Connecticut

Weekend Fun: Huggable Horses, Seuss, and Maple Sugaring, Feb 23-24

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 02/20/2019 - 8:34pm

With milder daytime temperatures and nighttime lows dropping below freezing, the conditions are perfect for making maple syrup! This traditional sweet requires only maple tree sap, cold nights, and lots of firewood. And you can try your hand at it during demonstrations this weekend in Greenwich, Burlington, and Bristol. If you're looking for even cozier outdoor fun, try cuddling a rescue horse or huddling near a fire pit. Finally, for some indoor entertainment, head over to New Haven for a musical performance of Green Eggs and Ham, followed by a hands-on introduction to orchestra instruments.

21 Wacky Ways to Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 10:34am

“If we didn’t have birthdays, you wouldn’t be you. If you’d never been born, well then what would you do?” Thank goodness Dr. Seuss’ birthday comes once a year—and it always gives us great reason to cheer!

On March 2, we’ll celebrate literacy and Seuss with fun crafts, treats, and other activities in honor of the literary rhyming master. Dr. Seuss’ birthday kicks off a nationwide reading celebration known as Read Across America Day. Schools, libraries, and community centers across the country observe the day with read-alouds, crafts, and Seuss-a-rific treats!

Use this list of 21 zany activities to commemorate the day at home with the kids. Whether you want to start it off with some green eggs and ham or plan your next family vacation to the birthplace of Dr. Seuss himself, there is something for everyone on this list of Dr. Seuss-themed crafts, recipes, and activities—no matter how small.

Connecticut STEM Camps Keep Science and Math Fun All Summer

Submitted by Julia Tolstrup on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 9:00am

Got a Connecticut kiddo who loves all things science and tech? If so, a STEM summer camp could be a great way to broaden those interests and start your little scientist on a path of lifelong learning. At these enriching, hands-on summer programs in Connecticut, kids ranging in age from preschoolers to teens will have a chance to learn STEM principles, from building a model coral reef to designing and printing 3-D objects to powering a circuit using solar energy.

Check out these STEM summer camps across the state, or take a look at our extensive Summer Camp Guide and Summer Camp Directory for tons of options fit for all interests, including affordable Connecticut camps and sleepway camps.

Where to Celebrate Maple Sugaring Season with Kids in Connecticut

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Sun, 02/17/2019 - 8:30pm

Soon, sugar houses all across the state get to work on the process of collecting and evaporating clear watery sap into tasty, golden syrup. The traditional maple sugaring season extends from February until late March, though that depends greatly on the weather (freezing nights and warm, sunny days are necessary to provide good sap yields). If you and the kids are interested in learning more about this sweet New England tradition, choose among the many open houses, demonstrations and festivals in Litchfield, Hartford, Fairfield, and New Haven counties. Some sugar houses invite you to stop in anytime the evaporator is running (but call before heading out).

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.