Southwestern Connecticut Attractions
Stratford
The Garbage Museum
1410 Honeyspot Rd., off I-95 Exit 30
Enviromental education facility with hands-on exhibits featuring “Trash-O-Saurus”, enclosed skywalk overlooks recycling plant. Admission: Free.
Norwalk
Stepping Stones Museum For Children
303 West Ave., off I-95 Exit 14N/15S
One of America’s top 50 children’s museums, features interactive exhibits, educational programs and fun for the whole family. Facilities have four main galleries, a toddlers-only gallery and more than 80 hands-on activities.
New Haven
Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
170 Whitney Ave., off I-91 Exit 3
The museum’s Great Hall of Dinosaurs boasts huge fossil skeletons and the world’s largest dinosaur painting, the Pulitzer Award-winning Age of Reptiles mural. Exhibits on Ancient Egypt, Native Americans, human origins, Neanderthal man, Earth and space, and 11 exquisite habitat dioramas. Dazzling gems and minerals, giant meteorites, primate skeletons, birds of CT. Discovery Room, Museum Store.
Southeastern Connecticut Attractions
Montville
The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art
1650 Rte 85, off I-395 Exit 77
A family oriented activity center featuring activities with fossils, life-size dinosaurs, gems, rocks and minerals. This interactive science, nature and shopping excursion hosts a number of educational attractions that fascinate young and old alike. Don’t forget Monty’s SPLASHPAD – New England’s largest SPLASHPAD.
Mystic
Mystic Aquarium – An institute for Exploration
55 Coogan Blvd., off I-95 Exit 90
One of the nation’s most diverse aquariums, a visit here will bring you in touch with a world class aquarium filled with a variety of animals from Beluga Whales to Stellar Sea Lions, Afriend Penguins and more.
Niantic
Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut
409 Main St., off I-95 Exit 72N/74S
This museum concentrates on the arts, sciences, safety & health, and culture & history for kids. Facilities include the Health Discovery Center, the kid’s clubhouse, Anne Franks Attic exhibit, Nursery Rhyme Land for toddlers and the Global Village, a celebration of diverse cultural heritage.
New London
Ocean Beach Park
1225 Ocean Ave.
(800) 510-SAND (7263)
New England’s finest Sugar Sand Beaches and Boardwalk Attractions. This major recreation area offers saltwater and pool swimming, water slide, nature trail, bird watching, rides, playground, miniature golf, picnic area, boardwalk, arcade, food concessions, dining facility and café and gift shop.
Northern Connecticut Attractions
Bristol
Lake Compounce
2mi. North on Route 229, off I-84 Exit 31
Celebrating more that 160 years of family fun, Lake Compounce enjoys the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the country! Home to over 50 thrilling rides and attractions including Boulder Dash which was voted as one of the best wooden coasters in the world. Here you’ll find fun for the entire family with Connecticut’s biggest Water Park.
Hartford
Bushnell Park Carousel
Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford, I-84 Exit 48AW/48E
This carousel is one out of the three hand-carved carousels intact created by Stein and Goldstein. The antique merry-go round features 36 jumper horses, 12 stander horses, two chariots and a Wurlitzer 153 band organ, which grinds out tinkling carousel tunes that hearken back to yesteryear. $1 per ride.
Rocky Hill
Dinosaur State Park
400 West St.
Jurassic-period dinosaur tracks (200 million years old); a diorama depicting the setting in which the park’s tracks were made, diorama of the Connecticut Valley in the late Triassic. Visitors may make plaster casts of tracks (casting materials not supplied at the Park, please call for instructions). Nature trails, auditorium, museum shop, picnic area. National Historic Landmark.
Middletown
Kidcity Children’s Museum
119 Washington St., Rt. 9 Exit 15
One-of-a-kind rooms filled with whimsical hands-on play and learning for kids ages 1 to 8 as well as their parents.
Windsor Locks
New England Air Museum
Bradley International Airport
36 Perimeter Rd.., off Route 75
Largest aviation museum in the Northeastern U.S. 80 aircraft featured in three display buildings, exhibits, films, gift shop.
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