25 Summer Day Trip Ideas in Connecticut

Meet the CT Ambassadors! 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 article is from MommyPoppins.com.

Every summer weekend is an opportunity to create a mini family vacation, as easily as jumping in the car. Our friends at Mommy Poppins, a fantastic resource for families in Connecticut and beyond, make it even more compelling with a list of 25 events and attractions for some seriously awesome summer adventures. They’re grouped by area, so you can easily create your own itinerary.

Featuring: Action Wildlife Foundation | City of Milford | City of Norwalk | Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | Connecticut Science Center | Connecticut Trolley Museum | Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo | Dinosaur State Park | Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum | Jones Family Farms | Lake Compounce Theme Park | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Pizza | Mystic Seaport Museum | New England Carousel Museum | Ocean Beach Park | Project Oceanology | Quassy Amusement & Waterpark | Railroad Museum of New England/Naugatuck Railroad Company | Southwind Farms | Stamford Museum & Nature Center | The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | The Only Game in Town | Town of Goshen

Arriving by Water — Connecticut’s Port Towns

Over 300 miles of Connecticut’s coastline hug the shore of Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. So it’s no surprise that many of the region’s early European settlers arrived by sea. Working seaports were among the first industries here as well, and today these coastal towns and cities still maintain their maritime character while welcoming travelers with classic New England charm. As many visitors still like to arrive in Connecticut by private boat or public ferry, we’re suggesting a few port towns that make it easy to visit for a day or even longer.

Featuring: Audubon Guilford Salt Meadow Sanctuary | City of New London | City of Norwalk | Connecticut River Museum | Cross Sound Ferry Lighthouse Cruise | Discover East Lyme | Docking at Mystic Seaport Museum | Downtown Essex | Essex Island Marina | Fort Trumbull Marina | Griswold Inn | Guilford Art Center | Guilford Mooring | Guilford Town Marina | Guilford Walking Tours | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Pizza | Mystic Point Marina | Mystic River Marina | Mystic Seaport Museum | New London Historic Waterfront District | Niantic Bay Shellfish Market & Farm | Paddle Mystic-Mystic River Adventure Company | Port Niantic | Sheffield Island Lighthouse and Harbor Tour | Shoreline Segway | Skipper's Seafood Restaurant | SoNo Nightlife | Thamesport Marina | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | Town of Essex | Town of Guilford | Town of Mystic

10 Famous Movies Filmed in Connecticut

Connecticut has always been a favorite location for filmmakers, in fact, quite a few Academy Award-nominated productions have filmed here. The variety and diversity of locations available, coupled with a helpful Film Office, makes the state ideal for television, film and digital shoots. It was difficult to narrow down the list, but here are some of the more well-known movies you may recognize—and the Connecticut towns that played a role.

Featuring: City of Bridgeport | City of Norwalk | City of Shelton | City of Stamford | City of Waterbury | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | Lake Compounce Theme Park | Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum (c.1864) | Mohegan Sun | Mystic Pizza | Mystic Seaport Museum | Town of Beacon Falls | Town of Bethel | Town of Darien | Town of Farmington | Town of Greenwich | Town of New Canaan | Town of Redding | Town of Trumbull | Yale University Visitor Center

Instagrammable Connecticut: Pizza

With more than 1,000 pizza spots throughout the state—Connecticut serves up some of the most innovative and flavorful creations that are camera-ready right out of the oven. Not to mention award-winning pies, including the #1 best pizza in America. The first six pizzerias on this list were featured in the top 50 of The Daily Meal’s round-up of “101 Best Pizzas in America” and Frank Pepe Pizzeria was crowned the #1 best pizza in the country.

Featuring: BAR | Brewport | City of Middletown | City of New Haven | Coalhouse Pizza | Colony Grill | Ernie's Pizzeria | Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven | Harry's Pizza | Modern Apizza | Mystic Pizza | Sally's Apizza | Tarry Lodge - Westport | Town of Derby | Town of Kent | Town of West Hartford | Zuppardi's Apizza

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

Live It Like a Movie

Have you ever wished you could jump through the screen and live in the world of your favorite film? Well maybe you can’t do exactly that, but we’ve got a few ideas to get you one step closer. We’ve taken a few popular films throughout time and suggested ways to live out the characters’ adventures for yourself… all right in Connecticut.

Featuring: Adventure Park at Storrs | Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum | Brass City Raceway & Axe Throwing | Bruce Museum | Club Getaway | Connecticut Dinosaur Trail | Copper Creek Mini Golf at Nature's Art Village | Dinosaur State Park | Empower Adventure Park at Nomads | Essex Steam Train & Riverboat | Hartford Yard Goats | Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum | IT Adventure Ropes Course | Interlaken Inn, Resort & Conference Center | Lake Compounce Theme Park | Lime Rock Park | Mansfield Drive-In Theatre & Marketplace | Monza World Class Karting at Foxwoods | Mystic Aquarium | Mystic Pizza | New Britain Bees | Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale | On Track Karting | Pleasant Valley Drive-In | Quassy Amusement & Waterpark | Safari Golf | Saybrook Point Miniature Golf | Sea Unicorns | Slater Memorial Museum | Soarin' Indoors | Southington Drive-In | Supercharged Powered by Mohegan Sun - Indoor Karting & Trampoline Park | Tamarack Lodge & Indie Glamping Resort | The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk | The Only Game in Town | Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park | TreeTrails Adventures Mystic | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

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