This Family Friendly Road Trip Through Connecticut Leads To Whimsical Attractions, Themed Restaurants, And More
By Lisa Sammons|Published February 18, 2022
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Lisa Sammons
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Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
As an adult, it’s likely that you love road trips in Connecticut… but you probably have memories from your childhood where you were unwillingly dragged to dull museum after dull museum. Now that you’re older and in charge of planning the itinerary for road trips, maybe you’d like to be a little kinder for any children tagging along with you. If so, we’ve got a great family-friendly road trip in Connecticut planned for you! It features museums, parks, and more that are just as delightful for kids as they are for adults.
The entire trip will take a little over three hours of driving, so you wont' have to hear too many "are we there yet?"s. The relatively short length makes it an ideal weekend or three-day trip. Check out the customizable itinerary on Google Maps.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children: 303 West Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850
Stepping Stones Museum for Children, 303 West Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850, USA
You'll start your trip at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. The museum is geared towards kids 10 and under, and has everything from educational exhibits to a playground to a puppet section. You can find out more information on the museum's website.
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Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill, 1 Bass Pro Dr, Bridgeport, CT 06608
Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill, 1 Bass Pro Dr, Bridgeport, CT 06608, USA
Hope you're hungry, because your next stop is at Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill. This ocean-themed place offers 12 lanes of bowling and fun bowling balls with mermaid and octopus designs.
Beardsley Zoo is the only AZA-accredited zoo in Connecticut. This historic zoo houses exotic animals like the mane wolf and red pandas. It's the perfect destination for animal-loving kids. You can find out more information on the zoo's website.
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village, 1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike, Oakdale, CT 06370
The Dinosaur Place, 1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike, Oakdale, CT 06370, USA
The Dinosaur Place is a 60-acre outdoor park home to to dozens of life-sized dinosaur sculptures. The park is open seasonally and closed for winter, but is a part of Nature's Art Village.
Most of Nature's Art Village is open year-round and it has plenty to check out, including a mineral shop and toy store. There's a geode center and Genius Museum that are both fun and educational. You can get more information about all the attractions here at the Nature's Art Village website.
Bushnell Park, Downtown, Hartford, CT 06103
Bushnell Park Foundation, 99 Trinity St, Hartford, CT 06123, USA
Bushnell Park is one of the best parks in Connecticut, and we feel like it doesn't get enough attention. There are so many great state parks here that it's easy to miss out on some of the great urban destinations, but we love Bushnell Park! It's the perfect spot for a stroll through Hartford or an afternoon picnic. It's also home to a beautiful carousel. You can check out upcoming events on the Bushnell Park Foundation website.
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White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Rd, Litchfield, CT 06759
We'll finish up this road trip in Connecticut with a stop at the White Memorial Conservation Center. Truth be told, you could easily spend a whole day here! There's a small museum and 40 miles of trails to explore. Find out more on the center's website.
How many of these family-friendly destinations in Connecticut have you been to? Share your experiences in the comments!
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