5 Connecticut Small Towns to Explore with Kids

CTvisit.com is proud to partner with some of Connecticut’s most popular bloggers for ideas, insights and inspirations from the people who are lucky enough to call Connecticut home. This CT Ambassadors article is from our friends at Mommy Poppins Connecticut. 

Cities like New York and Boston can be fun, but just a short drive to Connecticut and you'll find 169 inviting towns that dot the countryside, hills, and coastline. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, wonderful museums with fun family programing, or just strolling charming town centers, browsing the shops and enjoying great food, you can find it all in these small towns in Connecticut.

Featuring: Abigail's Grille & Wine Bar | Connecticut River Museum | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | Flamig Farm | Griswold Inn | Kent Falls State Park | Lobster Shack | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | Mystic Seaport Museum | Sea Mist Thimble Island Cruise, LLC | Stony Creek Brewery | Stratton Brook State Park | Town of Branford | Town of Essex | Town of Kent | Town of Mystic | Town of Simsbury

Sundae Drives Ice Cream Trail

Nothing licks a hot summer day like ice cream! Whether you’re on the shoreline, on an inland adventure, or driving along a scenic road in the Quiet Corner, the Sundae Drives brochure will take you to some of the best ice cream that eastern Connecticut has to offer. So what are you waiting for? Hit the ice cream trail!

Featuring: Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream | Cowlick's Creamery | Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm | Hallmark Drive-In | Hank's Dairy Bar | Michael's Dairy | Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream | The Farmer's Cow Calfe & Creamery | UConn Dairy Bar | We-Li-Kit Farm

Instagrammable Connecticut: Ice Cream Experiences

Why just have ice cream, when you can have an insta-worthy ice cream experience? Whether it’s served in an unusual setting, or flash-frozen right in front of you, or it’s an over-the-top work of art—Connecticut is full of innovative twists on this classic treat. With our Instagrammable Connecticut series, we’re sharing posts featuring Connecticut’s photogenic adventures.

Featuring: Capital Ice Cream | Ferris Acres Creamery | Grass Roots Ice Cream | Kloter Farms | Milkcraft - Fairfield | Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | Sugar Factory American Brasserie | Town of Fairfield | Town of Granby | Town of Rocky Hill | Town of Wethersfield | We-Li-Kit Farm

Coastal Eastern Connecticut

Coastal Eastern Connecticut brings you must-visit state icons, stunning waterfront escapes, idyllic cruises and more. Below, discover a few of Eastern Connecticut's coastal towns and ways to make the most of your visit.

Featuring: 33 Golden | Abbott's Lobster in the Rough | Argia Mystic Cruises | Beer'd Brewing Company - The Mill (Stonington) | Berry's Ice Cream & Candy Bar | Black Hall Outfitters - Old Lyme | Bluff Point Coastal Reserve | Breakwater | Captain Scott's Lobster Dock | Captain Seth Sportfishing Fleet | Carolyn Ann | Chester's Barbecue | City of Groton | City of New London | Cooley Gallery | Cross Sound Ferry Lighthouse Cruise | Custom House Maritime Museum | Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center | Downeast Lighthouse Cruises | Eastern Point Beach | Esker Point Beach | Florence Griswold Museum | Fort Trumbull State Park | Good Company II | Greens Harbor Beach | Hallmark Drive-In | Hangry Goose | Hideaway Restaurant | Historic Mystic Harbor Tours | Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum | Inn at Mystic | Inn at Ocean Avenue | Kokomo's Restaurant & Beach Club | Lauren `B' | Lyman Allyn Art Museum | Marlintini | Marsh and Bay Expeditions | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Boat Adventures LLC | Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | Mystic Marriott Hotel | Mystic Museum of Art | Mystic Pizza | Mystic Seaport Museum | Mystic Whaler Cruises | New England Science & Sailing | Ocean Beach Park | Old Lighthouse Museum | Old Lyme Inn | Olde Mistick Village | On the Waterfront | Orchard Street Inn | Osprey Sport Fishing | Outer Light Brewing Company | Paddle Mystic-Mystic River Adventure Company | Project Oceanology | Red 36 | Reelin | Rum Runner | S&P Oyster Co. | Saltwater Farm Vineyard | Schooner Brilliant at Mystic Seaport | Sea Swirl of Mystic | Shennecossett Golf Course | Sift Bake Shop | Sound View Beach | Stonington Borough | Stonington Vineyards | Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds | Thames River Heritage Park & Water Taxi | The Chocolate Shell | The Fisherman Restaurant at Groton Long Point | The Velvet Mill | The Whaler's Inn | Town of Mystic | Town of Old Lyme | Town of Stonington | Tox Brewing Company | Wall to Wall: The New London Mural Walk | Water Street Cafe | White Sands Beach

Plant-Based Connecticut

It’s no secret that plant-based meals, desserts, and even lifestyles are rapidly growing in popularity. Luckily, Connecticut’s plant-based scene is flourishing – and whether you’re eating for health, animals, the environment, or simply for the experience, there’s a lot to love. From fully vegan restaurants to vegan ice cream, herbivore options at omnivore spots and beyond, here’s where to find plant-based food in Connecticut.

Featuring: Arles & Boggs Vegan Eatery | Catch A Healthy Habit | City of Middletown | City of New Haven | Divine Treasures | Fire & Spice Vegan Restaurant | Flora | Fresh Fork Cafe | G-zen | Grass Roots Ice Cream | It's Only Natural (ION) Restaurant | Main Street Creamery & Cafe | Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | New Morning Market Juice Bar & Cafe | Parkville Market | Priam Vineyards | Right Path Organic Cafe | Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream | The Stand Vegan Cafe | Three Girls Vegan Creamery | Town of Canton | Town of Darien | Town of Fairfield | Town of Glastonbury | Town of Granby | Town of Manchester | Town of Mansfield | Town of Plainville | Town of Ridgefield | Town of Watertown | Town of West Hartford | Town of Westbrook | Town of Woodbury | Tulmeadow Farm Store and Ice Cream Shop

Three Generational Travel in Connecticut

After so many of us missed beloved family events and holiday parties with loved ones, we’re ready to make up for lost time. And nothing says quality time like traveling together! From cozy accommodations and delicious dining to active adventures, arts & culture, outdoor fun, and beyond, we’ve gathered ways to get away with grandparents, grandkids, and everyone in between.

Featuring: 1754 House Inn, Restaurant & Tavern | 85 Main | Abigail's Grille & Wine Bar | Adventure Rooms | Ambler Farm | Arethusa Farm | Ashley's Ice Cream (Hamden) | Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum | Bishop's Orchards Farm Market & Winery | Brignole Vineyards | Buell's Orchard | Chester's Barbecue | City of New Haven | Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard | Club Getaway | Comfort Inn & Suites - Dayville | Connecticut Science Center | Connecticut Trolley Museum | Connecticut Voyager Balloons | Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo | Consiglio's Restaurant | Custom House Maritime Museum | Denmo's Dairy & Snack Bar | DoubleTree by Hilton - Bristol | Fascia's Chocolates | Fire at the Ridge | Flamig Farm | Fort Hill Farms | Foxwoods Resort Casino | Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven | Gouveia Vineyards | Guided Flyfishing Trips-Housatonic River Outfitters | Hampton Inn Shelton | Hank's Restaurant | Harbor View Landing | Hartford Yard Goats | Homewood Suites by Hilton Wallingford/Meriden | Interlaken Inn, Resort & Conference Center | J. Timothy's Taverne | Jesse Camille's Restaurant | Jones Family Farms | Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale Restaurant (Westbrook) | Louis' Lunch | Lyman Orchards | Madison Beach Hotel | Main Stream Canoes & Kayaks | Market Grille | Market Place Tavern | Max Burger | Max a Mia Ristorante | Mew Haven Cat Cafe | MindBreak Escape Rooms | Modern Apizza | Mohegan Sun | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Diner | Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream | Mystic Marriott Hotel | Mystic Pizza | Mystic Seaport Museum | Mystified Escape Rooms | New Britain Bees | New England Air Museum | New England Carousel Museum | New England Science & Sailing | New Haven Village Suites | O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant | Ocean Pizza Restaurant | Olde Mistick Village | Olde Tymes Restaurant | Oyster Club | PEZ Visitor Center | Paradise Hills Vineyard & Winery | Parkville Market | Putnam River Trail | Ray of Light Farm | Rose's Berry Farm | Sally's Apizza | San Marino Restorante Italiano | Saybrook Point Resort & Marina | Shore Line Trolley Museum | Sift Bake Shop | Sign of the Whale | SpringHill Suites by Marriott - Milford | Steamboat Inn | StoneBridge Restaurant | Team vs Time - Premier Room Escape | The Courthouse Bar & Grille | The Essex Public Market & Food Hall | The Inn at Storrs | The Little Pub Restaurant | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | The North House | The Place | The Shops at Nature's Art Village | The Vanilla Bean Café | Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park | Town of Granby | Town of Woodbridge | Tyrone Farm | Water's Edge Resort & Spa | Webb Mountain Discovery Zone | Wells Hollow Creamery | Woodstock Orchards LLC