8 Best Places Where to Go with Kids in Connecticut

Mystic Aquarium is Connecticut's best aquarium. It has outstanding indoor and outdoor displays and beluga whales, a Stingray Touch Pool, a Sharks Touch Habitat, a Marsh Trek, and an Animal Rescue Center.

You'll be able to witness penguins, jellyfish, and various other water species. You can even get up and personal with stingrays and sharks in the touch pool. Interacting with computer-generated graphics in the Wild Arctic exhibitions is another exciting feature. You may virtually interact with a polar bear and meet a walrus here.

The Jurassic Giants indoor dinosaur trail has gigantic animatronic dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, and other ancient monsters and two 4D cinemas.

Mystic Seaport is a fascinating maritime museum located in the picturesque hamlet of Mystic. It is well-known for its collection of sailboats and sailing ships. Fans of nautical history will appreciate the vast collection of marine items housed in this museum. They even have historic ships like the L.A. Dunton, Charles W. Morgan, and the Greda III moored in their harbor. The most well-known is the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, America's oldest commercial ship.

Once you step foot on the expansive grounds of the Mystic Seaport Museum, you'll understand why it's regarded as one of Connecticut's top tourist attractions. A working shipyard, planetarium, children's museum, exploration barn, re-created 19th-century maritime hamlet, and a significant collection of vintage boats are all part of this spectacular attraction.

Lake Compounce is an amazing park located between Bristol and Southington in Connecticut. It is the country's oldest continually operational theme park, having been established in 1846. The park is 332 acres in size and features a lakeside beach and a water park. The Wildcat, a wooden roller coaster constructed in 1927, is still in operation. The park has around 50 rides and attractions.

Some of the most popular attractions include Crocodile Cove, Connecticut's largest water park, Boulder Dash, the world's best wooden roller coaster, and Bayou Bay, which has millions of gallons of water where you may splash or bounce on the waves. Ride the wooden Boulder Dash coaster, Wave Swinger, and Drop Zone. The many waterslides and water playgrounds will keep you entertained and refreshed throughout the day.

Yale University is a gleaming jewel in the heart of New Haven. The Yale campus is a tourist destination in and of itself, with remarkable structures constructed by Eero Saarinen, Frank O. Gehry, and other notable architects. There is a film, and historical artifacts in the visitor center, and free student-led campus tours are available every morning.

Several world-class museums may be found at Yale University. There is the YA Art Gallery, the Peabody Museum of Natural History, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. There's a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, dinosaur fossils, Van Gogh paintings, and more treasures to be found here.

If you want to see dinosaurs, go to the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, one of Connecticut's most popular tourist destinations. Among the more than 14 million specimens and items on exhibit, you'll find everything from fossils to meteorites to Babylonian carved stone divination devices.

Could the circular holes in the falls truly be the devil's work? Or is it just nature and water leaving their imprint on future generations? Visit Devil's Hopyard to discover your own solution to this age-old riddle. Devil's Hopyard State Park, with its 860 miles of rugged, wooded terrain, is one of Connecticut's most popular hiking destinations.

The park is primarily known for Chapman Falls on the Eightmile River. This beautiful waterfall cascades more than 60 feet down a multistep granite structure. Several hiking routes lead to the falls and other picturesque sights.

From April through October, the park's 21 forested campsites are located near Chapman Falls and are open.

Gillette Castle resembles a medieval fortification and is undoubtedly one of the most physically appealing structures in Connecticut. The actor William Gillette, for whom the castle is called, planned and erected the spectacular and unusual Gillette Castle between 1914 and 1919. It is a fantastical 24-room house located high up on one of the Seventh Sisters Hills.

Inside, you'll find a lot of odd things: built-in couches, massive stone fireplaces, dungeon-like chambers, secret tunnels, and 47 distinct entrances. A gorgeous state park spreads away from the castle, consisting of fine gardens and lush woods, with plenty of fantastic hiking trails for you to meander around. The views of the surrounding gardens from the castle are just breathtaking.

Enders State Forest is located in northern Connecticut, approximately five miles south of the Massachusetts border. It is mostly forest; however, those who enjoy seeing waterfalls while hiking in natural settings will find something to enjoy at Enders Falls State Park. A stroll down the peaceful Enders Brook is one of the nicest things to do in the entire state.

Enders State Forest's major activity is hiking. The waterfalls are amazing stars of this forest, and numerous marked routes will take hikers to the best sites to see them. The journey to the falls through the forest is rather straightforward, and the main route is well-maintained. The main route begins directly from the Route 219 parking area. The highest waterfall is around 30 feet tall.

Hammonasset Beach State Park is unquestionably one of Connecticut's top vacation places with almost two miles of sandy shoreline. It is a terrific spot to go if you just want to kick back, relax, and sunbathe on its enticing sands while soaking up some rays. Swimming is both fun and safe because of a stone breakwater erected in 1955.

Aside from its large beach, the state park offers a variety of pleasurable recreational activities, including cycling, hiking, and camping. There are around 550 campsites in the park and several rustic cottages.

Saltwater fishing is permitted on two jetties during the day, and night fishing is permitted along the beach during peak season. Winter and summer flounder, bluefish, blackfish, weakfish, scup, and striped bass may all be found here.