MeghanL Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I am travelling with my 3 kids (8,4&2) to Norwich CT to visit my brother. Mystic Aquarium is near, but it's $30 for an adult and $21 per kid for admission. Does anyone know of anything else to do near this location? I looked online and it seems that the town itself is pretty devoid of anything interesting at all. Any other ideas? Thanks in advance for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Have you looked at Mystic Seaport? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeghanL Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 Thanks for the site. My kids aren't really museum-type kids yet. They want to have lots of room to play & explore...2 things most museums frown on. :001_huh: I'm just so surprised how little there is to do in this particular part of the world. Where I live we have 5 children's museums within a 30 minute drive. Even the zoo here has 2 huge play areas for kids. The art museum also has an incredible indoor play area for children with molding clay, mobile parts to create their own and materials to make a fort. I guess I'm just spoiled at having so many options to entertain the kids, I'm starting to get nervous with the very few options available in CT. Everything I've found so far is a 60-90 minute drive away. But I'll keep looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Mystic Seaport is not your standard museum. It's mostly outside and there are a LOT of things for the kids to do. It is very hands-on and interactive. We went there in 2010 with my younger guys and they had a great time. Here's the blogpost from when we went to the Seaport - http://www.dottiesuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/09/mystic-seaport.html We did also go to the aquarium and that post is here: http://www.dottiesuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/09/we-love-aquariums.html You should call ahead and see if there are any discount tickets for the aquarium. I think we got a AAA discount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Are you a member of any of the museums near you? One of them may have a reciprocal admissions agreement with the aquarium or seaport in Mystic and as a result, you may get in for free if you show your membership card to your local museum or zoo. This information may be available on your local museum's website or you may have to call them to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeghanL Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 Thanks for all the blog posts Dorothy! Your post should be on the Mystic website...they don't really make it look all that fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Here is the Columbus Zoo's reciprocity list. It does not look as if the Mystic Aquarium is on it, but this might be helpful for your future travels. Maybe one of your local museums has reciprocity with the seaport. By the way, the zoo website does recommend that you call ahead to make sure reciprocity agreements are still current. http://www.colszoo.org/assets/zoo/user_files/file/ReciprocityList.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueinNC Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Here are just a few: Mark Twain house http://marktwainhouse.org/ Harriet Beecher Stowe house http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/ the Wadsworth Atheneum museum http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org/ Hopeville Pond State Park http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325218&depNav_GID=1650 http://www.pequotmuseum.org/ http://www.heritagetrail.com/Heritage_Trail_Cafe_and_Vineyard/home.html http://www.ussnautilus.org/ FREE http://www.thedinosaurplace.com/ http://arboretum.conncoll.edu/ http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325198&depNav_GID=1650 Gillette Castle http://www.ctrivervalley.com/4-Connecticut-CT-in-of/Major-attractions-in-CT/gillette_castle_state_park/index.html http://www.oldemistickvillage.com/ http://www.cteastrrmuseum.org/ railroad Rocky Neck State Park (beach) http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325256&depNav_GID=1650 http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Thanks for the site. My kids aren't really museum-type kids yet. They want to have lots of room to play & explore...2 things most museums frown on. :001_huh: I see Dottie has already explained that the seaport isn't your typical museum. When we went, we had three kids younger than your oldest, and we all had a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 If your visiting someone in the military they can often get greatly discounted tickets to attractions through the base ITT office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Thanks for the site. My kids aren't really museum-type kids yet. They want to have lots of room to play & explore...2 things most museums frown on. :001_huh: I'm just so surprised how little there is to do in this particular part of the world. /QUOTE] Well, we Nutmeggers just don't like children, that's all. :D Sorry you seem to be striking out regarding fun things to do. I'm biased, but I think Connecticut/Rhode Island/New England is a whole lot of fun. What about local parks? New and different playground equipment is always fun for kids. Does your brother have a library card at his local library? CT libraries offer free or reduced rate "passes" to CT museums that can be checked out like books. astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Here are just a few: Mark Twain house http://marktwainhouse.org/ Harriet Beecher Stowe house http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/ the Wadsworth Atheneum museum http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org/ Hopeville Pond State Park http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325218&depNav_GID=1650 http://www.pequotmuseum.org/ http://www.heritagetrail.com/Heritage_Trail_Cafe_and_Vineyard/home.html http://www.ussnautilus.org/ FREE http://www.thedinosaurplace.com/ http://arboretum.conncoll.edu/ http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325198&depNav_GID=1650 Gillette Castle http://www.ctrivervalley.com/4-Connecticut-CT-in-of/Major-attractions-in-CT/gillette_castle_state_park/index.html http://www.oldemistickvillage.com/ http://www.cteastrrmuseum.org/ railroad Rocky Neck State Park (beach) http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325256&depNav_GID=1650 http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/ Lots of good places in this list, especially the Pequot Museum, Mystic Seaport and the Dinosaur place. I've heard great things about the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (http://www.dpnc.org/) as well, but haven't made it down there yet. Your brother should be able to get free or very discounted passes to any of these places w/his library card. Depending on how long you'll be visiting, you might want to check out Sturbridge Village (osv.org). It's probably about an hour/hour and a half but you could easily spend a day there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 My kids loved The Dinosaur Place. It's at the top of their list when we plan vacations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeghanL Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 The Dinosaur Place did look really cool. A lot of these places look really cool! Thanks to everyone for your suggestions! Now it's getting to the point that we won't be there long enough to do everything. A good problem to have in my book :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vineyard Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Don't know how long you are staying or if you are set on Mystic, excuse if already answered in other posts as I haven't got that far yet, BUT the libraries have passes for free Mystic Seaport usually 2 adults/2 children the Mystic Aquarium is usually reduced may or may not be day specific. Have your brother go to his local library & see what passes they have for free stuff usually a bunch. I've never been to Norwich library, but it's the next town over from me. I do know Colchester library has $$ and alot to offer if you come up lacking in Norwich. If you want just look on surrounding towns libraries & they usually list what passes they have, just need CT library card. I know even our little town with no $ gets some as do all libraries in CT can't remeber which ones off the top of my head. If you're staying for a bit let me know & I'll send off list of things in area. A ton of American History things & such. Have a good visit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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