Best Family Activities In Hartford, CT

Known, for its numerous insurance company headquarters, as the “Insurance Capital of the World,” Hartford, CT is at first glance a decidedly “adult” city. A healthy downtown populated by high-rises, a bustling economic life – it’s easy to see why parents would be attracted to Hartford. Need more proof? In 1868, Hartford resident Mark Twain wrote: “Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief.” And while Hartford is far from a “town” today, take one trip to Hartford and you’ll know what Mr. Twain was talking about.

But we’ve left kids out of the equation. Dig a little deeper beneath Hartford’s industrious facade and you’ll find plenty of activities for both children and adults to enjoy. Here are our top ideas for family fun in Hartford, CT:

Our Picks For Family-Friendly Fun In Hartford, CT

Hartford and its sister town East Hartford are separated by the Connecticut River, the longest river in New England. Along this historically-important river, families in need of some R&R will find our first stop in Hartford.

Connecticut Science Center

Overlooking the Connecticut River, the Connecticut Science Center is a stunningly-modern facility that allows children to explore the world’s inner-workings through play-based learning and interactive exhibits.

This summer’s biggest draw is “Mindbender Mansion,” a traveling exhibit that offer kid’s the opportunity to discover the fascinating realm of human perception through puzzles, challenges, and “interactive brain teasers.”

But our favorite is “Sight and Sound,” a “mashup of art, music, and science.” Using lasers and state-of-the-art technology, children “can actually feel sound and hear light.”

Hartford’s Connecticut Science Center is located at 250 Columbus Boulevard.

Have a teen whose been assigned The Adventures of Tom Sawyer? Then our next stop is for you!

The Mark Twain House & Museum In Hartford

Samuel Clemens, commonly known by his pen-name as Mark Twain, was America’s foremost man of letters during the 19th century. Beginning his career as a newspaperman, Clemens quickly found himself more adept as an essayist and novelist.

In 1871, Sam and his family moved to Hartford, occupying a 25 – room mansion on Hartford’s Farmington Avenue. Twain spent his most successful years here, penning such classics as Tom Sawyer, A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He also regularly wrote for Hartford’s newspaper, the Hartford Courant.

At the Mark Twain House & Museum, families are offered a doorway into the past.  Kids can discover an America stunningly different from our own, as illuminated by the works and life of this extraordinary man.

The Mark Twain House & Museum is located at 351 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, CT.

The New Children’s Museum In West Hartford

Across the river in West Hartford, kids will find endless activities the all New Children’s Museum.

At the museum’s Wildlife Sanctuary, which provides a caring home for animals from numerous shelters in the area, children can meet turtles, chinchilla, flying squirrels – even an alligator! By joining the “Junior Keepers Club,” kids can work with professional Animal Curators to groom, feed, and care for these critters.

Our favorite part has to be “Conny The Whale.” Conny, a life-sized sperm whale replica, lives outside the museum’s entrance. Kids can travel through Conny’s 60-foot body, listening to whale sounds and learning more about our friends in the sea. Conny even spouts from her blow hole during the summer!

Catch A Baseball Game

The New Britain Rock Cats, the Minor League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, play their games just a short 15 minutes from Hartford in New Britain, CT. Bring your mitts and appetite; the Rock Cats are known for sending foul balls soaring and the Minors’ best hot dog!

New Britain Stadium is located at 230 John Karbonic Way in New Britain, CT.

Adoption Agency Near Hartford, CT

From our offices in Glastonbury, CT, Adoptions From The Heart offers numerous services to prospective adoptive parents, pregnant women, and children in Hartford.

If you are interested in learning more about adoption in the Hartford area, visit our Adoptions From The Heart: Glastonbury, CT office location page for contact information.