by Megan Schinella, Camp by MaMa
Now that the 4th of July has come and gone, summer is in full swing. One of my favorite things about living in Fairfield County is being within driving distance to so many amazing places that are worth visiting. In the summertime, I love to travel as much as possible with my family. Of course sometimes that means waking up early (well worth it), and taking day trips rather than staying the night at a destination. So, I compiled a list of the 10 best Summer road trips to take in our area! Check them out, below!
The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village
1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike, Oakdale, CT
The Dinosaur Place has forty plus life-sized dinosaurs, over 60 acres, with nature trails, a splash pad & a dino-themed playground.
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West & 79th St, New York, NY
This Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world’s cultures.
Connecticut Science Center
250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT
The Connecticut Science Center is a nine-story museum located on the Connecticut River in Hartford, Connecticut. The building has a total interactive exhibits consisting of videos, audios, visuals, tactile components, programs, and live demonstrations.
Sesame Place
100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne, PA
Sesame Place is a children’s theme and waterpark based on the Sesame Street television program. It includes a variety of rides, shows and water attractions suited to young children.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester
39 Fitzgerald Street, Yonkers, NY
The ultimate indoor LEGO playground full of amazing play, creativity, & building fun designed for families with kids aged 3-10 year old. There are 12 great family attractions inside the center.
Mystic Aquarium
55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT
One of three U.S. facilities holding Steller sea lions, and it has the only beluga whales in New England. Special exhibits include a ray and shark touch pool, an African penguin exhibit, a jelly gallery, and the Jurassic Giants Dinosaur Exhibit. Mystic Aquarium has a 4D theater showing interactive films, including Small foot 4D, as well the Blue theater, including Being Dolphin.
Lake Compounce
185 Enterprise Dr, Bristol, CT
This is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the US. It spans 332 acres, which includes a beach and a water park called Crocodile Cove. In addition to the 14th oldest wooden roller coaster in the world, Wildcat, its newer wooden roller coaster, Boulder Dash, has won the Golden Ticket Award for the #1 Wooden Coaster in the World for five consecutive years.
Six Flags
1623 Main St, Agawam, MA
An amusement park dating to the late 19th century, it is the oldest amusement park in the Six Flags chain. Superman the Ride is among the park’s most notable rides having appeared in every Golden Ticket Awards publication by Amusement Today, ranking first or second in the Top Steel Roller Coasters category from 2001 to 2015 and third in 2016.
Yankee Stadium
1 E 161 St, The Bronx, NY
Baseball park and home field for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. The $2.3 billion stadium, built with $1.2 billion in public subsidies, replaced the original Yankee Stadium in 2009.
Port Jefferson Ferry
102 W Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY
Operates ferry service across the Long Island Sound. Founded in 1883, it is one of the oldest operating ferry companies in America.
Ford’s Lobsters
15 Riverview Ave, Noank, CT
Cozy lobster seafood shack with patio seating, water views & a laid-back vibe. BYOB for parents.
Randall’s Island Park
20 Randalls Island Park, New York, NY
This urban park is 480 acres. Features restored wetlands, 90+ athletic fields, a community farm & recreation.
(Photos c/o Camp by MaMa)