Norwalk

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.

Top Preschool Camps in Fairfield County, Connecticut

Submitted by Katie McKnight on Fri, 02/01/2019 - 10:00am

That very first camp session is so very exciting for kids—and the parents. If your Fairfield, Connecticut-area toddler or preschooler is ready to jump into summer camp this year, take a look at the local Connecticut camps we've rounded up.

As exciting as camp can be, it can also be nerve-wracking for first-timers wary of a new routine, schedule, and people. Luckily, these well-established camps know how to cater to our youngest campers with fun water play, nature, sports, shorter sessions, hands-on summer activities, and yes, plenty of hand-holding. By the end of the summer, everyone will be exhausted but ready to sign up for more, I bet!

Find preschooler camps in the Hartford area, too. Search our Connecticut Summer Camp Guide for more ideas, or by age, interest, and area in our Directory of Listings.

Free Museum Days in Connecticut

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sun, 01/06/2019 - 6:00pm

Connecticut may be one of the nation’s smallest states, but what it lacks in square footage it makes up for in culture. Connecticut boasts hundreds of art museums, historical homesteads, science museums, children’s museums, and cultural centers across the state. If you want to take advantage of everything the Nutmeg State has to offer, but don’t love the price tag that comes along with it, then this list of family-friendly cultural attractions featuring free days for visitors is for you! From the Lyman AIlyn Art Museum in New London to the Wadsworth Antheneum in Hartford, there's something for every interest and age group. Still craving more? Check out our complete Connecticut museum guide.

Below is a list of free visiting hours in various museums and cultural centers around the state. Please confirm these free days and evenings with the museums before heading out. Sometimes, especially near a national or religious holiday, schedules may change. Also, keep in mind that teachers, veterans, or seniors may also receive extra discounts.

New Spaces in Old Places - Fairfield County

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sat, 12/22/2018 - 11:40am

There have been a lot of changes around Fairfield County over the past few months. In case you missed it, many of the most popular cultural institutions got a little bit of a face-lift. These new exhibits breathe fresh air into the tried-and-true family favorites. Their renovated spaces, new animals, expanded exhibition spaces all offer state-of -the-art programming for Fairfield County families.

24 Family Friendly New Year's Eve Celebrations in Connecticut

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Fri, 12/21/2018 - 2:00pm

I have crossed over. Dreams of elegant parties and midnight champagne toasts have been replaced with longing for easy bedtimes and a good night's sleep. But it feels wrong not to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another without some sort of revelry. Happily, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate New Year's Eve together as a family: no baby sitter required! Whether you're interested in skating, swimming, or roller skating; there's something for everyone.

For more great ideas to finish up 2018 and make plans for 2019, be sure to check our frequently updated events calendar.

Not Scary Halloween Fun in Fairfield County

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 09/14/2018 - 9:35am

There is a little something for everyone in Fairfield County this October. From trick-o-treating on a farm, to getting up-close and personal with real life creepy crawlies, these family friendly activities will leave you with a little more treats than tricks. My three year old daughter loves almost everything about Halloween except that she is absolutely terrified of things that go bump in the night. Now that the haunting season is upon us, check out the following activities around Fairfield County that are best suited for a younger crowd.

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.

TGIF Cruise: Relax (and Learn!) on the Water in Norwalk

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 07/06/2018 - 10:10am

One of our favorite things about living in Fairfield County is our direct access to the Long Island Sound. On warm summer days, you can often find us with our toes in the water, staring longingly at the horizon, thinking “if only I had a boat.” Well, that is where the Maritime Aquarium’s “TGIF Cruises” come in.

Family Friendly Waterfront Dining in Fairfield County

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Fri, 05/18/2018 - 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.

Five Great Connecticut Beaches for Toddlers

Submitted by Ally Noel on Fri, 03/09/2018 - 7:00am

Beach life is the good life, right? Sure, your lazy days of summer spent lounging in the sun may seem like a thing of the past, but exploring the Connecticut coastline with a toddler in tow is a whole new kind of fun. Chances are you are just a quick trip away from one of these beaches & lakes to explore around the state. So, after you have thrown in the bathing suit, swim diaper, change of clothes, another change of clothes, sunscreen, more sunscreen, bug spray, a towel, another towel, sand toys, and a beach chair (you know, for all that sitting you are going to do), it’s time to hit the road and check out one of these toddler approved spots.

What makes these parks “toddler approved”. Well, for starters, all have bathrooms and concessions. They also have a little something else to occupy your wee one's sense of wanderlust. From nature centers, to splash pads, swimming pools and campgrounds - each one of these beaches should make planning a summer day feel like a breeze!