30 Things to Do With Your Kids Before They Grow Up in Fairfield County

I love making lists in the first few months of the New Year!  And here’s a great list to start tackling: 30 Things to do with your Kids in and around Fairfield County before They Grow up.

Winter

1. Take the kids skating outdoors!  When it gets colder, check in with some town recreation departments to learn when and where local ponds are open for skating: until then, head on over to Wesport’s outdoor P.A.L. rink.

2. Visit Sweet Rexie’s Candy Shoppe in Fairfield for an afternoon of whimsy and sugar.  Well worth the extra time you’ll have to put in at the gym…

3. Visit the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT

4. Take the train into NYC – the ride can be a treat for little ones!  A tip – hop on at an “end” station like New Canaan where you’ll have no problem getting a seat

5. Go to Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk

6. Check out the live reindeer (yes, you read correctly!) in December at Greenwich's McArdle's Florist and Garden Center

7. Wander north to the Mystic Aquarium; its fun anytime of the year.  The sea lion show is particularly entertaining.

Spring

8. Head to a Bridgeport Bluefish game – cheer on Connecticut’s favorite minor league baseball team

9. Head out in Long Island Sound on one of the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Whale Watch tour

10. Go on a tour of renowned architect Philip Johnson’s famed Glass House in New Canaan

11. Slurp on a Stew Leonard’s Milk Shake – you just can’t go wrong with the chocolate…

12. Enjoy a concert at the Ridgefield Playhouse Concert – check their website for a list of performers

13. Visit the Aldrich Contemporary Museum of Art in Ridgefield 

14. Go see a Connecticut Sun's game - it's especially fun for little girls to see the women of the professional basketball league! 

15. Ride the roller coasters at Lake Compounce, in Bristol. Young and old alike will find rides they enjoy.  In the warm weather, water rides are always a hit!  

Summer

16. Enjoy a Thursday night summer concert in Stamford’s Columbus Park

17. Go for a pony ride at Easton's Pee Wee Horse Farm

18. Enjoy a lobster roll at Knapps landing in Stratford – bring extra napkins!

19. Canoe for an afternoon at Candlewood Lake

20. Take in a polo match at the Greenwich Polo club…really! 

21. One of my favorites: visit the little beachside community of Groton Long Point and wander over to their "casino" (a penny candy store).  

22. Hope on the ferry in Bridgeport and head over to Long Island...a beautiful way to see the sound!

23. Head north to Mystic to stroll along Main Street and to watch the drawbridge - charming for adults, and very entertaining for the younger crowd.  Especially if you stop at the homemade ice cream shop right next to the drawbridge...

Fall

24. Pick your own apples at Beardsley’s Cider Mill and Orchard in Shelton, CT 

25. See one of the amazing productions at the Bridgeport Theatre

26. Spectate the annual Thanksgiving Parade in Stamford – complete with floats and enormous balloons

27. Visit the Danbury Railway Museum which offers history lessons, train rides (seasonal) and hands on learning.  Fun for train fanatics and their parents! 

28. Check out the vintage cars at a gathering of the Caffeine and Carburetors club in New Canaan – 6 Sunday morning throughout the year – check their website for dates and times: 

29. Enjoy a hayride at Warrup's Farm in Redding: 

30. Head to Bridgeport to check out the PT Barnum Museum. Learn about the famed circus, its creator, and many of its famous performers.

How many of these Connecticut adventures will you tackle this year?   Have fun!