Polar Express trains are coming to towns all over New England for Christmas 2024! Essex Steam Train Railroad photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in New England 2024
GUIDE
CT Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Festivals, and Family Getaways 2024
Find the best things to do in Connecticut this November, like the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular. Photo courtesy of the event.
22 Best Things To Do in Connecticut November 2024 with Kids
Groupon's online marketplace offers tons of discounts on activities for kids and families.
Save On Top-Rated Connecticut Outings and Experiences for Kids and Families
Kids meet new friends as they jump, slide, and swing at the top indoor playgrounds and play spaces in Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Romp N Roll in Wethersfield
20 Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Connecticut
Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
Fun Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Tweens and Teens
Our ultimate family bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut before kids grow up. Photo courtesy of Lake Compounce
100 Things To Do in Connecticut Before Kids Grow Up
Find big fun in all shapes and sizes at free museums for kids in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of the Eli Whitney Museum
Free Museums in Connecticut To Visit with Kids
Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
Best Indoor Water Parks in New England for Easy Family Getaways
By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
Best Museums for Kids in Connecticut: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums
Photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
Best Petting Zoos in Connecticut: Animals Up Close at Farms and Petting Zoos
New England Family Travel Guide
Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut with Kids: Top Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway
Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
Best Breakfast Restaurants in Connecticut
As classic as the roller rink or modern as a VR experience, these fun indoor places are perfect spots for teens and tweens to hang out! Photo by Ally Noel
Fun Places in Connecticut Where Tweens and Teens Can Hang Out Indoors
Indoor spots offer plenty of adventure in Connecticut.
GUIDE
Connecticut Guide to Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones
Parents can enjoy some relaxation when their kids spend time at the
10 Family-Friendly Hotels and Spa Resorts in Connecticut
Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
GUIDE
Connecticut Day Trips & Weekend Getaways Guide
A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
The Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Connecticut
Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
Great Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Preschoolers
Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
A Dozen Short Hikes in Connecticut for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
Top Attractions in Connecticut: Best Things to See and Do with Kids
From rolling hills and lakes to scenic views and summits, there's great outdoor adventure for families at Connecticut state parks. Photo courtesy of Visit CT
25 Connecticut State Parks and Forests That Are Great to Visit with Kids
Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do for Connecticut Kids
Outdoor fun and healthy activity await at one of the top Connecticut playgrounds! Jonathan's Dream playground photo courtesy of O'Brien & Sons
Top Connecticut Playgrounds That Families Will Love
Run through the vineyards at Aquila's Nest. Photo courtesy of Aquila's Nest, Facebook
The Best Family-Friendly Vineyards and Wineries in Connecticut
Practice new skills at Calf's Pasture Beach, photo courtesy of Norwalk Skate Park, Facebook
Top Skate Parks in Connecticut
Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
  VIDEO
25 Preschool Science Experiments: Simple Science for Toddlers through Kindergarten Kids
Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
Best Nature Centers in Connecticut To Visit with Kids
We’ve rounded up the best escape rooms in Connecticut for a fun family outing!
Awesome Escape Rooms in CT: Kid-Friendly Parties and Family Adventures
The festivities get downright magical with Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT! Photo courtesy of Dean Davids Magician
Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT That Come To You
Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Bigstock
Kids Eat Free: Connecticut Restaurants with Free Meal Deals for Families
Just follow your nose (and maybe some big holiday sights) to family fun and the top things to do in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of Stamford Downtown
Stamford Parade and More Things To Do in CT This Weekend

Family Friendly Train and Trolley Rides in Fairfield County

6/30/14 - By Susan Isaak

With summer in full swing, it's a treat to explore all that Fairfield County has to offer.  You're probably busy working through our Ultimate Summer Play List, but if you've got a train lover in the house, you'll definitely want to check out all the ways you can ride the rails and learn about the rich history of railways and trolleys in our area. All aboard!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

At the Danbury Railroad Museum you can take a ride on the Rail Yard Local, which is a 20 minute tour of the Danbury Rail Yard complete with a spin on their working train turntable. The museum also has an extensive collection of railway memorabilia, classic rail cars, model trains, and a well stocked gift shop.

Danbury Railroad Museum, 120 White St, Danbury, CT 06810, (203)778-8337

Metro North might be the bane of your existence when you need to get to work, but commuter trains can be tons of fun for little train lovers. You can enjoy an easy, 20 minute trip from Stamford to New Canaan when you ride the New Canaan extension. This train, which runs about once an hour, is not crowded at all during off-peak hours. $5 gets you a round trip ticket and for $2 more, you can purchase a Family Fare ticket which is good for up to 4 children ages 5-11. When you get to the final stop, check out all the places we’ve listed for you to see in New Canaan before you head back.

The SoNo Switch Tower Museum does not have a train you can ride, but it's a very interesting place to learn about trains, signals and switch towers. To get to this museum, you need to climb up a set of steep outdoor stairs to the tower, which was built in 1896. The museum is on two levels and features historic details such as the huge levers that operators would throw to switch a train from one track to another. You can look directly out onto the tracks through big picture windows and experience the thrill of trains flying by at eye level. After the Switch Tower museum, head over to the Maritime Aquarium or SoNo Marketplace.

SoNo Switch Tower Museum, 77 Washington St, Norwalk CT 06854, (203) 246-6958.

Harbor Point Trolley is a free, thirty minute loop through Stamford’s South End and downtown.  You can hop on and off and enjoy some of the many things to do in Stamford that we’ve listed for you here.  You can even track the trolley in real time on Harbor Point's website.
 
Boothe Memorial Railway Society in Stratford offers model train enthusiasts a chance to enjoy watching miniature trains wind their way through detailed scenes of life in Connecticut.  After your visit, you can check out the very eclectic Boothe Memorial Park.
 
Boothe Memorial Railway Society, 5800 Main Street Putney, Stratford, CT 06614, (203) 378-1878
 
Roaming Railroad brings the train to you!  Available for parties and events, the Roaming Railroad offers a trackless train ride with train-themed entertainment, comedy and songs. While having your own train for the day can get a little pricey, it might be worth the expense if it makes your train lover’s dreams come true.
 
Roaming Railroad, (413) 531-3390
 
If you're itching to explore outside of Fairfield County, there are a lot of great train and trolley destinations throughout the state:
 
Railroad Museum of New England. This train is #4 on our list of 120 Things To Do With Kids in Connecticut Before They Grow Up, and for good reason. Besides offering popular, seasonally themed rides, they offer rail trips through beautiful scenery along the Naugatuck River.
 
Railroad Museum of New England, 242 E Main St Thomaston, CT 06787 (860) 283-7245
 
Connecticut Trolley Museum. This is the oldest trolley museum in the U.S. For the price of admission, you can take an unlimited number of trolley rides on a scenic, 3 mile loop. Great seasonal events, too, like Winterfest.
 
Connecticut Trolley Museum, 58 North Road, East Windsor, CT, (860) 627-6540
 
Shore Line Trolley Museum is home to one of our favorite Halloween activities, The Haunted Isle. This museum also has over 100 historic trolley cars and offers daily rides. You can even sign up to be a Guest Operator and drive up to 3 people for a private ride on the tracks.
 
Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St, East Haven CT, 06512, (203) 467-6927
 
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ride. Popular among the little set for hosting special events like the Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine, the Essex Steam Train has vintage rail cars pulled by a classic steam locomotive through the countryside.  They offer daily rides, seasonal events, dinner rides and rides on a vintage riverboat.
 
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ride, One Railroad Ave, Essex CT, 06462, (860) 767-0103
 
The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum not only offers guided tours of the museum, but kids (of all ages) can also operate a replica 1850’s-style pump car along a small section of track.
 
Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum, 55 Bridge St, Willimantic CT, 06226, (860) 456-9999
 
 
 

Places featured in this article: