Summer in Full Swing

It's a little over the middle of July and I feel like I've loaded all our activities this month and going into August, too. Before I know it, school will be back in session early September! Where has the summer gone?

Our family took a great trip with friends to Hilton Head Island, SC a couple weeks ago and had beautiful beach days, kayaked and even went on a shrimping boat. In addition, we took a day trip to Savannah, GA. Our girls (ages 6-11), visited the Juliette Gordon Low birthplace, which is a museum with many treasures of the great founder of Girl Scouts of America. It was the highlight of our visit!

Back in CT, my son and daughter have been scout camp and have enjoyed several activities throughout the day, including swimming, archery, nature, scout skills, and more. The counselors and staff are wonderful with the kids and I know they are in good hands. They are already talking about next year and doing overnight camp!

Aside from camps, there are just other things you can do with your family in and around the area. I found a post from a mom on Facebook (thank you Agnes) who put a list together of various things to do that are affordable. Some include visiting local state parks and beaches. Some, I mentioned in my previous post, which includes visiting your local library. Many offer free passes to museums, the zoo or other outings. Check out the list and see if there is anything you may find interesting and fun for your family:

Free or discounted recreation passes 

Each library has different passes. Check their website for a complete list and details. Some require you to be a resident or a $10 deposit. Most common ones are Beardsley Zoo, Discovery Museum, Peabody Museum, state parks, Mystic Aquarium and many more.

Libraries

Summer Reading programs are underway, but many also have other children’s programs and a nice play area. Check their websites for schedules.

Derby Neck Library
Derby Public Library

Edith Wheeler Memorial Library in Monroe
Woodbridge Town Library
Oxford Town Library

Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton

Beaches 

If you go on the CT gov website, you can find many state park/beaches available. In addition, you can download a GPS app that helps you explore the various parks in CT. http://www.pocketranger.com/apps/connecticut

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Madison. Great beach, a nature center with children's programs as well as campground. Go for the day or spend a weekend. 

Short Beach – 1 Dorne Dr Stratford - $20 per day parking fee

Walnut Beach- Milford - you can park on the street and not pay a fee, or for a small amount, park in the parking lot. There is a boardwalk that goes to Silver Sands. It's a nice walk and if you do it round trip, I believe you walk about 2-3 miles. http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325262

West Haven Beach – 6 Rock St – parking meters (West Haven has the boardwalk, playground, piers and just lots of action for the kids to watch)

Lighthouse Point Park – 2 Lighthouse Rd New Haven - $20 per day parking fee and small fee for the carousel that runs only on Sat & Sunday. (There’s the lighthouse, playground, beach and carousel).

Farms

Some of these have animals, some have activities and some are just pick your own fruit.

Benedicts’s – 480 Purdy Hill Rd, Monroe – they have animals in the back that the kids can check out and pet and in the fall they have a hay tower kids can climb and a corn pit. (that may be in the fall...not sure about the summer)

High Wire Deer & Animal Farm – 66 Park Rd, Woodbury – they have all kids of unusual animals like zebras and kangaroos. There’s a picnic area for lunch and the fee is $6 per person and kids under 2 are free. Check heir website because they’re not open everyday.

Silverman’s Farm – 451 Sport Hill Rd Easton – pet and feed the animals. $5 per person plus quarters for the food for the animals.

Well’s Hallow Farm – 656 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton – plants, animals and ice cream. Not sure of pricing but places like this are usually cash only.

Jones Family Farms – 606 Walnut Tree Hill Rd Shelton – pick your own strawberries and blueberries. Check their website for what is in season for harvest.

Lyman’s Orchard – 32 Reeds Gap Rd, Middlefield – pick your own strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pears and apples. Check website for what’s in season.

March Farms – 160 Munger Lane, Bethlehem. Pick your own strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples. Plus they have goats, a huge play area for the little kids and a maze.

Local Playgrounds & Parks
Gary Park – Gary Rd, Seymour – playground and fields

Bodie’s Place at Eisenhower Park – 780 North St, Milford. Awesome playground with sandbox and separate areas for older kids.

Ansonia Nature Center – 10 Deerfield Rd, Ansonia. Wooden playground, pond, walking trails and small animal/reptile exhibits inside with a bathroom.

Pease Place – 160 Pease Rd, Woodbridge. Boundless playground like Bodie’s Place

Boothe Memorial Park – 5800 Main St, Stratford. Playground, train museum free but only open Saturdays from 1-4) , beautiful buildings and there used to be some animals in the back. There’s also a smaller playground down the hill from where the old tolls are that’s perfect for little kids who are still scared of the big one.

Longbrook Park – 24 Hurd Ave, Stratfrod. Playground, fields and a splash pad. Not sure if this is residents only

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Matthies Park – 215 Pines Bridge Rd, Beacon Falls. Playground, pond and walking trails.

Dickinson Park – 50 Elm Dr, Newtown. Playground, fields, skate park and walking trails.

Osbourndale Park – 555 Roosevelt Dr, Derby. Feed the ducks, pick some flowers in the fields, have a picnic or go on a hike.

Racebrook Tract – 905 Racebrook Rd, Orange. Walking trails and educational nature trail.

Shelton Trails – Constitution Blvd past the Intermediate. Trail goes down by the High school, across Meadow St and over a bridge. Beautiful views and nice nature walk.

Sleeping Giant – 200 Mt Carmel Ave, Hamden. Hiking trails and a nice easy tower trail that leads to a castle on the top of the mountain that’s stroller accessible.

Movies/Misc/Other

Bowtie Cinemas has free movies. Bowtiecinemas.com look under Summer Kids Series
Free movies on the Riverwalk in Shelton – start July 18th. Find the schedule on Valley Independent Sentinel online.

Southington Drive In Theater – 935 Meriden Waterbury Tpke, Plantsville. $15 per car. Check out their 2015 schedule online.

Free bowling. Check out Kidsbowlfree.com for details.

Free concerts – each town usually has a free concert either on Friday or Saturday nights. Check your towns website for info.

Pez Factory – 35 Prindle Hill Rd, Orange. Tours are $5 or less depending on age.

Stew Leonard’s - 100 Westport Ave, Norwalk. Shopping for mom and an experience for the kids, Plus ice cream.

Bronx Zoo – free on Wednesdays (they ask for a donation).

Also check out the Aquarian Water Company website. They offer a lot of B1G1 deals for admission tickets to a few good places like the Zoo and Mystic.