Fairfield

Pick-Your-Own Berry Farms in Connecticut

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Fri, 05/26/2017 - 12:10pm

The abundance and availability of fresh food at this time of the year is a real treat. Being able to pick our own fruits and vegetables at local farms makes the bounty taste even sweeter. Not only is it a fun family activity, it's also a great way to teach children about where their food comes from and to engage them in its preparation process.

Right now, strawberry picking is just getting under way, but don't hesitate: on some farms the picking season lasts just a few weeks. For more pick-your-own options in Connecticut, check out our posts about strawberry picking in Hartford County and blueberry picking farms. Happy picking - and baking - and eating!

Hibachi Dining with Kids: Japanese Restaurants in CT

Submitted by Julia Tolstrup on Thu, 05/25/2017 - 3:44pm

First, the bad news: Benihana has not yet found its way to Connecticut. If you're unfamiliar with this giant among hibachi joints, you don't know what you're missing. But the good news is there are still a bunch of great places to find hibachi (also known as Teppanyaki) around Connecticut. I'll be honest, the first time we took my daughter to a hibachi restaurant, she jumped out of her seat and hid under the table as soon as the flames ignited. It has been many years since then and these days she asks to go. While hibachi may be a bit much if you have very little littles or just kids who tend to be more anxious, it can also be a really fun family experience. You'll know whether it's right for you. If so, here are some of the hibachi hot spots around our great state!

Fairfield County Letterbox Trails for Kids

Submitted by Makayla O'Keefe on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 9:39am

So maybe you've heard about it but you're still not really sure. What is letterboxing anyway? Well to start, it is really like the ultimate scavenger hunt. You are given a set of clues and then you head out into the woods and go on a hunt in search of secret hidden stamps in the forest. Sound fun? That's because it is! Even my three year old is a letterboxing-enthusiast.

This fun family adventure is great for all ages and for all cities located across the country. There are about 90,000 active letterboxes hidden in North America alone. So what exactly is a letterbox? Letterboxes are small weatherproof boxes that typically contain a hand-carved rubber stamp, a log-book to keep a record of visitors, and occasionally an ink pad. Letterboxer's will leave an imprint of their own personal stamp in the letterbox's log book. We've rounded up six kid-friendly letterbox trails in Fairfield County. Happy Trails.

Family Friendly Waterfront Dining in Fairfield County

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Thu, 05/18/2017 - 7:56pm

It took me a long to admit this to myself, but since we're among friends I'll just come out and say it: I do not enjoy eating in restaurants with my children. Or, at least I didn't. Now my kids are older and reasonable and do not have temper tantrums if their grilled cheeses are cut into quarters instead of halves--or at any rate they don't do it often. Even though, for a long time, my idea of "family friendly waterfront dining" was grabbing a blanket, some drinks, and those precisely cut grilled cheese sandwiches and heading to my town beach, I have recently branched out to actual restaurants where I leave the picnic basket at home. In the warmer months, there's nothing quite like a meal with a waterfront view, and the options in Fairfield County do not disappoint. Here are some of our favorites.

Kid Friendly Music Festivals in Connecticut

Submitted by Julia Tolstrup on Tue, 05/16/2017 - 10:00am

Navigating festivals with kids--much like doing anything at all with kids--is a completely different experience than just slathering on the sunscreen, finding a floppy hat, and heading out the door with friends. Most festivals these days are sympathetic to the idea that parents still want to rock out, too. Here is a roundup of some of Connecticut's music festivals and how to (or whether to) approach them with kids in tow.

BMX Tracks in Connecticut

Submitted by Julia Tolstrup on Wed, 05/10/2017 - 8:00am

Some kids like arts and crafts and some kids like to collect things. Other kids prefer soccer or perhaps horseback riding. And then there are the kids who want to strap on a helmet and fling themselves high into the air off dirt mounds and wheelie around asphalt track walls. I've got one of those.

When he was five, he arrived home one day and announced that he would like to try BMX thank you very much. I was pretty skeptical at first, I knew next to nothing about the sport and had visions of broken bones and concussions. I began asking around and soon found that the BMX scene in Connecticut is thriving. Not only that, it is one of the most inclusive sports I've ever seen.

Best Marine Experiences for Connecticut Kids

Submitted by Makayla O'Keefe on Tue, 05/09/2017 - 7:53pm

Whether you’re helping raise a sail to a sea chantey, steering a wooden ship’s wheel or exploring coastal habitats on land, there is hardly a shortage of marine experiences for your sea-loving scalawags in Connecticut.

We have rounded up some of the best sailing adventures, Long Island Sound tours and shore programs across the state. For more waterfront fun, be sure to check out our Connecticut Beaches and Water Fun Guide and the best places for Canoeing and Kayaking with Kids in Connecticut.

Mother's Day Fun in Fairfield County, Connecticut: Races, Yoga, Brunch and More

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Sat, 05/06/2017 - 7:00am

It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming... Mother’s Day! The one day a year when children are required by law, tradition, expectation, whatever, to treat us moms like queens. And just in case the kids haven’t been preparing for the big day with the same fervor that you have, we’ve compiled a list of activities in Fairfield County that will make Mother’s Day 2017 one to remember!

A Visit to the Fairfield Museum & History Center with Kids

Submitted by Elizabeth Howard on Thu, 05/04/2017 - 11:15am

History museums can be dry toast for kids—or a favorite destination, if there’s a good interactive component. The Fairfield Museum and History Center may not be big on square footage dedicated to kids, but it tells Fairfield’s history with cool artifacts, dress up, and climb-on displays that kids adore. After the kids fall in love with this little gem of a museum, check out the other popular museums for kids in Connecticut and other fun neighborhood activities in Fairfield.

Indulgent Mother's Day Brunches in Connecticut

Submitted by Julia Tolstrup on Mon, 04/24/2017 - 8:00am

What's not to love about brunch? A magical marriage of all the best things served up with a mimosa and a slice of cantaloupe, brunch is arguably the most indulgent meal right out of the gate. Maybe that's why it has become something of a tradition to spoil the ladies who work tirelessly making sure everyone is cared for by taking them out to these panoplies of decadence on Mother's Day. We are extra spoiled in Connecticut because of our epic food scene so finding a brunch fit for a queen isn't hard at all. So pick a spot, make a reservation, gussy up the fam and treat mom! She deserves it.