So you may have noticed that things are looking a little bit different on our site this week. With all the other changes we’ve got going on right now, we thought it might also be a terrific time for a makeover!
Our new site is (hopefully) designed to be more reader-friendly with additional menu items, easier access to our most popular posts and better browsing functions. We’re still working out a few kinks here and there, but overall, we are so thrilled with our new look (a great big THANK YOU to Ashley at Dreamup Studios for another AMAZING redesign!). And we hope you like it too! Check out the Home Page for the full effect 🙂
Meanwhile, as we’ve been going back through old posts and getting things updated and ready for the new site’s launch this week, I’ve once again realized just how much content we have developed for this site over the past four and a half years of blogging every week. And I thought it might be fun to do a few posts that offer easy access to a whole category of reviews. So today, I’m bringing you our favorite animal adventures!
Our kids have loved animals since they were just babies, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’ve visited more than a dozen destinations in and around Connecticut that let little ones get up close and personal with all kinds of creatures– from jungle cats to jellyfish! And we hope you will have just as much fun as we have had exploring all these wonderful places.
Please note: As I mentioned above, we have been writing this blog for many years now, and although we do our best to keep up-to-date with the venues we have reviewed, it is possible that some information–especially things like hours & admission fees–is no longer accurate. And while all of our firsthand reviews should still give you a great idea of what to expect when you visit each destination, we encourage you to check each venue’s website before you go to get the most up-to-date information. To make it easy, we’ve included links to all their websites below.
- Feed and pet the friendly animals at Flamig Farm in West Simsbury. OAAM Post; Website
- See the beautiful birds in the Aviary at Wickham Park in Manchester. OAAM Post; Website
- Check out the animals in the barn and the reptiles in the Discovery Room anytime for FREE, or take one of their Gentle Touch classes for a baby- and toddler-friendly educational experience at Westmoor Park in West Hartford. OAAM Post; Website
- Enjoy homemade ice cream (try the Goat Tracks flavor!) while visiting a variety of barnyard animals at Robb’s Farm in Glastonbury. OAAM Post; Website
- Check out the fuzzy, scaly and feathered friends at the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center in Wethersfield (FREE but donations accepted). OAAM Post; Website
- If you’re headed to NYC, make a stop at the Central Park Zoo. OAAM Post; Website
- Explore the animal exhibits and nature trails on your own or check out one of the many kids’ programs at the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton. OAAM Post; Website
- See creatures great and small at one of the oldest zoos in the country: Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI. OAAM Post; Website
- Discover 100 acres of indoor and outdoor animal exhibits including farm animals, creepy crawly things, river otters and more (plus stroller-friendly trails and a playground) at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford. OAAM Post; Website
- Take your toddlers to the super cute Zoo in Forest Park in Springfield, MA. OAAM Post; Website
- Wave to the belugas, see a sea lion show, and check out all the incredible aquatic creatures at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic. OAAM Post; Website
- Pick up some fresh milk, enjoy some ice cream and visit with the cows at Fish Family Farm in Bolton. OAAM Post; Website
- Meet and learn about the animal residents (like chickens, rabbits, lizards and more!) of the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester. OAAM Post; Website
- See tons of sea creatures while keeping warm (or cool!) at the indoor Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. OAAM Post; Website
- Visit and learn about more than 300 different animals at Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. OAAM Post; Website
- Hang out with dozens of rescued animals–from chickens to horses–and even take a pony ride at Ray of Light Farm in East Haddam (FREE to visit but donations are accepted; fee for pony rides). OAAM Post; Website
- Take a self-guied tour of the animal barns and see the cows that made the milk for the amazing ice cream you enjoy at the UConn Dairy Bar in Storrs (FREE to visit the barns). OAAM Post; Website
- Discover sheep, cows, goats, mules, turkeys and more as you explore the animal barns at Northwest Park in Windsor (FREE to visit). OAAM Post; Website
Hopefully this post has inspired you to get out and make some new (scaly, slimy, furry, fuzzy or feathered) new friends!
Where is your favorite place to visit with animals? We’d love to hear from you!
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