Connecticut

The Frozen 2 Trailer Is Out and We Are So Here for It

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 10:08am

Elsa and Anna are BACK! Disney just released a Frozen 2 trailer, the sequel to the Let It Go fever that swept up both parents and kids a few years ago.

When Frozen debuted back in 2013, I had an instantly obsessed 4-year-old Elsa wannabe. We knew, like so many other families with young kids, that this Disney musical franchise was going to be a mainstay in our home. Catchy songs and strong, independent princesses, what's not to love?

Fast-forward to 2019, and that obsessed 4-year-old's baby sister is now a kindergartner pining to see the Broadway iteration of Frozen.

All three of us were thrilled to watch the Frozen 2 teaser together. Take a peek to see what you think! My girls are already making me promise we'll see the flick this fall.

Presidents Day Weekend Fun for Connecticut Kids, Feb 16-18

Submitted by Ally Noel on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 8:51pm

February weather can make any outing seem like a horrible idea, but there's too much family fun happening across Nutmeg State to hang around the house this weekend. In fact, there's so much to do, we're thankful for the extra day to pack it all in!

This Presidents Day weekend has a little bit of everything. In Mystic, you can warm up at the Tropical Sensation or cool of at the first-ever Ice Festival. New Haven celebrates the Year of the Pig at Lunarfest, while it's all about chocolate and Valentines in Fairfield County. On Monday, you can learn about and honor our great presidents in Bridgeport and Bristol.

Check out our February GoList and Winter Fun Guide if you're looking for more Presidents Day Weekend fun, or February school break inspiration.

Hunter Mountain Expansion Offers New Family Skiing in New York

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 02/11/2019 - 11:30am

It’s expensive to expand a ski resort. The folks at Hunter Mountain invested $9 million to construct an 80-acre addition to New York’s second most-visited ski destination.

Did they get their money’s worth without compromising all that made Hunter one of the top ski destinations for families near New York City?

After visiting the now 320-acre Catskills resort that is 2½ hours north of the city, one is tempted to say, yes.

Why Urban Air Adventure Park is Heaven for Active Kids in Connecticut

Submitted by Makayla O'Keefe on Sun, 02/10/2019 - 7:53pm

If you have active kids, you’ve probably visited an indoor trampoline park—they've been popping up all over Connecticut in the past decade. These super-fun facilities are recognized by their wall-to-wall, quilt-like patchwork of trampolines. But then, there’s Urban Air Adventure Park. Marketed as a trampoline park “on steroids,” Urban Air's 84,200 square feet of indoor space also includes go-karts, a zip line, laser tag, a "Ninja Warrior"-inspired play area, a colossal climbing playground, and more. After a recent visit with my kids, I can tell you whether Urban Air is worth the trip; what what not to miss if you go.

Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas for Families on a Budget

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sat, 02/09/2019 - 2:12pm

Is there a way to travel for cheap with kids during spring break? The short answer is... yes!

While some might automatically head to Orlando or even the Caribbean for spring break, airfare for a family of four can quickly add up to waaaay over budget. Families-in-the-know deploy a few tricks to plan a fun spring break vacation for the kids without blowing their mortgage payment, from scoring a secret deal to compromising a bit on the location.

There are plenty of family-friendly cities and destinations that cost a bit less but don’t scrimp on the family attractions, including top museums, eateries, beaches, and even amusement parks.

Read on for some of our editors’ favorite hacks in planning a cheap spring break and where they like to vacation as a family!

Weekend Fun: Valentines, Pirates, and Coding for a Cause; Feb 9-10

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 02/06/2019 - 8:10pm

With temperatures soaring into the 50s this week, it may have felt like the groundhog's prediction of early spring was coming true. Though winter returns this weekend, there should be plenty of sunshine: perfect conditions for a horse-drawn carriage ride, slip-and-slide mountain bike racing, or the annual Fire & Ice Festival in Putnam. If you'd prefer to stay indoors, there is the Connecticut Kids Fair in Hartford, and Valentines chocolate-making in Wilton.

Cartoon Network Hotel to Open in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Submitted by Elaine Paoloni ... on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 10:29am

Fans of Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, Ben 10, The Powerpuff Girls, and other programs are getting a treat this summer. The TV network and Palace Entertainment are working together to open the Cartoon Network Hotel, a kid-friendly resort steeped in the channel's animated world, for summer 2019.

The nine-acre, 165-room property will be located in central Pennsylvania's Lancaster County along Route 30. It will neighbor Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park, which is also owned by Palace Entertainment, so a family could easily enjoy both attractions in one trip. It is the Cartoon Network's first themed hotel.

Seems like there's one more reason to plan a Pennsylvania weekend getaway with the kids.

Top Indoor Play Spaces Near Fairfield County, Connecticut

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Sun, 02/03/2019 - 8:24pm

Is your house bursting with pent-up energy as winter drags on? Not a problem! Pack up the kids, round up a few friends, and head to one of these colorful, safe, and exciting indoor play places in Fairfield County.

Whether you're looking for a more traditional playground environment in a clean indoor setting, or a place that invites lots of jumping, running, and tumbling, there's no need to drive far. There are many indoor play places and family fun centers offering a variety of safe and eye-pleasing settings, interesting programs, and well-trained, kid-friendly staff. For even more indoor fun check out our Connecticut Indoor Play Guide.

Mall of America's Most Amazing Attractions for Kids of All Ages

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Sat, 02/02/2019 - 3:00pm

Mall of America, located in the heart of the American Midwest in Bloomington, Minnesota, is nothing short of an indoor entertainment epicenter for kids. Sure, it has over 500 stores, but there’s way more to do than just go shopping at the country's largest mall (so big that it requires its own zip code: 55425).

From Chicago’s iconic Willis Tower to the Harley Davidson museum in Milwaukee, the Midwest is full of fun, interesting, and educational things that kids and their parents will love. Mall of America might possess a more commercial feel than some of the area's other travel destinations, but it also likely offers the most entertainment per square foot (5.4 million square feet to be exact) with some of the most popular kids' characters and brands on hand, including Lego, Nickelodeon, American Girl, and Paw Patrol. There's an indoor amusement park, aquarium, arcade, mini golf, and so much more, all within just a few minutes of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.

Read on to check out our list of the top 25 amazing things that kids of all ages can do at Mall of America.

Birthday Freebies for Connecticut Kids

Submitted by Julia Tolstrup on Fri, 02/01/2019 - 8:00pm

Birthdays are great when you're a kid. There's the endless countdown to the big day, and finally waking up to the much-anticipated morning. So what could possibly make all this even more exhilarating? How about a whole bunch of free stuff? If you know where to look, there are some pretty sweet freebies to be had on your kid's birthday (or on yours, for that matter) across Connecticut. A lot of these places are big companies that require sign up to a club or mailing list, and many of them require a minimum age for membership, so parents may want to be the primary member and just hand off the goodies. Others, though, are smaller, local businesses that genuinely want to offer something lovely to the people who support them. Whether your kid might like a free birthday ice cream cone or a trip back in time, here are some fun free finds for your little's next birthday.