I have 4 children and as a teacher, I am home in the summer. I am lucky to have time to spend with my children, but sometimes it is difficult to find ideas on how to entertain them. I listed some of our favorite places in New England to visit each summer. Click each heading to go to their website for pricing and up-to-date information.
1. Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA
Davis Farmland is a blast! We go every year. They have tons of animals that you can hand feed. You get to hold and bottlefeed the baby goats. They also have a huge splash pad for the kids during the summer as well as a foam bouncy! The pony rides are a hit and you can even hold a snake! The play houses and playground are adorable for the little ones. There is even a special area for your toddlers and babies! It is definitely geared toward the younger children, but my 11-year-old had a blast too!
2. Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI
Roger Williams Park Zoo is a great day out with the family. The park grounds are beautiful and we love having a picnic on the grass. (This is also a great place for family portraits.) The zoo is a blast and there is even a great water play area for the kids in the summer. There is also a zipline and swan boats. The carousel is wonderful and they even have a little train ride and a playground right next to it. If you live close by I definitely recommend the family zoo pass. Well worth it when you have a big family!
3. The Dinosaur Place in Oakdale, CT
If you have a dinosaur fan in the family this place is for you! Our 4-year-old is obsessed! The dinosaur place was loads of fun and we will be returning for his 5th birthday. There are tons of gigantic dinosaurs to check out. The playground is a blast. There is also a great splash pad for those hot days. The maze is really cool for the kids! Check out their website to see other activities you can add on to your visit as well.
4. Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT
Lake Compounce was a ton of fun for the entire family. I grew up in New England my whole life and I didn’t even know that this place existed. There are rides for all ages and as you can see from the upside-down roller coaster photo, I experienced the scariest roller coaster I have ever gone on! I don’t even know if I could personally handle it again, but it was definitely an experience. There is also a huge water park. We ended up renting a cabana for the day which really came in handy when it started to downpour. I would recommend renting a cabana ahead of time if you plan on eating and spending a good chunk of your day at the water park.
5. Cape Cod Inflatable Park in West Yarmouth, MA
The inflatable water park in Cape Cod has become a yearly tradition in our house. It will keep the kids entertained for hours. In fact, we wished we had more time there during our last visit. There are a ton of bounce houses for all ages and ability levels. The water park area is huge! They have cabanas you can rent for the day (book ahead they sell out fast). New this year they have a toddler water area and a flow rider! Tip: Check Groupon for deals or if you stay overnight in their hotel you get 2-day tickets included in your stay.
