Happy Friday readers! Over the last few weeks, we've been going back and forth with trying to plan our Summer vacation. We LOVE going to Florida, but it doesn't look like we'll be making it down, so we've been thinking about places we love to visit right here in Connecticut.
There really is quite a bit to do around here, but to prevent me from going on and on, we've picked 5 of our favorites to share with you.
1. Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum: Located in Rocky Hill, CT, this park is great place to visit with little ones. We actually "discovered" this park during our first Connecticut Open House Day. We love looking at and learning about the real dinosaur tracks that have been preserved here and walking the trails. The cost of admission is just $6 for adults (ages 13 and up), $2 for children (ages 6-12), and free for children under 6 years of age!
2. Gillette Castle State Park: Located in East Haddam, CT, this is by far one of my most favorite places we've ever visited. This house was designed and occupied by famed actor (and director and playwright), William Gillette. The "castle" is absolutely gorgeous. The amount of detail that went into planning every little detail is pretty remarkable and I love listening to stories from the tour guides as we go into each room.
The grounds on this property are pretty majestic, and it is easy to see that just as much effort went into planning the walking paths and bridges.
While there are no fees to park and tour the grounds, if you want to enter the castle and take a guided tour there is a fee for each person.
While there are no fees to park and tour the grounds, if you want to enter the castle and take a guided tour there is a fee for each person.
3. Mystic Aquarium: Located in Mystic, CT, the Mystic Aquarium is an amazing "hands on" aquarium that focuses on teaching its visitors ways to "care for and protect our ocean planet". There is so much to see and do at Mystic Aquarium, that you will definitely want to visit more than once. On our last visit, we came two days in a row! The girls are really fond of visiting with the animals and we love how much joy it brings them.
4. Quassy Amusement Park: Located in Middlebury, CT, Quassy is a great family amusement park. When I was a kid, end of the year field trips were often taken here, and it's nice to bring the girls. Although a few things have changed (the Wooden Warrior roller coaster is much better than the "Mad Mouse coaster"), the nostalgia is strong.
5. Southford Falls State Park: Located in Southbury, CT, this park is a treasure I just found out about last year! We've only been here a few times, but "the falls" make our list because you only need to visit for about 2 minutes before you absolutely fall in love with the tranquility offered here. Our last visit was in April and even though it was raining, it was just a beautiful time. We've only been hiking, but there are opportunities to go fishing and have a picnic.
I know it sounds pretty cliché, but taking some time to explore your own state is a great way to feel like you took a vacation, without taking a huge hit to your wallet. Take the time to check out your state's website and see what's available for you to discover!
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