Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and Around Fairfield County - 2023

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo creates wonderfully wild experiences for children and families all year 'round. Connecticut's only zoo features more than 350 animals, representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won't want to miss our critically endangered Amur leopards and Mexican and red wolves. Other highlights include the new Andean bear habitat, New England Farmyard, spider monkey habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, plus the Pampas Plains featuring maned wolves, Chacoan peccaries and giant anteaters. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and enjoy a ride on our carousel. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org. 

The nationally recognized aquarium focuses on the fascinating marine life in Long Island Sound and its watershed, including prowling sharks, curious seals, rambunctious river otters, stately sea turtles, pulsing jellyfish and thousands of other animals. The Aquarium also offers: educational programs, including public study cruises out onto the Sound; changing special exhibits; community-science opportunities; and a new 4D movie theater with sensory-enhancing special effects. The not-for-profit attraction is the centerpiece of the popular South Norwalk (or “SoNo”) neighborhood, with fun shops, nightclubs and restaurants.

Step inside our award-winning museum and open your world to amazing discoveries. Stepping Stones Museum for Children ignites a child's love of learning through play. With five main galleries and over 100 hands-on activities, children become wide-eyed with wonder. As they see, hear, touch, feel and do, their ever-growing minds venture to amazing new places. Our interactive exhibits and educational programs will engage, inspire and delight every child and countless parents, caregivers and educators, too. Our LEED Gold Certified museum features an open-air courtyard, a state-of-the-art multimedia theater, The Shop at Stepping Stones retail store and the Healthyville^® Cafe. For more information, visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

As New England’s hands-on aquarium, Mystic Aquarium offers guests a variety of up-close encounters with a wide range of marine animals, including endangered African penguins and New England’s only beluga whales. Dive below the sunlit seas in Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below, the aquarium’s newest exhibit full of captivating imagery, breathtaking recreations, emotional soundscapes, hands-on activities and thrilling entertainment that transport you to the moment and inspire your course for exploration and discovery.

Get outside and into our aerial adventure park to experience our five-acre, self-guided tree-to-tree climbing adventure. Perfect for families, friends, birthday parties and groups of all ages!  Ideal for all adults and children 5+ at any fitness level, you'll go at your own pace for a fun, exciting, and self-guided adventure, the perfect combination of challenge and fun. You'll start with a safety briefing and practice session, then choose your own adventure among our 14 treetop trails and 39 ziplines.  The experience is self-guided and focused on exploration and discovery.

Celebrating its 174th season, Lake Compounce is the Premier Family Theme Park & Water Park in New England and the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America. What makes us the best amusement park in Connecticut for family-friendly fun and excitement? We're home to the top-rated wooden roller coaster in the world, Boulder Dash, as well as the best water park in Connecticut!
Enjoy our classic rides, thrilling coasters, and several attractions you won't find anywhere else in New England. Lake Compounce is your family's destination for special events, family dining options, and a whole season of fun!

Whether the ultimate goal for your child is to enjoy recreational sports, become a top competitive athlete on track for a college scholarship, or live a healthy lifestyle, Chelsea Piers supports your child's athletic journey with a wide variety of youth sports leagues. We have classes and clinics for kids as young as 1 through age 15 at all levels. Our highly trained, professional coaches are committed to building athletes beyond sports technique. We know the skills kids learn in sports translate to success off the field throughout their life. Visit our website today to find out why Chelsea Piers is the top choice for after-school sports programs in Fairfield County!

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation's leading maritime history museum whose 19-acre waterfront campus includes a historic seafaring village, tall ships and small boats, exhibit galleries, a renowned planetarium and much more! The museum has daily activities for the whole family, including demonstrations, crafts, games, and talks. In the summer, you can enjoy a boat ride on the Mystic River or check a boat out of the livery and be your own captain. For the younger set, there is a Children's Museum (ages 4-7) and the Homeport actiivity zone (ages 8-12). Don't miss the Discovery Barn, a STEM-based interactive space.

Providing professional musical theatre & entertainment to CT for over 40+ years.

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art and popular culture, the natural and agricultural sciences, and history. The Museum is a vital cultural and educational resource for the community, and a focal point for family activity, lifelong learning, and inspiration. We seek to inspire creativity, foster self-discovery, promote environmental stewardship, and nurture an appreciation for learning through exhibitions, education programs, and special events that enhance every visitor’s experience of our unique site.

Our interactive STEM programs provide a chance for young learners to explore, collaborate, and solve problems. We encourage young learners to ask questions and engineer solutions today so they are better prepared to embrace the challenges of tomorrow. In addition to STEM learning experiences, dynamic exhibits, and hands-on learning programs, the Museum is also a unique venue for special events with special themed birthday party, wedding, and corporate event packages available. 

ROCKWELL DANCE CENTER, in Trumbull seeks to provide each student with a creative and inspiring dance education. We feel it is imperative that every dancer be given a strong, technical foundation by utilizing proper terminology, training and anatomical understanding. RDC encourages artistry and fun in a supportive, nurturing environment; we believe in recognizing and appreciating the individual strengths of each dancer.

The nationally recognized aquarium focuses on the fascinating marine life in Long Island Sound and its watershed, including prowling sharks, curious seals, rambunctious river otters, stately sea turtles, pulsing jellyfish and thousands of other animals. The Aquarium also offers: educational programs, including public study cruises out onto the Sound; changing special exhibits; community-science opportunities; and a new 4D movie theater with sensory-enhancing special effects. The not-for-profit attraction is the centerpiece of the popular South Norwalk (or “SoNo”) neighborhood, with fun shops, nightclubs and restaurants.