Three Great Connecticut DayTrips for Rainy Days with Kids

Just because the sun is tucked deep behind rain clouds doesn't mean you and your kids can't have a great day with a fun day-trip. And here in Connecticut, there are many options for a rainy day day-trip with kids. Just pack some snacks, choose the day-trip destination and head out on your way. Whether your kids are interested in clowns, fish or literature, each day-trip is sure to brighten up the rainy day blues without having to travel far in Connecticut.

Day-Trip 1: The Barnum Museum, 820 Main Street; Bridgeport

A day-trip to this museum is more than just clowning around. Named for circus mogul P.T. Barnum, the Barnum Museum chronicles the industrial and social history of Bridgeport in addition to a healthy dose of circus paraphernalia. Are your kids into the big top? This day-trip is a great way to use their interest as a catalyst to spark curiosity in history.

Wait a second? Want to know who we're talking about before you take this Connecticut day-trip with your kids? P.T. Barnum (the P.T. stands for Phineas Taylor) was an entertainment mogul in the 1800s, producing an immensely popular three-ring circus and so-called "freak" shows. Read more about him in Entertainment of the Late 1800s.

Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

Admission: Adults $5.00; Students/Seniors $4.00; Kids 4-17 $3.00; Members and kids 3 and under are free

Phone: (203) 331-1104

Day-Trip 2: The Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water Street; Norwalk

Fishies!!! Get up close and personal with marine life with a day-trip to the Maritime Aquarium. Exhibits include Jellyfish Encounter, Harbor Seal Pool and River Otter Habitat. In the Rocky Intertidal Zone Touch Tank kids can actually touch and hold creatures from the Long Island Sound like green crabs, sea stars and horseshoe crabs. You can also add an IMAX movie to your day-trip experience.

Looking for more information about this Connecticut day-trip destination? Check out this article, which gives a detailed description of all the exhibits.

Hours: Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hours extend until 6 p.m. in July and August. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Admission: For the aquarium, adults are $11, seniors are $10 and kids ages 2-12 are $9. Additional charges apply for the IMAX theatre.

Phone: (203) 852-0700

Day-Trip 3: The Mark Twain House, 351 Farmington Avenue; Hartford

What? A house? The Mark Twain House is much more than just a house though. It chronicles Twain's family, life and work. Take a day-trip here and you can take in tours of the home, a museum and other things such as lectures and performances. Check out the calendar for more information. http://www.marktwainhouse.org/calendar/ If you go, be sure to allocate plenty of time in your day-trip itinerary for the visit (at least two hours).

Want to know more? Associated Content producer Thomas J. McCabe gives a great overview of the Mark Twain House in this article, including some of the interesting things you will find there. Did you know that one of the very first telephones installed in a private home was at Mark Twain (aka Samuel Clemens)'s house in Hartford?

Hours: Open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. Closed major holidays (including the 4^th of July). Also closed Tuesdays from January until March.

Admission: Adults ages 17 to 64: $13, Seniors over age 65: $11; Kids ages 6 to 16: $8; Kids under 6 are free.

Phone: (860) 247-0998