Ready for Summer Series: Connecticut Open House Day 2013

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Are you ready for summer? Sure, you’re ready for the longer days, the warmer weather, and the outdoor activities. But are you really ready? Well, you’re in luck because this week we’ve put together a series of posts to help you get a jump start on your summer plans. We’re calling it the Ready for Summer Series and each day we’ve got a new post with all the details on our favorite places to find quintessential summer fun–from playgrounds to pools to PYO (and more!). So check back each day and bookmark these posts so you’ll have a handy quick reference guide for the whole season.

To kick off our Ready for Summer Series, we’ve got the details on a whopper of an event. It’s the 9th annual Connecticut Open House Day, and you don’t want to miss this one. That’s because this Saturday, June 8th, many museums, parks and other locations in Connecticut will be offering CT residents discounted or free admission, free gifts or special exhibits and activities in support of Open House Day. With 179 events going on statewide, it’s a great opportunity to get out and get exploring, and maybe even get a preview of some of your new favorite summertime destinations. Click here for a complete list of events (listed alphabetically by town and then by property). In the greater Hartford area? You can also click here to see a list of events specifically in our area.

To help you with your planning, we thought we’d take a moment to give you an inside look at some of the Open House Day destinations that we have visited in our OAAM travels. Click on the links below to read our posts about these family-friendly places, and then start planning your CT Open House Day itinerary!

Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT will offer free admission for the first 100 visitors from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

 

 

 

Imagine Nation Children’s Museum in Bristol, CT will be open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., offering $1 off regular admission. Activities include exploring the Outdoor Learning Park, create a playground of your dream, explore Splat Painting and whip up a messy concoction at the grand opening of Mud Pie Bakery.

 

 

Love to shop? Provide a Connecticut ID and receive a complimentary gift at the Management Office (Suite 225), from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. at Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets in Clinton, CT.

 

 

 

Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, CT will offer free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

 

 

 

The historic Bushnell Park Carousel in Hartford, CT will offer one free ride for the first 100 visitors. Carousel will be open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

 

 

 

The Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford, CT will offer free admission from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a poetry reading at 2 p.m. from Dennis Barone’s Garnet Poems.

 

 

 

The Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester, CT will offer free admission from noon until 5 p.m., including “Touch-a-Truck” where visitors can climb inside big trucks and heavy equipment.

 

 

 

Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and offering $5 off general admission for up to four people. Visitors will need to mention Connecticut Open House Day and provide proof of residency to receive the discount. It cannot be combined with any other offer.

 

 

Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, CT will offer free admission to the exhibit center from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. You can also check out the family-friendly trails while you’re there.

 

 

 

The Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center in Wethersfield, CT will offer free admission from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with free outdoor activities including live animal demonstrations.

 

 

 

The PEZ Visitor Center in Orange, CT will offer free admission from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Link is to a great post on this venue written by our friend and fellow blogger, Jodie Sadowsky from Love Them Madly.)

But don’t stop there! Make sure you check out the entire list of CT Open House Day destinations. There’s something fun for every family!

Be sure to check back tomorrow as our Ready for Summer Series continues with our top 25 playgrounds!

Meet Our Sponsors!

• Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool – Visit their newly renovated center in Glastonbury. Now enrolling infants, toddlers, preschoolers and pre-k children for their fall programs.
• Kathryn Deane Photography – Kathryn is a natural light photographer specializing in maternity, newborn, child, family, and senior portrait photography.

Are you interested in becoming an Out and About Mom sponsor? Click here for more info.

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Check back every Tuesday and Thursday as we dish up more Momsense for getting out and about with your little ones. Don’t have time to check back in? Let us send you an automatic notification of new posts straight to your email inbox by signing up here. Also, you can like us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites.