2019 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and Around Fairfield County

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo creates wonderfully wild experiences for children and families all year 'round. Located on 52 beautiful acres in Bridgeport, the state’s only zoo features more than 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Explore our South American Rainforest with free-flight aviary, the New England Farmyard, Victorian Greenhouse, and prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas. Visitors may enjoy a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and take a spin on the colorful indoor carousel.

Birthday party center and play place filled with Giant Indoor inflatables. Special events for Kids, JUMP-N-JAM Tween Night, Parent's Night Out, Open Jump Time, Children's Birthday parties and much more.

One of the finest sports and recreational facilities in the country, located in Stamford, Chelsea Piers offers instructional programs, camps, sports leagues, competitive teams, fitness and drop-in fun for children and adults.

Of course, the libraries in the Fairfield County area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them to the list of the best places to take kids this year!

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; and Connecticut's largest IMAX movie theater, with a screen that’s six stories tall! The not-for-profit attraction is the centerpiece of the popular South Norwalk (or “SoNo”) neighborhood, with fun shops, nightclubs and restaurants.

Rockin' Jump is the Ultimate Trampoline Park featuring Aerial Silks, Trapeze, Warrior Course, Warped Wall, Rock Climbing Wall and of course Trampolines.  Great for parties, group events, field trips, fundraisers and quality time with friends and family.  Book your next birthday party with at Rockin' Jump and let us do all the work for you! Have fun while exercising at Rockin' Jump! 

At Stepping Stones Museum for Children, the hands-on exhibits and educational programs engage, inspire and delight every child — as well as countless parents and caregivers.

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.

The Adventure Park’s 13 “treetop trails” consist of about 200 platforms installed in the trees and connected by various configurations of cable, wood, and rope to form “crossings” of different kinds including the ever-popular zip lines.

With 12 gardens and hundreds of new species to discover, the Bartlett is a living classroom for people of all ages to experience and enjoy nature. Whether you are looking for an enchanting environment to discover, exploring the grounds with a four-legged friend, researching a particular variety of plant, or attending one of our events here's what you need to know about visiting the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens.

A visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, is more than just another day at the beach. Connecticut's largest shoreline park offers over 2 miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf. Visit Hammonasset.org and meigspointnaturecenter.org to find out all about the different ways families can enjoy the park!

With more than 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events, the Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens, and adults. From physics to forensics, geology to astronomy, visitors have the sciences at their fingertips.

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. 

One of the finest sports and recreational facilities in the country, located in Stamford, Chelsea Piers offers instructional programs, camps, sports leagues, competitive teams, fitness and drop-in fun for children and adults.

At Stepping Stones Museum for Children, the hands-on exhibits and educational programs engage, inspire and delight every child — as well as countless parents and caregivers.

For over 150 years, the Jones family has been working the lands on their farm in Shelton, Connecticut. Today this 400-acre farm offers one of the finest harvest-your-own picking experiences due to the high quality crops and the knowledgeable, friendly farmers and staff. Generation after generation of farm guests visit the farm each year–not only to savor the unbelievable flavor of our delicious strawberries or to find the perfect Christmas tree, but to enjoy time with their family while experiencing the rustic beauty of our farm.

We are a pro hockey team in the AHL (American Hockey League) and are affiliated with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.

One of the finest sports and recreational facilities in the country, located in Stamford, Chelsea Piers offers instructional programs, camps, sports leagues, competitive teams, fitness and drop-in fun for children and adults.