious pancake breakfast then ride the wagon out to pick blueberries and raspberries at Rose’s Berry Farm in Glastonbury.
- Surprise your tiny engineer with a visit to a real train station and model trains galore (not to mention a delicious pizza pie!) at Pizza Works in Old Saybrook.
- Indulge your sweet tooth at the Pez Visitor Center in Orange and then take a picnic to shady Bodie’s Place Playground (FREE) in nearby Milford.
- Spend a rainy day with the ducks (pins that is!) at Highland Bowl in Cheshire or beat the heat with an Open Gym session at Romp n’ Roll in Wethersfield.
- Search for antique treasures, stroll along the river and find some family-friendly al fresco dining in Putnam.
- Sample the signature flying cheeseburger and famous ice cream at the oh-so-retro Shady Glen Diner in Manchester.
- Bring your budding artist to try out some family-friendly plein air painting at Weir Farm in Wilton. (FREE)
- Wander through the Rose Garden and go for a dip at Spaulding Pond Beach at Mohegan Park in Norwich. (FREE)
- Tour the new “The Scoop on Poop” exhibit (yes, you read that right!) at the Springfield Science Museum, then hang with your favorite storybook characters at the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden in Springfield, MA.
- Ride bikes or stroll along the Air Line State Park Trail in Hebron and nearby areas. (FREE)
- Take a spin on the newly renovated Bushnell Park Carousel in Hartford.
- Channel your inner Willy Wonka with a chocolate molding session at Chocolate Works in Darien.
- Drop in for crafts at the Saturday morning Michaels Kids Club at stores nationwide.
- Plan an afternoon playdate at Mikey’s Place Playground (FREE), then stay for snacks (and more!) at the Wethersfield Farmers’ Market in Wethersfield.
Please note that some of the suggested outings are businesses that have been or are currently sponsors of our site. All opinions are 100% our own.
Need more ideas for summer fun? Check out these popular posts for tons of outing inspiration!
And if you’ve still got room in your schedule, check out our Places We’ve Been Page for a full list of the blog posts we’ve written over the past 4+ years.
We hope our 2016 Summer Bucket List has inspired you to start your summer planning. From Norwalk to Norwich, from Middlebury to Mystic, from New Hartford to Old Saybrook, there are so many fun places to explore in (and around) Connecticut, and there’s no time like summertime to check out some of these great destinations.
Have fun!
Shawna & Mandy
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