Activities
to do with Children
Places to visit
Often children are
fascinated with things that go. Everything from construction
equipment, trains, airplanes, to even cars.
Fun
activities to do with children
Create an area where children can play with small toy
cars, trains, or airplanes. Ask the child to create his
own area.
For
inside play, ask the child to draw a town on a large piece
of paper. Offer suggestions to include a road, an airport,
houses, post office etc.
For
outside play, ask the child to make a town in a play area.
Offer suggestions such as: dirt mounds, shape of the town,
make a track, jumps etc.
FirstGov
for Kids. The
U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal. This site was
developed and is maintained by the Federal Citizen Information
Center. It provides links to Federal kids' sites along
with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations
all grouped by subject. Explore, learn, have fun and don't
forget to add us to your favorites! Visit transporation
for further links.
Make
a car at familyfun.
Visit
Artisits helping Children for great transportation
building instructions!!
Make
an airplane.
Visit
Enchanted
Learning for great fire truck crafts!
Visit
CT
Safe Kids for Child Passenger Safety Laws in Connecticut.
Top
Places
to visit with young children
New
Haven County:
Shore
Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St., East Haven (203)
467-6927 Classic trolleys, including the first electric
freight locomotive, oldest rapid-transit car, and a rare
parlor car. Take a scenic 3 mile ride aboard an antique
trolley car or take a guided tour of the car shop. Visit
their website for schedules of operation and fares.
Naugatuck
Railroad Company/Railroad Museum of New England, 242
East Main St., Thomaston (860) 283-RAIL An 18-mile ride
on a restored historic railroad from mills through a state
forest, along the Naugatuck River and up to the face of
a dam. Visit their website for schedules of operation and
fares. May - October
The
Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Road,
Middlebury (203)577-2181 The museum is currently home to
over 35 antique vehicles and two antique boats. There is
an extensive display of antique pedal cars, license plates
and toys, along with photographs and memorabilia. The Golden
Age of Trucking Museum prides itself on being a location
for old and young alike ... we have a children's area "Interactive
Interstate" with books, puzzles, computers, ride-on
toys, blocks, easels and games - a media room "Media
on West Main where a movie titled Moving History is shown,
"Library :Lane" where guests can relax and read
transportation related books, magazines and periodicals,
a gift shop featuring Lang cards and candles, books, Burt's
Bees, toys and clothing and novelties with the museum logo,
"Founders Gallery", with an art exhibit, which
is available for rentals and an indoor "Picnic area"
where we provide complimentary coffee, tea and hot cocoa
for our visitors. Guests are invited to bring a lunch to
enjoy. Museum hours are Thursday through Saturday 10am to
4pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm. We are available Mondays through
Wednesdays as well, for school groups, bus tours and private
or business functions.
Fairfield
County:
Children’s
Garbage Museum,
1410 Honeyspot Road Extension, Stratford, (203) 381-9571
Looking for trucks in action?? You can see a back hoe, bucket
loader and of course Refuse trucks dumping the recyclables.
Take a self guided tour of a real recycling plant where
locally collected recyclables are sorted and prepared for
sale to remanufactures. Interactive exhibits that teach
children the importance of recycling and the responsible
treatment of garbage. This museums mascot is Trash-o-saurus,
a 24-foot-long dinosaur constructed from trash. Take a self
guided tour of a real recycling plant where locally collected
recyclables are sorted and prepared for sale to remanufactures.
Danbury
Railway Museum, 120 White St., Danbury, (203) 778-8337
Vintage locomotives, Restored 1903 Union Station with model
railroads, Displays, gift shop, and train rides. Visit their
website for schedules of operation and fares.
Lime
Rock Park, 497 Lime
Rock Road, Lakeville, CT 06039 1-800-RACE-LRP (722-3577)
860-435-5000, 860-435-5010 (Fax) The cutting edge of modern
racing technology. The unequaled elegance and grace of historic
sports cars. Lime Rock Park will bring you both in the span
of three weeks in July, giving new meaning to the phrase,
“hot fun in the summertime.” The world’s
fastest and most sophisticated sports cars, along with top
drivers from around the globe. Visit their web site for
the schedule of events.
Hartford
County:
Connecticut
Trolley Museum, 58 North Rd., Rte. 140, East Windsor,
(860) 627-6540 A 3.5 mile round-trip ride on antique trolley
cars, displays in Visitors Center include restored trolleys,
Climax locomotive and other artifacts. Gift Shop and picnic
area.
New
England Air Museum, Bradley International Airport, Rte.
75, Windsor Locks (860) 623-3305 The largest aviation museum
in the Northeast. Featuring two large buildings which house
aircrafts and engines, exhibits on the History of Sikorsky
Aircraft, Air Mail and more. On fair weather days you can
tour the outside storage unit. There is also a research
library. A small dining area with vending machines. Visit
their website for schedules of operation and fares.
Stafford
Motor Speedway,
55 West Street, Stafford Springs, CT 06076 (860)-684-2783
FAX: (860)-684-6236 Visit the
Schedule for a list of the seasonal races.
New
London County:
Essex
Steam Train & Riverboat Ride, 1 Railroad Ave., Essex,
800-377-3987 Hop aboard a vintage steam locomotive for a
12 mile round trip ride from Essex to Deep River. At Deep
River Landing, you can opt to board the triple-decker riverboat
for a one- hour cruise upriver past Gillette Castle to the
East Haddam Bridge and the Goodspeed Opera House and then
back down river. Visit their website for schedules of operation
and fares.