What To Do In Connecticut: Charles W Morgan
What was once a mighty 2,700 ships-strong American whaling fleet, consists today of only one ship: The Charles W. Morgan.This magnificent tall ship was launched in 1841 from the Jethro and Zachariah Hillman yard in New Bedford, Massachusetts. At almost 107 feet long and with a beam about 27 feet wide, the ship carries 7,134 square feet of sail and used to sail with 35 sailors from around the world.
The cramped, stifling hot quarters for officers and men were below the deck. After five years of restoration, the Charles W. Morganset out in 2014 for its 38th sail to New England ports-of-call, as a magnificent reminder of America’s glorious maritime heritage.
Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, Connecticut 06355, Phone: 860-572-0711
Indian Leap Falls Norwich Ct
This hidden gem in Connecticut is located in such an unexpected location near downtown Norwich. Indian Leap Falls is a stunning waterfall located near old railroad tracks. It is completely free to visit this park and there is a small parking lot available next to an informative sign about how Indian Leap Falls got its name.
Fort Trumbull New London Ct
Fort Trumbull is an important Revolutionary War site that was attacked by the notorious General Benedict Arnold in 1781. The current fort that you can see today was built between 1839 and 1852 as a defense for the New London area. You can visit the grounds of Fort Trumbull for free and it is a beautiful place to enjoy a picnic, go for a walk, or fish on one of the piers.
Don’t Miss: Romantic Things To Do In Louisville
Free For All: The Best 30 Free Things To Do In Connecticut
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
Grammy award winner Lucinda Williams performs in front of thousands of concert-goers at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas on the New Haven Green in 2015.
There is a magic word that makes any experience that much more enjoyable: free.
Whether itâs free food, free tickets, free admission or even free parking, there is something wonderful about not having to pay a fee. Because of this, and because we know budgets are still tight in general, weâve compiled a list of the stateâs most enjoyable attractions that come with a price tag of $0. From world-class museums to concerts and performing arts events to spectacular hikes and nature preserves, thereâs plenty to do without having to reach for your wallet. As you browse this list, remember, whether a particular activity appeals to you or not, the price is oh-so-very right.
Museum of Connecticut History
Hartford
Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens
Hartford
International Festival of Arts & Ideas
New Haven
J. Robert Donnelly Husky Heritage Sports Museum
Storrs
Submarine Force Library & Museum
Groton
Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
New Haven
Settle In On A Budget: Top Free Things To Do In Hartford Ct
Of all the elements involved in moving, thepsychological impact is one of the most important. Many mental health professionals agree that frequent and sudden moves make it difficult for a person to cope with change.
Thats a good reason why grounding yourself with fun and social things to do in a new city is so crucial. If you recently found yourself looking for things to do in Hartford, CT, then weve got some excellent options for you to consider.
Oh. Did we mention these activities are free?
Don’t Miss: Things To Do In Crete With Kids
+ Things To Do In Connecticut: The Perfect Ct Bucket List
One of New Englands most popular states, there are so many fantastic things to do in Connecticut! Its southerly location and proximity to New York City make it an easy choice for a day trip or weekend trip to New England. And like the rest of the region, Connecticut is chock full of charm, history, and things to do and see.
Planning a visit to the Nutmeg State? Weve put together an essential list of 50+ top things to do in Connecticut. The CT activities on this list range from historic sites, family attractions, and quirky highlights to classic Connecticut things to eat and drink and beautiful spots not to be missed. Get ready to check off your Connecticut bucket list!
PS If youre looking for things to do in Connecticut today or what to do in Connecticut this weekend, be sure to check out this CT events calendar for real time info on what to do in the Nutmeg State!
Also, if youre wondering when is the best time to visit Connecticut, you can see our thoughts on that right here!
Ride The Coasters At Lake Compounce
For some, there’s nothing like a thrill ride to complement a vacation. Heart-pounding adventures aboard flipping roller coasters encourage squeals of delight along with screams of sheer terror. Boulder Dash, an award-winning wooden coaster is unmissable, while the Phobia Phear Coaster, which gets up to 65 miles an hour, will cause you to tighten your grip. Riding these coasters is one of the best things to do in Connecticut for thrill seekers.
If coasters make you feel more like tossing your lunch than euphoric, there are plenty of other more low-key options to keep you entertained. The classic carousel is an all-time fave, as is the giant Ferris wheel, and Flying Elephant ride.
When the day’s too hot to handle, head to the on-site water park. Bayou Bay offers a well appreciated break from the hot summer sun, while the Croc-O-Nile lazy river is the perfect way to relax. Hop in a tube for a fun way to plunge down a waterfall at Mammoth Falls.
Read Also: Free Things To Do In Rome
Free Things To Do In Southern Connecticut
The term southern Connecticut is a tad confusing.
How does one decide what is southern in a rectangular state, smaller than 6,000 square acres?
Whatever you want it to be.
I decided that any towns touching the Connecticut shoreline is Southern Connecticut for the sake of this article.
And to quote RuPaul, My show, my rules.
Lake Compounce: An Amusement Park In Bristol
Lake Compounce, continuously-operating since its opening in 1846, is the oldest North American amusement park offering 332 acres of pure family fun. The park includes Crocodile Cove, Connecticut’s biggest waterpark, with several slides, a lazy river and a wave pool.
The park has over 50 attractions and exciting rides for the entire family, including Boulder Dash, the best wooden coaster in the world. New rides are added yearly, such as the latest, Phobia, the first triple launch coaster in New England, which reaches speeds of up to 65 miles per hour and includes an adrenaline-pumping cobra roll 150 feet up in the air. The Drum Circus, Flying Elephants and the Antique Carousel are well suited to younger guests. The park offers food of all kinds for every taste.
186 Enterprise Dr, Bristol, Connecticut 06010, Phone: 860-583-3300
Read Also: Things To Do In Richmond Va For Couples
Watch Apple Cider Being Made At B F Clydes Cider Mill
This seasonal event is fun for the whole family! Visit B. F. Clydes Cider Mill, which is the only steam powdered cider mill in the U.S., from September to December to watch apple cider being produced. While youll certainly be tempted to buy some cider or delicious apple snacks, watching the cider-making demonstration is free.
Hit Up The Durham Fair
This is one of the biggest agricultural fairs in all of New England. Today, it is a huge event, with a midway, rides, animal events, a monster truck rally, amazing fair food, and so much more. Fall of 2022 is Durham Fairs 102nd anniversary a visit to this iconic CT fair is one of those cute autumn things to do in Connecticut in the fall!
Also Check: Kid Friendly Things To Do In Oshkosh Wi
Cruise Around The Thimble Islands
A sliver of paradise exists in the form of an archipelago in Branford. Beautiful homes ranging in size from tiny cottages to sprawling mansions dot the Long Island Sound, spread between 23 of the over 100 islands.
Actually, there’s a great debate about how many isles make up the Thimble Islands. Some believe the number to be closer to 365 it all depends on what you think is a “rock” versus an “island.”
The largest, named Horse Island, covers 17 acres and is owned by Yale University, who uses it as an Ecolab for the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. The best way to discover this unique locale is by boat.
Insider’s Tip: Book a Thimble Islands Cruise aboard the Sea Mist for a fun and informative tour.
The Connecticut Science Center
Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock
This Hartford, CT attraction is a perfect place to visit with family and friends, but especially science lovers.
The Connecticut Science Centers mission is to engage visitors in love and appreciation for science.
As such, the Center is home to more than 150 hands-on exhibits, a 3D theatre, and science laboratories wherein visitors can learn and experiment with science theories and more.
With focuses on physics, forensics, geology, and astronomy, the center has science-themed lessons and exhibits for every age and interest.
Some of the many exhibits you can hope to encounter when visiting the Connecticut Science Center are a dinosaur exhibit, a butterfly encounter, an engineering lab, the invention dimension, an outer space journey, and much more.
Beyond all of the awesome and immersive exhibits, the center also offers movies, a gift shop, a cafeteria, ongoing activities, and special events.
If youre looking for something enriching and educational, be sure to visit the Connecticut Science Center.
Address: 250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, United States
Also Check: Fun Things To Do In Berlin
Ct Tourist Attractions: The Aldrich Museum Of Contemporary Art
The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art is a non-collecting museum that displays original and innovative American contemporary art. The exhibits are always changing, and since the museum’s founding in 1964, it has displayed the works of over 8,000 artists. The museum hopes to connect visitors to contemporary art using hands-on workshops, tours, and presentations, and by on-site and classroom programs.
Guided tours of the museum are presented by curators and artists, and take visitors through the two-story 1783 building that houses the museum. There is a two-acre sculpture garden on the museum’s grounds, a gift shop, and an education center for children and for the professional development of teachers.
258 Main Street, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877, Phone: 203-438-4519
Things To Do In Ct This Weekend: Studio 80 And Sculpture Grounds
Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds is a premiere arts center in Old Lyme, situated on 4.5 beautiful acres along the banks of the scenic Lieutenant River. The gallery and studio, which is located adjacent to the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, is one of Connecticut’s premiere abstract art studios and galleries, showcasing the unique works of artist Gilbert V. Boro. More than 100 beautiful sculptures dot the studio’s gardens and grounds, open to the public for exploration 365 days a year during business hours. A loft exhibition gallery displays additional small-scale works, including maquettes and study pieces. Small group tours of the facility may be organized by contacting the studio directly via phone or email.
80 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT 06371, Phone: 860-434-5957
Romantic date ideas, interesting historic road trip, food, beautiful beaches near me, falls, get away, hotel, activities near me, state parks, dog friendly restaurants, zip lining, indian food, cabins, Italian, Indian restaurant, fall, cool, fun, things to do near me today, fishing charters, all inclusive vacations, warm and cozy restaurants, places to travel: Tampa Bay, Naples, Jersey Shore Beaches, Long Island, West Palm Beach, Hamptons, St Croix, St Petersburg
Read Also: Things To Do In Disneyland Checklist
Sunbathe At Hammonasset Beach State Park
Home to more than two miles of soft, sandy beach, there’s plenty of room to spread your towel at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Located along the shores of the Long Island Sound in Madison, this park boasts the largest shoreline in the state. It also tops the list of best beaches in Connecticut.
While the park’s most popular pastimes include, sunbathing, boating, fishing, sandcastle-building, and swimming, there are a ton of other activities to occupy your time at this incredible beach. Kayaking, scuba diving, SUPing, and visiting the Meigs Point Nature Center will keep everyone happy.
When it comes time for a break from the heat, head to one of the sheltered tables at the concession stand. Insider’s tip: book one of the park’s 500 campsites to extend your outdoor adventure.
Address: 1288 Boston Post Road, Madison, Connecticut
Submarine Force Library & Museum
Submarine Force Library & Museum
This epic museum boasts one of the best collections of submarines in the nation.
A tour of the Submarine Force Library & Museum is an immersive one that naval history enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy.
The museum provides individual and group tours, scavenger hunts, phone tours, youth and scout activity packets, STEM classes, and more.
Additionally, the museum has a theatre experience where they show a history of submarines or a film that depicts the design and construction of submarines.
One of the museums most prized artifacts is the USS Nautilus, a submarine constructed in 1952 and launched in 1954.
Today, you can tour the USS Nautilus at this Connecticut museum.
Beyond this attraction being historically enriching and super fun, its one of a few awesome free things to do in Connecticut both parking and admission are free!
Although food and beverages are not permitted in the museum, there are a few vending machines on-premises, but there are also many restaurants near the museum.
Finally, the museum does have a fine gift shop where you can purchase submarine-themed souvenirs.
If youre asking yourself where to go when youre in Connecticut, be sure to consider the Submarine Force Library & Museum.
Address: 1 Crystal Lake Rd, Groton, CT 06340, United States
Also Check: Things To Do In Southern Pines Nc
Places Of Interest In Ct: Mystic Aquarium
The Mystic Aquarium exists to inspire people to protect the ocean, and to conserve ocean life. Along with the usual fascinating tanks of colorful sea-dwellers, the aquarium has unique offerings. The Arctic Coast exhibit brings visitors up close to beluga whales, the African penguin exhibit shows off many of these critically-endangered little birds, and the frog exhibit houses more than thirty species of frogs from all over the world.
Visitors will love the sea lion show in the marine theater, will have an opportunity to touch lizards, snakes, and American alligators in the Reptile Encounter room, and to marvel and shriek in the 4D theatre. Interactive exhibits introduce visitors to world habitats, and give an understanding of why the earth’s different ecozones must be protected.
55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, Connecticut 06355, Phone: 860-572-5955
Romantic places near me this weekend, all inclusive, live music, unique shopping in town, nightlife for tourists, caves, snow, resort, hotel, fishing spots near me, romantic restaurant, trailer park, museums, springs, island, light house, brunch places near me, fish, attractions near me: Niagara Falls, Arizona Day Trips, Cincinnati, Best Place to Stay in Grand Teton
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum Of Art
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, America’s oldest continuously-operating art museum, was founded by arts patron Daniel Wadsworth in 1842 and has since then paved the path for the many major art museums in the country. It was the first American museum to acquire artworks by Caravaggio, Joseph Cornell, Frederic Church, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí, and also the first in the country to showcase exhibits of important surveys of works by Surrealists, Picasso and Italian Baroque masters.
The museum today holds more than 50,000 works of art covering more 5,000 years of human history. Some of the most important collections include major Baroque and Surrealist paintings the Morgan collection of Roman and Greek antiquities and decorative arts from Europe and one of the world’s best collections of Hudson River School landscapes. Things to Do in Hartford
600 Main St, Hartford, Connecticut 06103, Phone: 860-278-2670
You are reading “What is There to Do with Kids in Connecticut” Back to Top or More tourism, attractions for couples, food, things to see near me today
You May Like: Things To Do In Paynesville Mn
Gillette Castle State Park
Karen Grigoryan / Shutterstock
Gillette Castle State Park is a 184-acre estate with a 24-room, medieval mansion situated on a Connecticut hilltop.
Conceived and built by William Gillette, famed actor, director, and playwright, this property is a magical sight to be seen.
Following Gillettes death in 1943, the property was acquired by the state of Connecticut along with an adjoining woodland property.
Today it is a beautiful tourist attraction and state park.
The custom estate features handsewn woodworking, intricately carved wood, 40-foot wooden trestles, stone-arch bridges, built-in couches, walking paths, and much more.
Architecturally speaking, the mansion is awe-inspiring.
The architecture, however, is beautifully juxtaposed by the natural setting in which it resides.
When visiting Gillette Castle, you can expect to make a day or even a weekend of your visit.
Available activities include picnicking, hiking, river camping, and touring the historic building.
Theres even an art trail site that hosts outdoor art exhibits created and curated by local artists.
This is a beautiful attraction to visit today, tomorrow, or this weekend.
Address: 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423, United States
