Connecticut's Coolest Museums & Attractions for Hot Days

 
Get wild & wet at Connecticut's new indoor water park! Great Wolf Lodge photo by Kelly Patino

1. Cool off at an indoor water park...

If you've had enough sun screen for one summer, try a visit to one of the indoor water parks in New England  including the new Great Wolf Lodge in Connecticut.

2. Meander through one of our best museums.

Connecticut has a lot of history and it's so nicely presented at one of the always FREE museums like, the Eli Whitney Museum, Yale Peabody Museum or the Submarine Force Museum.

3. Explore indoor play spaces in CT.

Stay cool and have fun on the hottest days at the best indoor play spaces in Connecticut!

4. Grab a cool treat...

... with fudge and whipped cream? Try some of Connecticut's delicious ice cream destinations.

5. Head to Foxwoods.

Try a mini-vacation to Foxwoods for a break from the heat for the entire family.

6. Bounce away from the heat at a CT trampoline park.

Find a nearby indoor trampoline park for cool family fun on a hot day.

7. Get in the (fun) zone.

Find the right spot to stay cool with our Connecticut guide to indoor play spaces and fun zones.

Splash and Play: The Best Splash Pads and Water Features in Boston

Take the family to one of the Best Splash Pads in Connecticut to beat the heat. Here are some of our favorite free splash pads in CT:

8. Lake Kenosia Park — Danbury

Kenosia is Danbury's biggest splash pad and offers nearly 6,000 square feet of splash-tastic fun.

9. Scalzi Park — Stamford

Scalzi Park's splash pad boasts a wonderful playground and splash pad to enjoy during the summer months.

10. Pope Park North — Hartford

There's a splashy spray park and a full swimming pool in Pope's main section.

Heat Wave Activities in Connecticut - Outdoor Cool Fun

Wait til sunset for some family fun and a cool summer experience! Photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins

11. Catch an outdoor movie.

As the sun goes does, the movie screens go up! There are lots of places to catch a fun outdoor movie showing.

12. Hit a hole in one, miniature golf style.

Get out for some low-key activity at the best mini golf courses in Connecticut.

13. Catch the limit!

Grab a rod and reel and head to one of Connecticut's fishing holes!

14. Attend a drive-in movie near you.

There are plenty of summer movies to take the kids to - get the whole experience at one of the few drive-in movie theaters left in Connecticut.

15. Visit a waterfall

Go on a day trip and see some of Connecticut's amazing waterfalls. 

16. Hit the beach.

Connecticut has miles of sparkling shoreline for families to explore.

17 Take a shady hike.

Forested, open land with ponds and lakes are worth looking into to stay cool. Many of Connecticut's state parks are sheltered from the sun.

18. Fly through the trees on a zip-line.

Let the wind hit you in the face as you zip through the trees. Zip lines and rope courses are all over Connecticut, and they are very family-friendly.

19. Try some new food and fun.

Take the whole family and attend one of the many festivals held during the summer like the Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival and the Taste of the Carribean and Jerk Festival.

20. Go paddleboarding or canoeing with the kids.

Put on your personal floatation device and get out on the water at one of these Canoeing, Kayaking and Padleboarding spots in Connecticut.

21. Cool off at an outdoor New England Water park

Some of the best outdoor water water parks in New England are a short drive away!

Heat Wave Activities around Hartford

22. Go back in time at the Dinosaur State Park.

Find out who was here before we were at the Dinosaur Museum. Touch fossils, see dino animatronics and watch a dino movie too.

23. Take your CT preschooler to the museum.

Connecticut  and nearby have a lot of awesome museums for kids which will intrigue, educate and also cool little kids off like the Dr. Suess Museum, New England Air Museum and The New England Carousel Museum.  Try a few more of these 20 Things to do with Preschoolers in the Hartford Area.

24. Check out one of the local nature centers in Connecticut.

Nature centers are a special place where kids can get up close to live critters, learn about the wildlife in their area and even take a class with a nature educator. Some great ones around Hartford include Roaring Brook, Northwest Park and Barnes Nature Center.

25. Shop and then play at the mall.

Malls are a great destination for families who are looking for somwhere to play that is air conditioned and somewhat contained. Kids will enjoy the soft climbing features and nearby shopping. Buckland Mall has one and so does the Meriden Mall.

26. Leave the cooking at home.

House too hot to cook in? We don't blame you. That's why you might want to take advantage of one of these Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free in Connecticut.

27. Dance to the music at a local concert.

Check out a FREE summer concert in  Southington, Plainville, or Hartford.

 
Arcades and fun centers are definitely cool fun! Photo courtesy of Nomads Adventure Quest.

28. Find a one-stop, fun destination for the whole family.

If you have kids of different ages, you might want to go somewhere that has a variety of things to do like Nomads Adventure Quest. Other all-in-one locations include Spare Time in Bristol or Spare Time in Windsor Locks.

29. Roll away the heat with some roller-skating or, even better, ice skating!

Get some roller skating time in at Ron-a-Roll, the well-loved roller skating rink in Vernon. A heat wave is a good reason for ice skating. The International Skating Center has open skate and lessons open to the public (and even drop-in ice time for hockey). 

30. Make hands-on, hand-made creations.

Get creative and keep cool at The Claypen where kids can paint, play with clay and create. Want more hands-on ideas? Read 30 Days of Indoor Activities for Kids.

31. Begin getting your littles used to the water.

If your littles aren't ready for swimming, but love the water, a splashpad or sprayground is perfect for cooling off. The Hartford-are has a pile of splishy-splashy spots in Splash Pads, Spraygrounds and Fountains for Kids in Hartford County.

Beat the Heat: Cool Activities in Fairfield

 
Cooling off at the beach is the perfect activity for a heat wave. Jennings Beach photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins

32. Don't forget to visit the beach.

Kick back, splash around and make a sand castle at Jennings Beach, or try one of these other beaches in the area. 

33. Spend the day at a Fairfield-area pool.

Visit Wolfe Park to take a dip in the pool. Non-residents can purchase a pool membership for easy access to swimming. Or try one of the other pools in the Fairfield-area to cool off. 

34. Enjoy local events and fairs.

There are lots of local fairs going on in Fairfield like Wilton Street Fair, the Rowayton River Ramble and the Milford Oyster Festival.

35. Go to Norwalk's favorite kids museum.

There is always something going on at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. Stepping Stones offers free family fun night on Friday nights. 

 
Grab some (cool) air and enjoy fn activities at Chelsea Piers. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Piers

36. Get some exercise... inside.

Try one of the many indoor activities for kids at Chelsea Piers in Stamford or if you want to check a few fun places off your summer bucket list, try all of the fun places in Fairfield listed here.

37. Go to a movie.

Take in a movie at the brand-new movie theater located inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenwich.

38. Hit your local library.

Never discount a local library for cool fun. Most are having reading programs running all summer including Fairfield and the beautiful Pequot Library. 

Craft time is no sweat with many indoor pottery spots in CT! Photo courtesy of Hands on Pottery.

39. Try making pottery (in the AC, of course).

Create some lovely art at Hands on Pottery which opens at 11am every day except Sunday. Other places for pottery include The Pottery Factory and Happy Hands Pottery.

Heat Wave Activities in Eastern Connecticut

40. Head to Mystic, CT

Swim with the fishes on a weekend jaunt to Mystic.

41. Ride the scenic train in Essex.

Take a combined train and boat ride at Essex Steam Train.

42. Have some monster fun.

Head to Dinosaur Place for fun (and cool!) family activities on a hot day including a splash pad.

43. See the Lighthouses

New London is home to some of our favorite lighthouses in CT...and then, pack up your beach bag for a stop at the sandy shore.

44. Head on over to Mystic Seaport to learn about Connecticut's maritime heritage.

What was Connecticut like hundreds of years ago when boats were the best and most frequently used way to travel and ship? Find out at Mystic Seaport. 

45. Jump on a boat and feel the cool breezes off the water.

There are so many different ways to see Connecticut from the water. Try the Connecticut River Museum's boat RiverQuest or Mystic River Cruises.

Stay Cool at Home – Low-Cost Hacks for Heat Wave Days

There are some great things to do to beat a Boston heat wave at home. Check out our guide to 35 Water Games for Kids To Play All Summer Long for some cool fun.

• DIY Backyard Car Wash: Grab sponges and water toys to wash bikes, scooters, or ride-ons.
   
• Frozen Toy Dig: Freeze small plastic toys in Tupperware—kids “excavate” with water.
   
• Fan + Ice = Homemade A/C: Set up a box fan with a frozen gallon jug of water in front.
   
• Cooling Towels: Wet and freeze small towels for neck wraps. Reusable and effective.

Pro Parent Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in the Heat

• Avoid outdoor activity between 12–4pm
   
• Hydration tip: Freeze water bottles halfway and top off for cold all day
   
• Dress kids in light-colored, loose clothing
   
• Seek shade + water combo spots
   
• Check car seats before loading kids — buckles can burn!

FAQ – Heat Wave Tips for Parents in PLACE

Q: What’s the best time of day to go out during a heat wave in Boston?
A: Before 10am or after 5pm. Many parks and splash pads open early.

Q: Are there any free public indoor play spaces?
A: Yes – public libraries, some community centers, and select mall play areas like Stamford Town Center and the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester.

Q: Can you get heat stroke indoors?
A: Yes, especially in poorly ventilated homes. Use fans and keep curtains closed during peak sun hours.