Day trip from Hartford

I%26#39;d like some suggestions for a day trip from hartford during labor day weekend. We%26#39;ll be traveling with a 2 year old. Our interests.. nature (waterfalls/lakes/scenic views) and/or some activities for our two year old. Our preferences... about 1 to 1.5 hours drive from hartford. Likely to spend about 6 hours at destination. Thanks!

Day trip from Hartford

Here are some suggestions....

Talcott Mountain State Park, Route 185, Simsbury, CT. On the mountain peak is the 165 foot high tower, built in 1914. Hike 1.25 miles along King Philip Trail; Connecticut%26#39;s finest viewing spot

Dinosaur State Park, located just about 20 minutes south of Hartford in the town of Rocky Hill, Connecticut. The park is the site of one of North America%26#39;s largest collections of dinosaur tracks--left behind by the state%26#39;s oversized dino inhabitants about 200 million years ago.

Penwood State Park 57 Gun Mill road, bloomfield, Ct has a Nature Trail that encircles Lake Louise and passes by the pinnacle overlook.

Enjoy your day...

Day trip from Hartford

In 2 hours you could drive to southwest NH and visit Stonewall Farm in Keene or the Friendly Farm in Dublin. There is also Goose Pond Nature trails in Keene, Chesterfield Gorge and Horatio Colony House Nature Preserve, not sure when you are coming but, Colony House Museum in Keene has childrens activities on Thursdays, also blueberry picking in Troy. In Springfield Ma is the Dr Seuss garden at the Springfield Museum. He should sleep well on the way back to Hartford.

Must go to Mystic!! You will have the aquarium, the seaport and a cute town. Good ice cream at the drawbridge.

The Kidcity Children%26#39;s Museum is especially for this age -- it%26#39;s about 20 minutes south of Hartford and has two buildings of hands-on activities for toddlers and preschoolers, like dress-up, science play, grocery store %26amp; puppets, etc. The website is at www.kidcitymuseum.com. The children%26#39;s museum is in Middletown, which has an old-fashioned Main Street with lots of restaurants. Also, Kidcity is about 10 minutes drive from two other fun places for little kids -- Lyman Orchards, with pick-your-own fruit, and Wadsworth State Park, great for walks or swimming. It%26#39;s a little further south, but if your little one loves trains, I%26#39;d add a stop at the Essex Steam Train, a vintage railroad company that chugs up the riverfront, but be sure you check the schedule. (It%26#39;s another 20 minutes south of Middletown).

These are all great suggestions. If you go to Dinosaur State Park, you could also take a ride across the CT river on the Ferry in Rocky Hill. There is a tasty outdoor eatery there called Mitchell%26#39;s on the River too.

Another suggestion for a two year old is the Beardsley Zoo www.beardsleyzoo.org in Brindgeport or the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence Rhode Island www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org

Have fun!

Thank you for your suggestions! They all look interesting. We%26#39;ll have to pick one out of so many interesting choices!

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