36 Things to Do in Connecticut this June

1. Go river rafting. Grab your best crew and float 10 miles down the Housatonic River at Clarke Outdoors in West Cornwall.

2. Try “kidulting.” Remember those easy-breezy childhood summers? Well, Connecticut’s filled with ways to act like a kid again from adult summer camps to zip-lining and ropes courses.

3. Paddle on. Try gliding across the water — while standing up! Rent paddleboards at spots such as Adventure Mystic, New England Watersports in Branford, Scoot & Paddle in Milford, or Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook and Old Lyme.

4. Set sail. One great way to get out on the water is to rent a boat — charter a sailboat, rent a canoe, hire a fishing boat, and beyond! Or, catch some sites along the Thames River in Groton and New London on a boat cruise with the Thames River Heritage Park & Water Taxi.

5. Hike by the water. As we welcome the summer season, waterfront spots become even more inviting. Shake up your usual wooded hiking routine and try these saltwater hikes throughout the state.

6. Challenge yourself. Get active and try obstacle courses up in the trees at Empower Adventure Park at Nomads in South Windsor or Tree Trails in Mystic. Find more extreme ziplining here.

7. Be mindful. Take a step back and live in the moment. From meditation retreats and sound healing to clean eating and connecting with nature, there are so many ways to travel mindfully in Connecticut.

8. Get muddy at the spa. Pamper yourself with a well-deserved visit to one of Connecticut’s top spas. Choose from a variety of rejuvenating treatments including facials, massages, mud wraps and more.

9. Stroll town greens. A lovely, manicured town green is part of the quintessential New England experience — and Connecticut does it right. Take a leisurely afternoon to enjoy the areas and relaxing small-town charm

10. Admire roses. June is a spectacular month for seeing roses in bloom. Take in hundreds at once at stunning parks like Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, Pardee Rose Gardens in Hamden, and Mohegan Park in Norwich.

11. Marvel at modern art. Connecticut is filled with art of all kinds — and we can’t forget these modern masterpieces! From a glass house to entire modern art museums, check out these great works of art.

12. Explore art and culture towns. When looking for arts and culture, why not explore an entire town? Try these spots for art galleries, historic sites and more.  

13. Celebrate the arts. Celebrate art and community at the epic International Festivals of Arts & Ideas. And enjoy 4 days of nature, creativity, music, and collaboration at Spring Hill Vineyard's exquisite SHAG Festival.

14. Scream for ice cream. Nothing says summer like a sweet and refreshing treat! Whether you prefer classic cones or sundaes, discover them all along the Connecticut Ice Cream Trail.

15. Chow down at Casinos. Sure, Connecticut’s casinos are great for gaming, shopping and more — but their food is just as much reason to visit. Just to name a few, have a sweet and celeb-inspired experience at The Sugar Factory, award-winning steaks at David Burke Prime Steakhouse, the nation’s best pizza at Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, and sample Asian cuisine of all kinds at Tao Asian Bistro & Lounge.

16. Start lobster lovin’. Summer seafood season is here, and Connecticut is the place to be for all things lobster. Try these photo-worthy lobster shacks or follow this guide for lobster lovers to find all your favorites.

17. Upgrade your cookout. Do your backyard barbecue the right way and pick up fresh meat and seafood from these local craft butchers and fish markets.

18. Try food halls and beer gardens. The best thing about a food hall is the endless options — from diverse cuisine to gourmet grilled cheese stands! Try a little of everything at Parkville Market in Hartford or any of these food halls and beer gardens.

19. Hit the amusement parks. Connecticut is home to two fantastic parks with the world’s #1 wooden roller coasters, water rides, and other amazing thrills! Spend the day at Lake Compounce in Bristol or Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury.

20. See creature features. All just off I-95, you’ll discover marine animals, tigers and more! Road trip to these spots and take the kids to meet some new friends.

21. Jump for joy. Have a blast bouncing around at trampoline parks like Sky Zone in Trumbull and Norwalk.

22. Race cars. Feel the need for speed and race go karts at RPM Raceway Stamford, On Track Karting in Wallingford, and SuperCharged Racing in Montville.  

23. Make a splash. Dive into summer fun at Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park and enjoy water activities including wakeboarding, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, cliff jumping, scuba diving, water obstacles, a rope swing and more.

24. See a drive-in movie. Enjoy family movie night under the stars at drive-in theaters such as Mansfield Drive-In and Southington Drive-In.

25. Embark on a family fishing trip. Go fish with the kids! Whether you prefer inland fishing or fishing by the shore, Connecticut’s filled with places to cast your lines.

26. Go strawberry picking. Celebrate strawberry season and pick your own at farms such as Lyman Orchards, Dondero Orchards, and Jones Family Farms. Here are some tips for picking the best ones!

27. See the sunset. What could be more romantic than watching the sunset? From marinas to vineyards, these spots provide the perfect sunset view.

28. Explore the trails together. Plan a foodie date with a twist and tour Connecticut’s Beer Trail, Wine Trail, Pizza Trail, or Chocolate Trail.

29. Drive along coast. Take a romantic, scenic drive along the coast and stop at these photo-worthy boardwalks for cute selfies.

30. Get out of your comfort zone. As dating shows like the Bachelor have taught us, adventurous dates can really bring a couple together — and spark romance. Try daring activities like ziplining at  Highflyer Zipline, ropes courses at Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum or Nomads Outdoor Adventure, skydiving at Skydive Danielson, smashing objects at Smash Avenue, or rock climbing at Rock Climb Fairfield.

31. Find a new date spot. Do date night differently and try somewhere new! Take your special someone to one of Connecticut’s best date spots. 

32. Attend a Pride festival. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Pride in Connecticut. Here’s a list of events for this June – from parades to film festivals.

33. Eat brunch with the queens. Drag is never a drag – especially when it involves boozy brunch! Don’t miss drag brunch at these spots.

34. Find LGBTQ+ businesses. Discover and support Connecticut’s many great LGBTQ+-owned businesses this month.

35. Get away. Stay over in an LGBTQ-friendly inn and find other great destinations at Connecticut’s LGBTQ+ travel hotspots.

36. Party with Pride. Dive into a sea of love, acceptance, and celebration at Mystic Aquarium! With the vibrant colors of marine life as the backdrop, see a premier drag performance by the Trailer Park Girls, meet marine friends, and more.