The 41 Best Things to Do in Connecticut

👉 Jump to: Best Things to Do | Sites & Attractions | Museums & Culture | Hidden Gems | Food & Drink | Outdoors

Connecticut offers a rich Colonial history and cultural scene. History buffs will love the wide range of options for museums and historical towns, many with preserved buildings and town greens from the Revolutionary period.

You might also take a trip to the Connecticut shoreline, maybe stopping at one of the world-class casinos on your way to a picturesque beach town like Mystic.

Whatever you end up doing on your trip, I’m sure you’ll fall in love with Connecticut’s natural beauty and wide range of family-friendly activities.

41 Things to Do in Connecticut

Mystic Seaport Museum

An immersive 19th-Century Seaport Museum that’s fun for the whole family.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 572-0711 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily from Mar 20 – Nov 1, 10 am – 4 pm Thurs – Sun from Nov 2 – Dec 23, 10 am – 4 pm daily, only certain parts of museum open from Jan 2  – Mar 19 | Entrance: $15-20 adults, $15-20 seniors, $15-17 kids 4 – 17, kids under 3 free

If I could only recommend a single attraction in Connecticut to a visiting family, it would be Mystic Seaport. Located on the shore in a town that is a destination for its own sake, Mystic Seaport is a living history, recreated 19th-century sailing village.

Many of the boats on the grounds can be boarded and toured. On my last visit, I was invited to help haul a halyard on an old wooden sailing vessel, and it was a blast. I was there with only adults, but we were as delighted as children, and Mystic will be fun for the whole family.

Old Wethersfield

The oldest town in Connecticut with a fascinating historic district.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 24/7 | Entrance: Free

Quick confession–I’m a little biased here, since Wethersfield is my hometown, and it still holds a special place in my heart. That said, I’m pretty sure that once you visit, it will hold a special place in your heart, too.

Founded in 1634, Wethersfield vies for the title of the oldest town in the state (there’s some heckling over the definition of when a settlement becomes a “town”). It is famous as a stopover point for George Washington during the Revolution, as a site of some famous Witch Trials, and as the setting for the book The Witch of Blackbird Pond.

Old Wethersfield is highly walkable. There’s an excellent ice cream shop (Main Street Creamery) on the main drag, and near Halloween, the historic district comes alive with both creepy and delightful scarecrows that will enchant all ages. Comstock Ferre is America’s oldest continuously operating seed company. The town green and Wethersfield Cove are great green spaces to check out.

Olde Mistick Village

A mock world village with international goods and a delightful assortment of shops.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 536-4941 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: Free

In my opinion, Olde Mistick Village shopping plaza is one of the most unexpected features of Mystic, Connecticut. It is a very strange but very delightful assortment of shops in an outdoor plaza designed to feel like a world-inspired 18th-century village.

The shops are multicultural, with individual stores dedicated to imports from Ireland, Norway, Italy, and Poland. They also have a handful of stores with mystical themes (no pun intended?), including “Cloak and Wand” and “Alice’s Haunted Little Bookstore.” There are several restaurants and a luxury movie theater in the village as well.

Olde Mistick Village is located adjacent to the Mystic Aquarium.

Essex Steam Train and Riverboat

An old-fashioned steam train and riverboat adventure for the whole family.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 767-0103 | Website | Hours: varies, check website | Entrance: Varies based on train class and exact experience, but normal train and riverboat combo tickets vary between $49 (coach) and $65 (first class), and steam train only coach tickets are $29

The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat is a truly unique Connecticut activity that is both family-friendly and date-night-approved. The train and boat journey is a two-and-a-half-hour narrated jaunt through the pristine Connecticut River Valley.

The train ride will take you past the picturesque historic towns of Deep River and Chester. From the riverboat, you’ll see sites like Gillette Castle and the Goodspeed Opera House on the banks. Nature lovers will enjoy the views of untouched coves and parks, some of which you can’t see any other way.

Special experiences include the dinner train, a murder mystery experience, and Mommy and Me tea.

The Mark Twain Museum

The vibrant Connecticut home of an American author and legend.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 247-0998 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm daily, Closed Tue | Entrance: $28 adults, $26 seniors, $15 kids 6 – 16, kids under 6 free

Mark Twain, the famous writer of classics such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the aptly named A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, lived in an American High Gothic mansion in Hartford that you can visit today.

Fans of Mark Twain, literature, history, or architecture can’t pass up a chance to tour Twain’s fascinating home. As a writer, the Mark Twain house might be my single favorite Connecticut attraction, and I love seeing his writing studio and hearing stories about his life. 

The Twain House offers several awesome seasonal tours, such as a fall “Graveyard Shift” ghost tour with a Victorian-era aesthetic.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

Another famous author’s home, dedicated to themes of social justice.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 522-9258 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Thu-Sat; closed Sun-Wed | Entrance: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 kids 6 – 16, kids under 6 free

Come experience a conversational history tour at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, where you’ll have an interactive discussion about Stowe’s life and abolitionism in the United States.

Adults will appreciate the focus on history and the anti-slavery and social justice themes. For families, it is a great way to get kids talking about big ideas.

For architecture and history fans, Stowe’s Victorian Gothic elements are stunning. The Stowe Center also offers frequent programming, so be sure to check the event schedule.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum

An immersive Native American museum with natural and cultural history artifacts.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 411-9671 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Wed–Sat (Mar through Oct) and Tue–Sat in Nov | Entrance: $25 adults, $20 seniors, $16 kids under 6-17, kids under 5 free

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum is an immersive masterpiece that pays homage to Connecticut’s First People. This museum tells an immersive narrative of how Native Americans were stripped of their land, how Connecticut’s modern-day casinos came to be, and what life would have looked like for local tribes throughout history.

Inside the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, you’ll learn about periods as ancient as the Ice Age by taking an escalator down to a chilled ice chamber exhibit. As you move through the exhibits, you’ll see animal dioramas about the hunter-gatherer culture, a truly impressive model village, and an all-senses movie about the waning culture on reservations in a small log cabin theater.

This museum offers something for the whole family, kids and adults alike.

Mystic Aquarium

A family-friendly marine adventure with everything from seals and sea lions to penguins and reptiles.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 572-5955 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily | Entrance: Varies by day, but about $31 adults, $23 kids under 14, babies under 2 free

There’s really no shortage of world-class activities in Mystic, and another great one is the Mystic Aquarium–my favorite in the country (as a marine scientist). 

The Mystic Aquarium is an engaging and relaxing escape for adults, but it also has plenty to keep younger visitors engaged. For instance, their newest area is the immersive Dino Seas exhibit that shows what ancient seas would have looked like. It even includes a two-story Aerial Adventure Course.

Also appealing to guests of all ages are the interactive animal shows. You can see seals, sea lions, penguins, reptiles, and rays up close and personal. Kids can learn more about what it’s like to be an animal trainer or a marine biologist. And if you need some downtime after your busy day in Mystic, consider checking out one of the 4D movies shown at the aquarium!

Foxwoods Casino

One of two world-class casinos located in Connecticut and the third-largest casino in the U.S.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 312-3000 | Website | Hours: Most areas open 9 am – 1 am daily | Entrance: Free

If your trip to Connecticut is adults-only (or your kids won’t mind being dropped in the kids’ playroom for a while without you), there are two great casino options in the state: Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Foxwoods is the third-largest casino in the country.

Locals tend to have their personal preference for one versus the other, but guests might want to check out both. Foxwoods boasts more types of gambling (like high-stakes bingo), better VIP spaces, and more shopping.

Foxwoods also has its own resort, nature trails, a 350-foot observation tower, and the biggest zipline in Connecticut–that will zip you to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum a mile away at 60 mph!

Mohegan Sun Casino

A crowd-favorite casino with a lot of entertainment, shopping, and dining options.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 226-7711 | Website | Hours: Most areas open 9 am – 1 am daily | Entrance: Free | 👉 Book a stay at the Mohegan Sun

While it ranks #4 in size to Foxwoods #3, Mohegan Sun is the Connecticut casino of choice for many, especially among an under-50 crowd. Fans mention its newer aesthetic, fresher air, better food, and better concert arena. 

If your priority is less on gambling and more on the experience of wandering around, shopping in, and eating at a large, world-class casino, Mohegan Sun is the hand’s down recommendation. Like Foxwoods, there’s a playroom where you can drop kids for babysitting, though the whole family can go to the restaurants, shop, and hotel–just not the gambling floors.

As someone who grew up in Connecticut, I have fond memories of the kids’ room at Mohegan Sun when I was a kid, and then concerts at their venue as a teen.

Connecticut Sites & Attractions

Lake Compounce Amusement and Water Park

A charming and historic amusement park that first opened in 1846.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 583-3300 | Website | Hours: Seasonal only; check website calendar for hours | Entrance: $65.99 for a day ticket

Lake Compounce Amusement and Water Park originally opened in 1846, making it rich in history. There are still signs of its roots: an old trolley line still traverses the park, the carousel is from 1911, and a ballroom still in use was first opened in the 1930s. The Wildcat roller coaster, which is still operating, was built in 1927! 

As the name implies, Lake Compounce has a large lake at its center. A water park has been built around it, with a beach on the lake’s shore and a swimming area. There are also plenty of fun rides. The Boulder Dash roller coaster has won awards for the best wooden coaster in the country, and there are a total of 44 attractions.

Quassy Amusement and Water Park

A smaller but unique amusement park great for families.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 758-2913 | Website | Hours: Seasonal only; check website calendar for hours | Entrance: Varies from $28 – $43 depending on person’s height and whether the pass is for just rides or the waterpark as well

Quassy Amusement Park is smaller than Lake Compounce but equally charming. It is one of only 11 trolley parks (recreation areas at the end of trolley lines) still operating in the United States. Like Lake Compounce, there is a lake at the center of Quassy: Lake Quassapaug, for which the park is named. 

Back in 1908, Quassy was such a popular trolley line stop that it became a summer resort. It turned into a full-fledged amusement park after World War II. Today, Quassy Amusement Park has 2 roller coasters, 15 water rides, and a total of 38 attractions.

Beardsley Zoo

A family-favorite zoo with over 500 animals designed by the same architect who designed NYC’s Central Park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 394-6565 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily | Entrance: $20, adults; $16, kids 3 -11, kids under 2 are free 

The Beardsley Zoo is a famous Connecticut institution located in Bridgeport. It’s relatively small, so many of the patrons are families that live relatively nearby, but these patrons tend to return time and time again. There is a small cafe and over 500 animals.

For history lovers, one of the coolest aspects of this zoo is that it was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, a famous architect who also designed New York City’s Central Park. It was the original home of PT Barnum’s circus, and your family might be interested in pairing a trip to the zoo with the Barnum Museum.

Noah Webster House

The childhood home of the Father of the Dictionary in West Hartford.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 521-5362 | Website | Hours: 1 pm – 4 pm Mon– Fri; 10 am – 2 pm Sat; closed Sun | Entrance: $14 adults; $12 kids 6-17; kids under 6 are free

Noah Webster, father of the famous Webster Dictionary, was raised in a house in West Hartford. It is now a museum. For anyone interested in historic houses, this one dates back to around 1715, making it a great place to tour. 

Inside, there are early editions of both Webster’s dictionary and his famous blue-backed spellers. The tour is self-guided with an iPad. Adults might also want to check out Tavern Night, an evening event with drinks and Colonial games.

Goodspeed Opera House

A famous opera house from the 19th century on the banks of the Connecticut River.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 873-8668 | Website

The Goodspeed Opera House is an iconic and historic CT structure that was built in 1876 and sits on the banks of the Connecticut River. It is known for its high-quality theater productions as well as the famous history and architecture of the building.

Can’t make a show? Although the opportunities are rare, check the website to see when the Goodspeed Opera House is next giving tours for the chance to have a quick visit.

Maritime Aquarium

An aquarium in Norwalk with a famous sturgeon touch tank.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 852-0700 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $39.95 adults; $34.95 seniors 65+; $29.95 kids 3-12; Free Under 3

Visitors love the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, with families in particular feeling their time was worthwhile. People love the river otters and the touch tank, which includes a sturgeon. You can also see harbor seals and meerkats. 

The only common complaint is about the cafe, so it might be wise to eat before heading to the aquarium. This provides a double benefit because it is also less busy in the afternoon.

Yale University

A famous Ivy-League university with a picturesque campus.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 432-4771 | Website | Entrance: Free

As one of the country’s most prestigious Ivy League universities, visiting Yale is a noteworthy way to spend a day or afternoon. The campus is located in New Haven, a city with lots of great food and music options, so it wouldn’t be hard to create an entire day trip to fill in the gaps of your Yale adventure.

Fans of the show Gilmore Girls can add Yale to their Connecticut bucket list since it’s where Rory Gilmore attended school and is featured in many episodes. It is the third-oldest college or university in the United States. The campus is beautiful and has buildings that date back to the 18th century.

Museums & Culture

Hill-Stead Museum

A hidden gem of an art museum with some famous art including Cassat, Degas, Manet, and Monet.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 677-4787 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Wed – Sun | Entrance: $20 adults, $18 seniors, $15 students, $12 kids 6-12, kids under 6 are free

The Hill-Stead Museum is a hidden gem of an art museum and historic building and grounds located in Farmington, Connecticut. It is most famous for its large collection of French Impressionist pieces. The grounds are also beautiful and noteworthy, and the house itself is an example of grand Colonial Revival architecture.

Some of the artists featured in the museum’s 19 rooms include Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and James McNeill Whistler. The grounds are home to a sunken garden where an annual poetry festival takes place. The Hill-Stead will appeal mostly to adults and teens who enjoy famous art and beautiful houses.

Webb Deane Stevens Museum

A museum complex with Colonial homes visited by George Washington.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 529-0612 | Website | Hours: Open May-Oct; 10 am – 4 pm Wed–Sun | Entrance: $18 adults, $15 seniors, $6 kids 5-12

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum in Old Wethersfield is a collection of 3 Colonial homes in the town’s historic district. These are the Joseph Webb House, the Silas Deane House, and the Isaac Stevens House. 

The Silas Deane House has been restored to reflect a mid-18th-century appearance. The Stevens House recreates a middle-class family abode from the 1820s-1830s. The Joseph Webb House has been restored to its 18th-century appearance.

Connecticut Science Center

A cutting-edge and modern science museum with over 165 interactive exhibits perfect for families with kids and teens.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 724-3623 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Wed – Sun, closed Mon – Tue | Entrance: $29 adults, $26 seniors, $23 kids

The Connecticut Science Center is an impressive, modern interactive science museum in Hartford. With over 165 interactive exhibits, it is perfect for families with kids and teens. It also has a 3D theater and a year-round butterfly garden, so you can enjoy yourself whether it’s the dead of winter or maybe a rainy day.

Some of the most exciting exhibits include the Sports Lab, Exploring Space, and Science Alley–a 10-story immersive exhibit. If you’re a solo adult traveler or couple, be sure to check out their website for adult-specific programming, including happy hour and networking in the museum on select evenings. 

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

A noteworthy art museum that’s the oldest continually operating art museum in the U.S.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 278-2670 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Thu – Fri, 10 am – 5 pm Sat – Sun | Entrance: $22 adults, $10 students, $18 seniors, free 17 and under

The Wadsworth Atheneum is a well-respected art museum known for its impressive collection of European Baroque Art, Egyptian Bronzes, Impressionist art, and examples from the Hudson River School of Painting. 

In addition to the art on display, the establishment itself is noteworthy. The building is a castle, the museum is the oldest continually operating art museum in the United States, and it is the largest art museum in the state. As a fairly serious museum, The Wadsworth Atheneum might appeal more to the adults in your party, especially art lovers.

Connecticut’s Old State House

A historic building now dedicated to civics education.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 522-6766 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Tue – Sat; Extended hours on Thu from 12 pm – 8 pm Jul – Nov | Entrance: $8 adults, $4 kids 6-17, kids under 6 are free

The Connecticut Old State House Museum is a historic building now dedicated to teaching about civics and government. In 1780, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Marquis de Lafayette met with French General Comte de Rochambeau in this building, solidifying an alliance that helped win the American Revolution.

The original House Chamber is restored to its 1870s appearance. It was home to the famous Amistad trials in 1839. The museum has gone out of its way to make Civics interesting and fun for kids, so this destination is certainly appropriate for the whole family. There is plenty of amazing history and architecture to keep any adult engaged as well.

Yale Peabody Museum

One of the oldest natural history museums in the world is located on Yale’s campus.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 432-8987 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tue– Sat; 12 pm – 5 pm Sun

The Yale Peabody Museum is one of the oldest and most extensive Natural History museums in the world. It was founded by the uncle of an early paleontologist in 1866 and is most famous for its impressive Hall of Dinosaurs. 

The museum also includes wildlife dioramas, Egyptian artifacts, Native American artifacts, and local birds and mineral exhibits. It will engage anyone with an interest or budding interest in science, regardless of age, though it’s not as flashy and interactive as the Connecticut Science Center.

New Britain Museum of Art

A hidden gem art museum in Central Connecticut with pieces by artists including O’Keefe and Wyeth.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 229-0257 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tue-Thu, Sat, & Sun; Extended hours on Fri from 10 am – 8 pm | Entrance: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 kids 6-17 and college students; kids 12 and under free

New Britain is an unassuming town in central Connecticut with a revitalized downtown and one of the true hidden gems of the state–the New Britain Museum of Art. It was first founded in 1903 and is the first museum in the country specifically dedicated to American art. 

The New Britain Museum features art from American Impressionists, the American Colonial Period, and the Hudson River School. There are also pieces by famous artists like Georgia O’Keefe and Andrew Wyeth.

Connecticut Trolley Museum

A quaint museum dedicated to trolley travel where you can ride in a vintage trolley car.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 627-6540 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm; days open vary seasonally from only open on Sat (winter) to open all days but Mon (summer) | Entrance: $14 adults; $12 kids 12-17; $10 kids 2-11; kids under 2 are free

The Connecticut Trolley Museum is an old museum dedicated to electric trolleys in the United States. It tells the story of the progression and evolution of trolley travel in the United States with lots of trolleys visitors can ride on or climb aboard. It also has a Visitor Center.

A restored, vintage trolley car takes guests on a 30-minute, relaxing ride through the countryside under the care of a driver in period uniform. This line was active between 1906 and 1925.

The Barnum Museum

A rollicking circus museum dedicated to the great P.T. Barnum.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 331-1104 | Website | Hours: Temporarily closed for renovations

Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, you’re bound to love the Barnum Museum, one of the most unique in the country. It is temporarily closed for remodeling, but the new product promises to be even more stunning and interactive than the old museum.

Dedicated to the life of circus magnate P.T. Barnum, it is the last of his remaining buildings in the country. The new museum, coming soon, promises to tell Barnum’s story through a truly revolutionary, 21st-century approach. It will be immersive and cinematic.

The Submarine Force Library and Museum

A free Navy museum where you can board a real submarine.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 343-0079 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Wed–Mon | Entrance: Free

The United States Submarine Force Museum is a US-Navy-run, free museum on the banks of the Thames River in Groton. Its prized possession is the USS Nautilus, the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine. Visitors can embark on a 30-minute self-guided tour.

The museum has a total of 33,000 artifacts. With interactive exhibits and a climb-aboard submarine, the museum will engage members of the family of all ages. The United States Submarine Force Museum is particularly well-suited to anyone with a penchant for naval history, but a much wider audience will find their time enjoyable. 

Hidden Gems

Gillette Castle State Park

A quirky location to hike and tour a “castle” with secret doors and even a hidden room.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 526-2336 | Website | Hours: Grounds open 8 am – Sunset year round; house open only during tours | Entrance: The grounds are free. Castle tours are $6 adults, $2 for kids 6-12, free for kids under 6

William Gillette, who lived from 1853-1957, was the original actor who played Sherlock Holmes. His property, which is an imposing stone castle and the sprawling grounds it stands on, is now owned by the State. Today, Gillette Castle is a state park, free to hike around with only a small fee to tour Gillette’s Castle.

This medieval-style, 3-story castle is eccentric with 47 unique doors, some with puzzle locks. There are also secret doors, passageways, and even a hidden room. The grounds hold the remnants of a 3-mile-long narrow-gauge railroad on the property, weaving through the woods, including over bridges and through a tunnel. Most of the tracks are now walking trails.

Heublein Tower (Talcott Mountain State Park)

A tower with fantastic fall vistas.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 242-1158 | Website | Hours: Varies seasonally; Late Jun – Early Sep, 10 am – 4 pm Fri – Mon | Entrance: Free

Heublein Tower is a 165-foot tower on top of Talcott Mountain that is visible from many vantage points in Connecticut. It was originally built by the A1 Steak Sauce magnate, Gilbert Heublein, in 1914. The top of the tower offers panoramic views of the Hartford skyline and the Farmington River Valley.

The tower is only accessible by foot and requires a moderate hike through Talcott Mountain State Park. But if your group enjoys walks, this one is particularly rewarding due to the tour of Heublein Tower and the panorama you’ll get at the top. Talcott Mountain is also stunning in the fall when the leaves are changing.

Safari Golf

A campy but enjoyable mini-golf adventure that’s only open during the summer.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 828-9800 | Website | Hours: Varies seasonally; Late June – Early September, 10 am – 9 pm daily; More restricted hours during Spring and Fall- check website | Entrance: $9.50 adults; $8.50 kids 12 and under

Safari Golf is a bit of an aging establishment in Central Connecticut, but it’s iconic. From the divided highway below, you can look up to see the course sprawled over the hillside, adorned with giant safari animals throughout. It’s a fairly simple place, but it’s fun and atmospheric: there are caves, steps, little lakes, and animal statues all around you.

And–if you get a hole-in-one on the last hole–you get a free game. Safari Golf is a great, reasonably-priced, family-friendly activity to make the most of good weather and get some good laughs in.

Lara’s Labyrinth Escape Room

One of the most unique escape rooms in the country, with live actors.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 200-8781 | Website | Hours: 3 pm – 11 pm Mon – Fri, 9 am – 11 pm Sat & Sun | Entrance: $99 for two players

I’m a big fan of escape rooms, but since there are so many, I don’t generally highlight them. However, I needed to make an exception for Lara’s Labyrinth, one of the most unique escape rooms I’ve ever been to.

Some of the rooms in Lara’s Labyrinth involve live actors who interact with you as you solve puzzles. In the room I solved, I had to win the favor of a variety of magical animals by learning how to bribe them, convince them, or trick them. This social dynamic was super fun and added a whole new level of excitement to the escape room.

Food & Drink

Mystic Pizza

The pizza joint where a famous Julia Roberts movie was filmed.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 536-3700 | Website | Hours: 10 am -11 pm daily

Mystic Pizza, located in downtown Mystic, is famous because it is the name of a 1988 film starring Julia Roberts. Since the Connecticut shore is also part of the “pizza belt,” guests should have high expectations for the quality of their slice or pie when they visit. The restaurant’s motto is “a slice of heaven.”

Mystic Pizza usually has its namesake movie playing on TV in the casual (and sometimes packed) restaurant. They also have a gift shop that sells memorabilia. Fans of the movie will love being in the same place it was filmed.

Pepe’s Pizza

The birthplace of famous New Haven-style Pizza.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 865-5762 | Website | Hours: 11 am -10 pm daily

New Haven Pizza is its own official pizza style (locally known as ‘apizza’), and Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria is the creator. The style is categorized by a thin, oblong crust and characteristic blackened crust. Pepe’s Pizzeria also invented the white clam pizza, which may draw in adventurous eaters with a flair for local cuisine.

Remember this recurring phrase you’ll hear about New Haven pizza: It’s not burnt; it’s charred. 

East Side Restaurant

A boisterous German restaurant with a lively main hall.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 223-1188 | Website | Hours: 4:30 pm – 8 pm Tue – Thu, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm Fri, 12 pm – 8:30 pm Sat, 12 pm – 7 pm Sun, Closed Mon

East Side Restaurant is another restaurant in Connecticut that deserves mention as a destination. It is a German restaurant in New Britain, an unassuming town in Central Connecticut (though this could be a great restaurant to pair with a day at the New Britain Museum of Art).

Although East Side Restaurant will appeal most to adults with a party streak or a taste for beer (there’s a rowdy main hall and a ‘mug club,’ which is like a rewards club for drinking), there’s a quieter area in the front if that’s your style.

Outdoors

Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine

An old prison and copper mine perfect for an eerie tour.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 653-3563 | Website | Hours: Seasonal only; 10 am – 4:30 pm Thu – Mon | Entrance: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 kids 6-17 and college students, Children 5 and under are free

Old New-Gate Prison is the historical site of a prison and copper mine that can now be toured by visitors. It is operated by the state as an archeological preserve. Remarkably, the copper mine is from the Colonial era. The area was a prison from 1776 to 1782, deemed unsuccessful after a convict’s escape.

Today, visitors can tour the grounds and the mine seasonally (typically May through October). Tours of the mines are somewhat treacherous and not wheelchair accessible, so visitors need to go in informed about the physical challenges. During October, the Old New-Gate Prison hosts special Halloween Jack o’ Lantern tours.

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Connecticut’s most famous beach – drawing about a million visitors a year!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (203) 245-2785 | Website | Hours: 8 am – Sunset daily | Entrance: Free

Hammonasset Beach State Park is the most famous beach on the Connecticut shore, and it’s a great destination. Located in the town of Madison, Hammonasset consists of two miles of beach on the Long Island Sound. 

The park welcomes about a million visitors a year, and there’s a campground and nature center. Some visitors have reported seeing seals at the north end of the park during low tide. Guests report that the park could be kept cleaner, so keep that in mind if you choose to camp.

Bluff Point State Park

A quiet park located in Groton with a hiking loop along a coastal ridge.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 424-3200 | Website | Hours: 7 am – sunset daily | Entrance: Free

Located in Groton, Bluff Point State Park is a natural hidden gem in the state. Its 806 acres are located on the Long Island Sound and include a barrier beach, cliffs, forest areas, and tidal wetlands. The various trails accommodate walkers and cyclists, and visitors rave about the view from the top of the bluffs overlooking the water.

Since Bluff Point State Park is relatively isolated, visitors love that it rarely feels busy. However, the terrain can be rugged and difficult to navigate, so visitors should use discretion to determine whether the park is a good fit for their group. 

Bushnell Park

A beautiful and sprawling park with an antique carousel.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 232-6710 | Website | Hours: dawn – dusk daily | Entrance: Free

Bushnell Park offers two main things to visitors: a wonderful recreation area and a fascinating history. It is the oldest publicly funded park in the United States. When the idea of building Bushnell Park was first suggested at the height of the Industrial Revolution, the public and business leaders were skeptical of the idea of public green space.

The park has a 1914 carousel you can ride and is the site of many different festivals. The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch is also a well-known landmark in the park. There are paths, a river, and a pond in the park, and plenty of space for picnicking or meandering.

Lyman Orchards

An all-season New England extravaganza equally good for visiting with the whole family or on a date night.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 349-6000 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Varies based on activity; apple picking is $16 for a half-peck bag – $47 for a half bushel

Lyman Orchards is an eclectic destination that will allow you to experience all the “greatest hits of fall” in Connecticut. They are particularly famous for their pick-your-own apple picking, but the “pick-your-own” model features different fruits based on the season, so you don’t have to limit yourself to fall.

They also have a seasonal corn maze and a very large farm market for shopping, making Lyman Orchards a fun destination for the whole family or a cute and relaxing date night.

Dinosaur State Park

A state park with real dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic Period.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (860) 529-5816 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4:30 pm Tue – Sun | Entrance (exhibit center): $6 adults; $2 kids 6 -12, Free for children under 6

Dinosaur State Park is a hidden CT gem located in the small town of Rocky Hill in Central Connecticut. The land holds one of the largest dinosaur track areas in the United States. The tracks were left during the Jurassic Period and remain preserved today. 

The park has a cool geodesic dome (think Spaceship Earth at EPCOT) protecting the tracks embedded in sandstone below it. There are some exhibits, a reptile room, and outside, an arboretum with trails that wind through Mesozoic-era plants.

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I hope you now have some ideas of fun things to do in Connecticut. There are so many places to explore, and it’s a diverse state with a little something to intrigue everybody. Whether you show up for the history, the nature, or the casinos, you’ll be sure to leave wanting more!