As the state begins to reopen, many families are struggling with the question of what to do and when to do it. We’re unsure how to navigate things like day trips, playdates, planning birthday parties, etc. I don’t have those answers (nor does anyone I’ve spoken with), but I do know that our family wants to start slowly (and safely) getting back to normal. Below you’ll find a few ideas of quick day trips within a short drive for inspiration.
Head to a State Beach
State beaches (shoreline only) opened over Memorial Day weekend with social distancing guides in place. In-land beaches remain closed at this time. You can read the full details here. Here area list of local state beaches:
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme
Museums/Zoos/Aquariums
Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport: Open at 50% capacity for two sessions daily. Tickets must be purchased online. Visit here to watch a video about the new protocols.
Mystic Aquarium, Mystic: Outdoor portion of the aquarium is now open. Visit here for new protocols and ticketing details.
Mystic Seaport, Mystic: Open with limited hours. Majority of this spot is outdoors. Visit here for further details.
The Institute for American Indian Studies , Washington Depot: Full outdoor museum experience is now open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visit the website for full details.
Dinosaur Park State Park, Rocky Hill: Although the inside exhibitions are closed, the outdoor portion of the park remains open. Click here for a few activities to do outside, such as mining for gems and fossils.
Adventure Parks
The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum, Bridgeport: Perfect for ages 5 and up. Safety protocols and FAQs can be found here.
The Adventure Park, Storrs: Perfect for ages 5 and up. Safety protocols and FAQs can be found here.
Fields of Fire Adventure Park, Mystic: Now open by reservation only. Details here.
Amusement Parks
Quassy, Middlebury – Opening 6/20. Visit website for latest information.
Lake Compounce, Bristol – Opening 7/6 to the public. Special hours the weekend before for season ticket holders.
Berry Picking
Berry Picking Round-Up in Connecticut can be found here. Please make sure you check the website or call the farm before you go. Read up on any COVID-19 protocol changes.
Hiking
Local Hiking and Walking Trail Round-Up can be found here.
Do you have a family favorite we should include? Please email [email protected] and I Willa dd to the list!