Inspiration

24 Summer Day Trip Ideas in Connecticut

last updated: June 2026

Meet the CT Ambassadors! CTvisit.com is proud to partner with some of Connecticut’s most popular bloggers for ideas, insights, and inspirations from the people who are lucky enough to call Connecticut home. This article is from MommyPoppins.com.

Every summer weekend is an opportunity to create a mini family vacation, as easily as jumping in the car. Our friends at Mommy Poppins, a fantastic resource for families in Connecticut and beyond, make it even more compelling with a list of 24 events and attractions for some seriously awesome summer adventures. They’re grouped by area, so you can easily create your own itinerary. Click through each link for more information and inspiration.

This article has been edited by the Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing & Tourism.

Connecticut’s Western Hills

1. Bring a blanket and settle in for some first-rate bluegrass music at Goshen's Podunk Music Festival in August.

2. Ride in a restored vintage 1920s train coach on a scenic 20-mile round trip at the Thomaston Railroad Museum of New England.

3. Soak in the fun at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury with old-fashioned rides, a small water park, and a lake with a beach.

4. Go on a drive-through safari and see exotic wildlife at Action Wildlife in Goshen.

5. Visit more than 50 alpacas and their new babies at Southwind Farms in Watertown.

Child in orange astronaut suit holding helmet inside air museum

Close to Hartford

6. Admire restored carousel horses at the The New England Carousel Museum in Bristol.

7. Sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks.

8. Enjoy unlimited rides on vintage trolley cars at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor.

9. Spend the day exploring water forces, bubbles, robots, galaxies, and more scientific wonders at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford.

10. Get hands on with prehistoric history at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill.

11. Take a ride on a vintage 1927 wooden roller coaster at Lake Compounce in Bristol, the nation’s oldest, continuously operating amusement park.

Child interacting with touchscreen exhibit near dinosaur skeleton in museum

Near New Haven

12. Kids always love pizza! Introduce them to the #1 pizza in the nation and all the other top-rated finds in New Haven.

13. A tradition in Milford, the annual Milford Oyster Festival held in August, offers more than 30,000 locally sourced oysters along with exciting live entertainment.

14. Have a picnic at one of the many great beaches nearby, including Silver Sands State Park in Milford and Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison.

Two children reaching out to a beluga whale underwater

Mystic and Eastern Shore

15. Visit Mystic for the aquarium, seaport, and, of course, pizza.

16. Spend a day aboard a floating classroom with Project Oceanology in Groton. Explore Long Island Sound and become a marine scientist for a day.

17. Visit Ocean Beach Park in New London for swimming and old-fashioned boardwalk fun.

18. Tour a submarine and learn about the amazing history behind the use of submarines in the military at the USS Nautilus Submarine Force Museum in Groton.

19. Walk amongst the prehistoric giants at The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art in Montville.

Young girl picking berries in a green outdoor garden

Southwestern Connecticut

20. The Norwalk Oyster Festival has a Kids Cove with character meet and greets, variety shows, demonstrations, and more.

21. Go berry picking at Jones Family Farm in Shelton or one of the many other farms statewide.

22. Explore 80 miles of trails, Nature's Playground, Otter Pond, Bendel Pond Picnic Area, and the Heckscher Wild exotic animal exhibit at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center.

23. Lions, tigers, and wolves, oh my. Check out these animals at the state's only zoo, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport.

24. Make a splash with sea life at Norwalk’s Maritime Aquarium!

Illustration of a woman pushing a child in a stroller

Mommy Poppins Connecticut

Mommy Poppins Connecticut is a blog devoted to moms and kids on the go. Visit the site or sign up for their free weekly newsletter and let the adventure begin! Photo Credits: Mommy Poppins, Action Wildlife Foundation, Lisa Jacobs via Flickr, and coachdenis via Instagram.