OAAM’s Summer Bucket List for the Connecticut Mom (Budget Edition)

Hi friends! We know this is the post you’ve been waiting for 🙂

Summer is (almost) here and we have all the inspiration you need for a season of family-friendly fun!

But first, I wanted to take a moment to give a very special shout-out to our current and most loyal sponsors. Did you know that Out and About Mom and our TOTALLY FREE content is all thanks to the generous support of our sponsor partners? That’s right. 100% of our funding comes from the businesses and organizations that sponsor our site. Without them, we could not keep scouting your outing all these years. So a GREAT BIG THANKS to our OAAM sponsor partners!

Now back the real reason you’re here…

We published our very first Summer Bucket List for the Connecticut Mom waaaaay back in 2014. Since then, we’ve been having fun putting together these lists every year, combining our newest finds with our old favorites.

Recently, I realized that over the past 10+ years, we have published nearly 1,000 posts about more than 500 destinations, events & activities! It’s getting near impossible to keep our Summer Bucket List to just 50 of our favorite outings.

So this year, I thought we’d put a never-been-done-before spin on it. We would use this vast knowledge of Connecticut activities that we’ve cultivated over more than a decade of scoping out the best things for families to do in (and around) our state to bring you our first ever “Budget Edition” of our Summer Bucket List.

We challenged ourselves to come up with 50 summertime activities for families for around $20 or LESS. Because the size of your budget shouldn’t limit the amount of family fun you can enjoy this season.

If you manage to check off every single activity on this list, you’ll still spend less than $300 TOTAL.* That’s just $25 per week of summer!

But even better, more than HALF of these outings are FREE. For $0 you can: marvel at dinosaur fossils, stroll on a boardwalk, splash in spray fountains, do arts & crafts, enjoy live music, visit with friendly animals, explore nature trails, relax at the beach, frolic in ponds, hunt for seashells, check out model trains, visit an art museum, and MORE!

Of course, as with all our content, this list isn’t just for moms– it’s also for dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, nannies and anyone else who is staring down three months of summer vacation with a kiddo (or two or three…) in tow.

And don’t forget, this isn’t just any old list of places to go. Just like in previous years, these are all places that we have personally been to with our families and written about on our blog. So not only do we provide you with this great list of ideas, but each one has been stamped with that exclusive Out and About Mom seal of approval. It’s like getting a great tip from a good friend– a friend who has been to hundreds of CT destinations!

Also new this year, we’ve streamlined our list by using mainly links to the actual venues since you can more quickly and easily find the most up to date information there (websites have come a long way in that last 14 years since we started this site!). But you can still find links to all of our posts about these destinations on our Places We’ve Been page.

We hope you are inspired by these 50+ items on our Summer Bucket List! And we hope you have SO. MUCH. FUN. 

Happy summer 2025, everyone!

{Psst. If you’re the kind of family that likes to keep track of your adventures with a big ol’ list on the fridge, download and print our free summer bullet journal page!} Let the summertime fun begin!

Here we go (in no particular order)…

1. Explore the aviary, gardens, playgrounds and open spaces, then settle in for Music in the Park or the Children’s Performance Series at Wickham Park in Manchester. Find their current event lineup here. {Concert and Children’s Performance Series are FREE with $7/car park admission}
   
2. Spend a day at one of Connecticut’s beautiful state beaches (like this one, this one, or this one). You can find a full list of CT State Parks with swimming areas here. For even more fun, print out our FREE Beach Day Scavenger Hunt to take with you! {FREE for CT residents through the Passport to the Parks program}
   
3. Watch a movie under the summer night sky at the Southington Drive-in. Details on their 2025 schedule here. {$20/car or $5 person/walk in}
   
4. Feed the goats at Ray of Light Farm in East Haddam every Thursday through Sunday, 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m.  No reservation needed!. {FREE to visit/ $1 to buy goat food}
   
5. Splash in the School Street Spray Park in Agawam, MA; opens 6/23 for the 2025 season. {FREE}
   
6. Bring a picnic and savor the musical sounds at an outdoor evening concert at Elizabeth Park in Hartford. {FREE}
   
7. Pack a picnic or enjoy a delicious Food Truck feast while listening to upbeat bands at the Riverfront Music Series in Glastonbury. {Concert is FREE}
   
8. Sign up for “Kids Bowl Free,” then hit the lanes (and arcade) at Spare Time in Vernon. {FREE to bowl; shoe rental is $5.49/pair}
   
9. Print our Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt and then take a (kid-friendly) hike through Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam or Earle Park in Glastonbury. {FREE}
   
10. Shop for fresh produce and local treats while enjoying complimentary entertainment at the Coventry Farmers’ Market in Coventry. Food Trucks also available. Sundays 10am-1pm from June 8, 2025 through October 26, 2025. {FREE to visit}
    
11. Bring a picnic lunch to eat under the pavilion and spend the afternoon at the fully fenced-in Jonathan’s Dream Playground in West Hartford. {FREE}
    
12. Take a spin on the historic 1914 carousel and climb the mini Hartford landmarks at Bushnell Park in Hartford. (Summer carousel hours here). {FREE to visit; carousel rides are $2/person}
    
13. Enjoy some one-on-one bonding time at BOGO Mondays (4:00p.m. to 7:00p.m.) at It Adventure Park in New Haven {$25.20/one hour for TWO participants}
    
14. Visit with friendly chickens, sample the veggies in the children’s garden and make pies in the mud kitchen at Open Farm Day at Common Ground in New Haven. Saturdays from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. {FREE}
    
15. Practice woodworking skills at a Home Depot Kids Workshop on the first Saturday of every month from 9am-12:00pm (while supplies last). {FREE}
    
16. Frolic in the flower fields and make a DIY bouquet at Petersen Farm in South Windsor or Gutt Farm in Glastonbury. {FREE to visit; cost for flowers varies}
    
17. Explore the family-friendly trails, then marvel at real dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill. {Park Grounds, Arboretum & Trails are FREE; Exhibit Center admission is $6/ages 13+, $2/ages 6-12, free/ages 5 and under}
    
18. Turn an errand into an adventure with playful puppets in the produce department (and elsewhere) plus unique family events and activities at Stew Leonard’s grocery store in Newington. Plus, every $100 store purchase gets a FREE ice cream cone! {Cost for events varies; most are $20 or less per child}
    
19. Find animal barns, walking trails, a pond, a playground, a nature center and more in the 473 acres of amazing Northwest Park in Windsor. {FREE}
    
20. Have Christmas in July at Santa’s year-round workshop at Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield, MA. {FREE to visit; additional activities range in price with most costing $20 or less per child}
    
21. Wander through the Rose Garden and go for a dip at Spaulding Pond Beach at Mohegan Park in Norwich. {FREE}
    
22. Enjoy a homemade scoop of ice cream as you visit with friendly animals in the barnyard at Gran-Val Scoop in Granville, MA. {FREE to visit}
    
23. View New England’s largest model train layout (this thing is BIG) every first and third Sunday of the month from 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. at Time Machine Hobby in Manchester. {FREE}
    
24. Cool off at the new Splash Pad at Veterans Memorial Park in Middletown. {FREE}
    
25. Enjoy Stories and Art at the Yale Art Gallery in New Haven. {FREE}
    
26. Check out Cruise Night every Monday at Ocean Beach Park in New London. {FREE parking and admission after 5:00p.m.; special discount pricing for additional activities}
    
27. Be inspired by craftivism at the monthly Emerging Activist program at the Stowe Center in Hartford. {FREE}
    
28. Check out the demonstration farm, wildflower meadows, perennial gardens, woodland trails, and ponds that are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk at Westmoor Park in West Hartford. {FREE}
    
29. Marvel at dinosaur fossils and more at the Peabody Museum in New Haven. {FREE}
    
30. Use a Library Pass from a local branch to get FREE admission to the Zoo in Forest Park in Springfield, MA. {$5 vehicle fee for out of state residents to enter the park}
    
31. Get FREE admission and family-friendly activities every second Saturday of the month to the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. {Activities from noon-2:00p.m. & FREE admission all day}
    
32. Take a sweet trip to the Pez Visitors Center in Orange. Each admission includes a lanyard and a $2.00 store credit good toward the purchase of any merchandise! {$5 for adults; $4 for children ages 3-12; free for children under 3}
    
33. Explore The Airline State Park Trail, 50 miles of converted railway that cuts through the eastern part of the state with scenic views to enjoy and unique ecosystems to explore. {FREE}
    
34. Hang out with the farmyard crew at Flamig Farm petting zoo in West Simsbury. {$8.00 per person; FREE for anyone under 2 or over 80 years of age; you can also buy a cup of grain to feed the animals for $2 or 3 cups for $5.} 
    
35. Relax while the kids play all day at the enormous outdoor playland at Sonny’s Place in Enfield. {Admission to the playland is $10.50/child 54″ and under}
    
36. Explore the East Coast Greenway and stop for some playtime at Charter Oak Park Playground in Manchester. {FREE}
    
37. Hunt for ocean treasures at East Beach after visiting the Nature Center at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. {FREE for CT residents}
    
38. Picnic at Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam. {FREE to visit the park; cost to tour Gillette Castle: $6 Ages 13+; $2 Ages 6-12; FREE Under 5; see details HERE}
    
39. Encourage your pint-sized Picasso with some family-friendly plein air painting when you borrow a set of art supplies from the visitor’s center at Weir Farm in Wilton. {FREE}
    
40. Discover a new-to-you playground from our list of more than 50! {FREE}
    
41. Feed the friendly animals at Manfredi Farms in Westerly, RI. {FREE to visit; small cost for animal food}
    
42. Explore the Connecticut Museum of History and Culture in Hartford. {Admission to the museum galleries is FREE on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month}
    
43. Discover budget-friendly activities for the whole family at the Berlin Batting Cages in Berlin {Rates range from $1-$7.50/person for activities}
    
44. Purchase some ice cream from the Snack Shack, then wander around the pond and through the fairy garden trail at Jessica’s Garden in Marlborough. {Ice cream pricing from $4.50-$6.50 per serving}
    
45. Check out the summer programs at your local library! {most are FREE} You can also check out Museum Pass Programs at these libraries to find more opportunities for free and discounted admissions to destinations in and around CT!
    
46. Pick up a beautiful sunflower bouquet and enjoy all the family-friendly activities at Buttonwood Farm’s annual fundraising event, Sunflowers for Wishes, from July 19-27 in Griswold. {$3 for field entry & $3 per flower; ice cream also available for purchase}
    
47. Reach for the rings while twirling on the Flying Horse Carousel in Watch Hill, RI. {$4/per ride on an outside horse to play the brass ring game; $1/per ride for an inside horse}
    
48. Pick up a few supplies from your local craft store (or scour your house), then let the kids’ creativity run wild with FREE Camp Creatology virtual programs from Michaels.com.
    
49. Do a little browsing at Ikea in New Haven–while the kiddos enjoy a FREE hour in their Smaaland play space!
    
50. Take your toddlers and preschoolers to Kidzone in Manchester for FREE open bounce every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. {Up to 2 kids bounce FREE per paying adult; adults are $9/person}

*Total is based on a rough estimate of the cost of these activities for a family of 4 when adults only pay for an activity when it’s required for admission purposes.

Prefer a list organized by type of activity? Check out last year’s Summer Bucket List!

Looking for even more seasonal inspiration? You can find all 10 of our previous Summer Bucket Lists HERE.

Find more budget-friendly fun with the Museum Pass Program through the CT Library System. It offers FREE or discounted admission to museums, state parks, aquariums, zoos, and more!

Need some budget-friendly rainy day activites? Check out our list of favorite FREE printables for hours of indoor fun!

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