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Summer is almost here! Once again, we have put together a list of over 50 destinations, activities, and events in and around Connecticut that we think your family will enjoy this season.
This year’s Summer Bucket List includes exciting new activities and destinations that have never been featured on our list before, as well as plenty of old favorites from our 10+ years exploring and blogging.
This year, we’ve organized the list by type of activity, so you can easily find an idea for whatever the day brings. Best of all, most of these categories have at least one FREE activity, so no matter what your budget you can be sure you’ll find plenty of family fun!
Of course, this list isn’t just for moms– it’s also for dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, nannies and anyone else who is staring down two months of summer vacation with a kiddo (or two or three…) in tow.
And don’t forget, this isn’t just any old list of places to go. 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 each one has been stamped with that exclusive Out and About Mom seal of approval. It’s like getting a great tip from a good friend– a friend who has been to hundreds of CT destinations!
We hope you are inspired by these 50+ items on our Summer Bucket List! And we hope you have SO. MUCH. FUN. 🙂
Happy summer 2024, everyone!
{Psst. If you’re the kind of family that likes to keep track of your adventures with a big ol’ list on the fridge, download and print our free summer bullet journal page!} Let the summertime fun begin!
Please note: We’ve been “scouting your outing” for 10+ years now (I mean, how else could we have written about soooooo many places?!), and some of these posts may be showing their age. We do our best to keep the information on our site up-to-date, but we always recommend that you check out each destinations’ website/Facebook/Instagram for the most current and reliable information before planning your visit. And as always, if you have any updates to share on any of the places on this list (or any others you encounter on our site), we’d love to have them! Feel free to leave a comment on the blog post or email us at outandaboutmom@gmail.com. We couldn’t maintain this resource without help from our amazing readers–thank you!!
Dine outside
- Enjoy seafood by the sea at Abbott’s in Noank.
- Have a burger at Harry’s Place in Colchester.
- Savor a lobster roll, explore the fairy trail and soar on the rope swing at Jessica’s Garden in Marlborough.
Enjoy entertainment under the stars
- Watch a movie under the summer night sky at the Southington Drive-in. Details on their 2024 schedule here.
- Bring a picnic and savor the musical sounds at an outdoor evening concert at Elizabeth Park in Hartford. Find info on the 2024 season here. {FREE}
- Enjoy a delicious Food Truck dinner while listening to upbeat bands at the Riverfront Music Series in Glastonbury. Details on their 2024 lineup here. {Concert is FREE}
- Explore the gardens, playgrounds and open spaces, then settle in for Music in the Park at Wickham Park in Manchester. Find their current lineup here. {Concert is FREE with $7/car park admission}
Cool off in the AC at these indoor play places
- Have an arcade day at Nomads in South Windsor.
- Take your toddlers to the enormous indoor playscape at Luv 2 Play in Sutton, MA.
- Conquer the ninja challenges and ropes course at Fun City in New Britain.
- Sign up for “Kids Bowl Free,” then hit the lanes (and arcade) at Spare Time in Vernon. {FREE to bowl}
Take a dip at a local swim spot
- Spend a day at one of Connecticut’s beautiful state beaches (like this one, this one, or this one). You can find a full list of CT State Parks with swimming areas here. {FREE for CT residents through the Passport to the Parks program}
- Stroll the boardwalk at Ocean Beach Park in New London.
- Splash in the tidal pools at Harvey’s Beach in Old Saybrook.
Splash in a spray park
- Cool off at the enormous School Street Park Spray Park in Agawam, MA (Opens for the season 6/21/24; open daily from 11:00AM to 7:00PM through Labor Day). {FREE}
- Splash around at Watrous Park in Cromwell. {FREE}
- Visit the largest SplashPad in New England at The Dinosaur Place in Montville.
- Frolic in the fountains at the NEW spray park in Veterans Memorial Park in Middletown (OAAM post coming soon!) {FREE}
Pick your own
- Pick delicious fruit, then let the kids romp around the play area while you enjoy a gourmet (and homemade!) lunch at Dondero Orchards in Glastonbury.
- Pick blueberries and visit with the alpacas and goats at Auerfarm in Bloomfield. {FREE to visit}
- Pick sweet strawberries at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield.
- Pick cherries at Belltown Hill Orchards in Glastonbury.
Take a hike
- Hike to the waterfalls at Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown. {FREE}
- Print our Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt and then take a (kid-friendly) hike through Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam or Earle Park in Glastonbury. {FREE}
- Find animal barns, walking trails, a pond, a playground, a nature center and more in the 473 acres of amazing Northwest Park in Windsor. {FREE}
- Wander through the award-winning rose garden showcasing more than 120 varieties to admire (peak season is June!) at Mohegan Park in Norwich. {FREE}
Enjoy a homemade scoop
- Take a self-guided tour of the animal barns on Horsebarn Hill, then watch ice cream being made (and enjoy a homemade scoop!) at the UConn Dairy Bar in Storrs.
- Smile at the fun flavor names at Frisbee’s Dairy Barn in New Britain.
- Enjoy a scoop of their creative flavors while strolling among the historic buildings at Main Street Creamery in Wethersfield.
- Visit the barnyard animals while enjoying a scoop of homemade ice cream at the Gran-Val Scoop in Granville, MA.
- Celebrate national Ice Cream Day on July 21, 2024 with a visit to any of the two dozen delicious destinations on this list.
Plan a day trip…
- Have an indoor/outdoor science adventure at the EcoTarium in Worcester, MA.
- Reach for the rings while twirling on the Flying Horse Carousel–the oldest continuously operating carousel in the United States–in Watch Hill, RI.
- Soar with D.C. super heroes (and villains!) at Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA.
- Have Christmas in July at Santa’s year-round workshop at Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield, MA. {FREE to visit; cost of activities varies}
…or make it an overnight adventure
- Plan an overnight stay at the LEGOLAND hotel and theme park in Goshen, NY.
- Check-in to fun at Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, MA
- Have a sweet adventure at Hersheypark in Hershey, PA.
Browse a farmers’ market
- Pick up some local goods and goodies and enjoy outdoor entertainment at the Wethersfield Farmers’ Market. Thursdays 3pm-6pm from May 30, 2024 through October 10, 2024. {FREE to visit}
- Pick up some fresh produce and local treats at the enormous Coventry Farmers’ Market in Coventry. Sundays 10am-1pm from June 2, 2024 through October 27, 2024. {FREE to visit}
- Pick up some scrumptious local treats at the South Windsor Farmers‘ Market. Saturdays 9am-12pm from June 1, 2024 through October 5, 2024. {FREE to visit}
Hit a hole in one
- Face off with some fearsome dinos as you putt your way through a prehistoric landscape at Tee Rex Mini Golf in Thompson.
- Travel the world without leaving Connecticut with a mini golf adventure at Matterhorn Mini Golf in Canton or Safari Golf in Berlin.
- Enjoy a delicious burger and ice cream at the Riverfront Grill after a round of golf at Hidden Valley Mini Golf in Southington.
Go in a Go Kart
- Zoom around the Go Kart track or take a slippery spin on the bumper boats at the Berlin Batting Cages.
- Explore the 4-story outdoor playscape, spin on the carousel, then ride the Go Karts at Sonny’s Place in Sommers.
- Practice hairpin turns on the track at R&B Sports World in Winsted.
Plan a playground playdate
- Bring a picnic lunch to eat under the pavilion and spend the afternoon at the fully fenced-in Jonathan’s Dream Playground in West Hartford. {FREE}
- Take a spin on the historic carousel and climb the mini Hartford landmarks at Bushnell Park in Hartford. (Summer carousel hours here). {FREE to visit; carousel rides are $2}
- Plan an all-ages play date at the expansive Kids in Motion Playground {FREE}, then head up the road for a sweet treat at Sweet Claude’s Ice Cream in Cheshire.
Visit with friendly animals
- Visit with friendly chickens, sample the veggies in the children’s garden and make pies in the mud kitchen at Open Farm Day at Common Ground in New Haven. {FREE}
- Visit with animals big and small at Beardlsey Zoo in Bridgeport.
- Feed the goats at Ray of Light Farm in East Haddam. {FREE–but $1 to buy goat food}
- Get a bird’s eye view of the wildlife from atop the Skifari ride at Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon, MA.
Get arts-y crafts-y
- Paint some pottery, then enjoy coffee and homemade goodies in the cafe at The Firestone in Manchester.
- Build a mini soccer game (and other projects) at the Home Depot Kids Workshop (the first Saturday of every month from 9am-12:00pm, while supplies last). {FREE}
- Check out a Kids Club crafting session at Michael’s stores. Find schedule details and registration info here. {FREE}
So there you have it! Our 50+ picks for the summer of 2024. We hope this list inspires you to get “out and about” with your family this season.
And if you’re looking for more summer fun inspiration, be sure to check out the Places We’ve Been page for a complete list of ALL the places we’ve visited for this blog (more than 400!).
Happy trails!
Momsense for Your Everyday Life
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Over the years, we’ve learned that being an “out and about mom” requires more than just a penchant for adventure. We also need to create a home environment that supports our active lifestyle. In our Out and About Mom Lifestyle series we’re sharing our best tips, tricks, ideas and advice for managing our home life in a way that leaves us plenty of time and energy for what we love most: experiencing new things with our families! Check out these ideas…
Whether you’re packing lunches for school, camp, picnics or other adventures, check out our favorite gear for keeping those meals fresh & tasty for hours. Because what good is packing the perfect lunch if your kiddos won’t eat it?
These three simple items save you so much time in the kitchen. And you probably already own two of them!
Is this the year you finally declutter your living space? Find the motivation to streamline your stuff in these books by inspiring authors and bloggers.
Stress less about dinner (and spend less on takeout!) by stocking your freezer with easy meals that cook while you’re out having fun.
Want to connect with Connecticut families? Out and About Mom can help grow your business, organization or destination!
Welcome more visitors with Out and About Mom! We can help you get the word out about your latest offerings and happenings in real time. Our dedicated readers count on Out and About Mom to give them information on things to do with kids in (and around) Connecticut. Put your destination front and center with our budget-friendly sponsorship program, giveaways, and more!
Want to keep up with things to do with kids in Connecticut?
Check back every week as we dish up more Momsense for getting out and about with your kiddos. Don’t have time to check back in? Let us send outing ideas straight to your email inbox by signing up here. Also, you can like us on Facebook and Twitter and follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites.
