10 Kid Friendly Spots Along I-95 in Connecticut to Enjoy this Spring

We’ve lived in Connecticut almost 25 years and LOVE all of the museums, historical sites, cultural attractions, beaches and parks, and overall beauty and friendliness of the Nutmeg State. We’ve shared many of our adventures throughout Connecticut on the blog over the past 8 years: City Guides for New Haven, Coastal Connecticut, Hartford, and Mystic; food trails all over Fairfield County; hiking adventures in Fairfield County, in Western Connecticut, in Central Connecticut, and in Mystic County.

This week, we’re sharing some of our favorite spots with both indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy during the spring season (although most of them are open year round). We’ve curated our list to follow the (in)famous Interstate 95 highway, starting in Mystic (on the Rhode Island border) and ending in Stamford (on the New York border). We hope your family will hop in the car, do you best to avoid traffic, and enjoy these engaging sites- both inside and outdoors!

1. Mystic Aquarium in Mystic is home to over 300 species of marine mammals, reptiles, and fish, cared for in close to a dozen distinct exhibit spaces. Mystic Aquarium is one of only two aquariums in America home to Steller sea lions, and the only spot in New England to see Beluga whales. Mystic Aquarium offers daily programs and animal encounters and special occasion, one on one opportunities to interact with marine life and how to protect it.
   Indoor Fun: Touching stingrays, seeing alligators and turtles and hundreds of jellyfish up close, climbing high in the Aerial Adventure Course, and immersing yourself in the Undersea Explore VR exhibit.
   Outdoor Fun: Seeing the Beluga whales, Steller sea lions and penguins (and catching a feeding session) and painting with a sea lion or seal.
   Nearby Fun: Read our full Mystic City Guide here and hiking guide here for lots of suggestions.
   Read our full post here (a little outdated- we’re hoping to visit again soon!)

2. Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic is the largest maritime museum in America, with a working village (with daily demonstrations) and a large collection of restored boats and ships, offering daily sails and excursions on the Mystic River.
   Indoor Fun: Kids will LOVE the Susan Stucke Funk Children’s Museum, walking through the Benjamin F. Packard cabin, watching restoration inside the Thames Keel Shipbuilding Exhibit, looking closely at the replica model of the 1850s Mystic River Village, and creating their own toy boat in the Workshop.
   Outdoor Fun: Walking though the village and peeking into over 60 replica structures, many of which are manned by trained docents demonstrating everything from a printing press to open hearth cooking to blacksmithing, playing on the Ships Playscape, and going out for a sail on the Charles W Morgan.
   Nearby Fun: Read our full Mystic City Guide here and hiking guide here for lots of suggestions.
   Read our full post here.

2. The Submarine Force Museum and Library in Groton is located on the Naval Submarine Base, the primary US Navy East Coast base and is open to the public six days a week (closed on Tuesday). The museum is also home to the HS Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine, which was in service from 1854 through 1980.
   Indoor Fun: Pretending to navigate a submarine in the control room, listening to oral history recordings from veterans and submarine captains, and exploring HS Nautilus on a self guided tour.
   Outdoor Fun: Walking under the Ohio and  Holland hull rungs and seeing the NR41 “The Little Sub that Could”, which was in service from 1969 through 2008.
   Nearby Fun: Fort Griswold State Park, FortTrumbull State Park, and Connecticut College Arboretum.
   Read our full post here (a little outdated- we’re hoping to visit again soon!)

4. Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme is a campus that includes an art museum, gardens, and a boarding house that was once the center of the Old Lyme Art Colony. The house was run by Florence Griswold, who invited American Impressionist artists to come and live on the property and paint the beautiful surroundings. Today, guests can tour the house, explore several art exhibits, and check out the Chadwick Studio and Landscape Center.
   Indoor Fun: Seeing the art in the Krieble Gallery (have kids grab the “Can You Find Me?” cards) and completing the scavenger hunt while touring the main house.
   Outdoor Fun: Seeing what is in season and growing on the Garden Walk, and checking out the River, Hedgerow, and Woodland Walks.
   Nearby Fun: Essex Steam Train and River Boat, CT River Museum, and Hammonasset State Park and beach
   Read our full post here

5. The Connecticut River Museum in Essex is housed in a 1870s steamboat warehouse, on a campus that also includes the Samuel Lay House and adjacent park and Steamboat Dock. The museum includes lots of sailing artifacts and equipment all dedicated to preserving the history and geology of the Connecticut River.
   Indoor Fun: Peek inside Bushnell’s Turtle, the world’s first operational combat submarine (there’s also a replica on display in the boathouse), see dozens of replica steamships, and learn about how to clean up and prevent pollution of the Connecticut River
   Outdoor Fun: Take a cruise on board the Onrust or RiverQuest
   Nearby Fun: Hammonasset State Park and beach and Gillette Castle and State Park
   Read our full post here

6. The Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden is located inside the East Rock Park grounds, just over the New Haven city lines, and is housed inside the 1798 gun factory that Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, built. While the museum mainly focuses on school groups and specific workshops, it does offer weekend open hours (free to visit!) with rotating museum exhibits and hands-on workshops.
   Indoor Fun: Completing hands-on activities and tinkering in the workshop.
   Outdoor Fun: Experimenting in the outdoor Water lab and walking through the covered bridge over the Mill River to the 1804 Coal Shed and walking trails.
   Nearby fun: See our list of FREE things to do throughout New Haven here.

7. Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport is the only zoo in Connecticut and is a member of the National Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Home to over 300 animals (see the full list here), the zoo’s most popular exhibits (spread across 52 acres) feature amur leopards, bobcats, saki monkeys, and prairie dogs.The zoo hosts several popular weekly and monthly programs like Zoo Tots and days dedicated to celebrating specific animals.
   Indoor Fun: See sloths, monkeys, and dozens of amphibians and reptiles in the Rainforest Building; watch out for flying eagles and egrets in the Aviary, and take a ride on the carousel.
   Outdoor Fun: Many of the animals live in outdoor, enclosed habitats- see the trail map here– and offer viewing platforms and the chance to see daily feedings with a zookeeper.
   Nearby Fun: Seaside Park and SHU’s Discovery Science Center and Planetarium

8. Stepping Stones Children’s Museum in Norwalk is a very popular children’s museum in lower Fairfield County, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. Located inside Matthews Park, the museum has several interactive exhibits for kids ages 10 and younger (with designated spots for the toddler crew) and daily theatrical performances, puppet and magician shows, and special events.
   Indoor Fun: Big Adventures: Dinosaurs, Built It!, Color Coaster, Tot Town all offer engaging, hands on, educational activities and exhibits.
   Outdoor Fun: Celebration Courtyard hosts tons of concerts and performances on its stage and has plenty of space to run around and play sports on its eco-friendly cushioned flooring; the Community Garden includes a Butterfly Garden, Edible Garden, and Rain Garden.
   Nearby Fun: (Besides the Maritime Aquarium) Calf Pasture Beach and Sheffield Island Lighthouse

9. The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk is home to over 300 species of marine life animals, including harbor seals, river totters, sharks, turtles, and jellyfish. Learn all about the ecosystems of the Norwalk River and Long Island Sound and ways to protect the marine life and natural beauty of the area.
   Indoor Fun: Playing I Spy and looking for dozens of sharks, otters, jellyfish, and sea turtles in massive tanks, playing in Sea and Discover Zone, and watching a film in the 4D theater.
   Outdoor Fun: Seeing the harbor seals up close from all sides in Pinniped Cove
   Nearby fun: (Besides Stepping Stones) Calf Pasture Beach and Sheffield Island Lighthouse

10. Stamford Museum and Nature Center in Stamford has over 80 acres of animal habitats, gardens, walking trails, playgrounds, and exhibit spaces. Heckscher Farm has over 60 species of farm animals and there are historical buildings that share the history of the Stamford area.
    Indoor Fun: Learn more about animals during a workshop at the Overbrook Nature Center and check out rotating exhibits inside the Bendel Mansion.
    Outdoor Fun: Pet donkeys, oxen, cows, llamas, alpacas, goats, and sheep in the farm; see what’s growing in the organic garden; play at the Nature’s Playground.
    Nearby fun: Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens, Chelsea Piers, and Cove Island Park
    Read our full post here