Connecticut

Weekend Fun for CT Kids: Dragon Boats, Fairs, and Country Fairs, August 18-19

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Wed, 08/15/2018 - 6:31pm

What's your favorite part of a country fair? Is it the animals? The music? The carnival rides? The fried dough? All this and more is on offer at the array of country fairs happening all over Connecticut this weekend from Bridgewater to Wolcott to Hamburg, not to mention the Oyster Festival in Milford or a Dragon Boat Festival in Hartford. Or maybe check off one of your summer bucket list items with a Lunchtime Cruise along the Mystic shoreline.

If all this fair-going has left you looking for something a little more sedate, catch your breath at the Bike Safety Roundup at Chelsea Piers in Stamford or the Stuffed Animal CARE-ium at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk.

For the latest and best family-friendly goings on around the state, keep checking in on our frequently updated events calendar and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Have a great weekend!

20 Mommy & Me Classes in Fairfield County

Submitted by Brandee Gilmore on Mon, 08/13/2018 - 10:29pm

A great way to meet families is through taking classes. From stroller boot camps to making mudpies, Fairfield County offers no shortage of Mommy & Me classes. Pack up the diaper bag, wash your hair, and sign up for a class. Here's our list of 20 Mommy & Me classes in Fairfield County.

25 Things to do in Vernon

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 08/12/2018 - 12:25pm

Past Manchester, heading into the Quiet Corner, Moms and Dads can find the bustling minitropolis of Vernon. There are many family friendly things to do in this town, especially for your pre-teens and teens. While you're in th area, make sure to check out some of our favorite road trips in the Quiet Corner and these other small Connecticut towns.

Vancouver With Kids: 30 Great Things To Do as a Family

Submitted by Thien August on Sat, 08/11/2018 - 1:20pm

One of Canada’s most ethnically diverse and densely populated cities, Vancouver, British Columbia is the crown jewel of the country's West Coast.

Less than an hour by car from the border with the United States, Vancouver is the gateway to the Pacific Rim and draws visitors from all over the world. It’s not just the city’s location that makes people flock there, but also the stunning backdrop of mountains, temperate weather, and world-class parks and amenities.

With the ocean and mountains within a short drive, Vancouver is a veritable outdoor playground. This cosmopolitan city is waiting for your next adventure. With a favorable exchange rate in Canadian dollars, free public parks, and an easy-to-navigate public transportation system, Vancouver offers great value and seemingly endless and unforgettable experiences.

Our Favorite Connecticut Lighthouses to Visit

Submitted by Makayla O'Keefe on Fri, 08/10/2018 - 9:24am

You don’t have to venture to Cape Elizabeth or Portland for classic New England lighthouse vistas because Connecticut has quite the maritime history. With the very first lighthouse museum in the nation, a half dozen lighthouse tours, and even some lighthouse hauntings, we've rounded up seven Connecticut lighthouses worth a visit with your kiddos.

Weekend Fun for CT Kids: Water Ski Shows, River Fire, and Kiting, August 11-12

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 11:31am

If you are reading this, then the heat and humidity of this past week hasn't completely crushed your joie de vivre. If you've had enough of the Great Outdoors indoor activities abound in Connecticut this weekend, including a Curious Exhibit at the CT Science Center, and indoor stargazing in Stamford. But with weather forecasts calling for low 80s, the real fun this weekend is outdoors. Check out the annual water ski show on Bantam Lake, a classic car cruise in downtown Putnam, a kite festival in celebration of Indian Independence Day, and an ice cream social and Colonial-era celebration in East Windsor.

For even more ideas, we have a host of suggestions in our Event Calendar, the August GoList, and the Summer Fun Guide. For the latest and best family-friendly events, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

How to Get the Most Out of a Caregiver Interview

Submitted by Sally Chaffin Brooks on Mon, 08/06/2018 - 4:02pm

Whether you’ve found them through personal recommendations, a nanny agency, a local parenting website, or even a chance encounter at the playground, you’ve narrowed your potential-Mary-Poppins list down to a few great choices. Now it’s time to conduct the in-person interviews. But can you really figure out, in one meeting, which caregiver will be the best fit for your kids—and for you? With preparation and some self-reflection, you can use a caregiver interview to help decide whether this is someone you feel not just comfortable with, but excited about. Read on for the top eight interview questions to ask in a caregiver interview.

Finders Keepers: Hunting for Seaglass along the Connecticut Shoreline

Submitted by Makayla O'Keefe on Sun, 08/05/2018 - 7:47am

If you're lucky, you might find Coke-bottle aqua or Milk-of-Magnesia Blue. Maybe once in a lifetime you'll unearth rare ruby red. Most often you'll find beer-bottle-brown and wine-bottle-green. But if you ask my kids--it's all treasure no matter what color or size. My very favorite memories of summer were made walking the beach with my kids gathering up every glittering shard of beach glass we could find like a magical treasure hunt. Ground smooth by the ocean and transformed from transparent to translucent by the sand, these tiny bits of sea glass are found scattered (scarcely) on the beaches throughout the state. Here's our roundup of the best beaches to hunt for these precious pieces of treasure washed ashore.

Harry Potter Heaven: Warner Brothers Studio Tour Is a London Must

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 08/04/2018 - 1:00pm

Most American Potter fans know that Universal Studios has created a little piece of Hogwarts heaven in two locations—The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood and at Universal Studios Orlando—but it should come as no surprise that the true center of the Potter universe is in London, England, where all of Harry’s adventures began. Apart from all of the real life British places a muggle might want to snap a photo (e.g. Kings Cross Station for platform 9 3/4, which British Rail good naturedly erected a few years back), the true wizard Mecca is Warner Brothers Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, housed at the film studio that was Harry's world for the decade or so that the films were in production. Fans of wizardry and magic can walk in the very footsteps of their heroes at the Warner Bros Tour.

Island Living at Sherwood Island State Park

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 08/03/2018 - 9:19am

Your Connecticut license plate gets you more than the privilege to drive on our roads - it is also your FREE ticket to Connecticut’s State Parks as part of the “Passport to Parks” program. Located in Westport, Sherwood Island is Fairfield County’s only coastal state operated facility. With over 238 acres of shoreline to explore, swim, fish, hike, or relax in, it is no wonder that Sherwood Island is a gem of Fairfield County.