A charming seaside town located on Long Island Sound, Fairfield, Connecticut is an exciting community to live in. Fairfield is located between Bridgeport and Westport and hosts a wide range of cultural and outdoor activities for residents. With five town beaches, Fairfield is famous for New England beach living, including watersports like paddleboarding, swimming, and kayaking. On land, Fairfield also has many public parks and two golf courses.
Families love Fairfield, as it has some of the best-rated public and private schools in the country. Fairfield has many large, single-family homes with plenty of private, outdoor space and quiet streets. Houses in Fairfield are a mix of historical, colonial, and modern construction. If your family is thinking of relocating to the Fairfield area, you might be wondering what kind of activities are available for families. This guide will walk you through some of the best activities for families in Fairfield, Connecticut.
#1 Jennings Beach
The beach is always a family favorite and Fairfield has several to choose from. Jennings Beach is located along the north end of the Fairfield shoreline and is the largest beach park in Fairfield at 27 acres. Younger children can explore the sandcastle playground at Henry Rowland Memorial Playground, while older children might enjoy rolling around at the skate park. When everyone is hungry, there are plenty of summer favorites at the snack shack. For your little ones, swimming lessons are offered and lifeguards are on duty. The beach also hosts a variety of family-friendly events such as bonfire nights, Fourth of July fireworks, live music, and movie nights on the beach.
#2 Rock Climb Fairfield
Climbing and exploring come naturally to children and one way to harness that explosive energy is through rock climbing. Rock Climb Fairfield is one of Connecticut’s largest indoor climbing gyms and features a variety of terrain at many difficulty levels. The gym hosts plenty of family-friendly events and has plenty of youth climbing programs for children of all ages.
#3 The Beardsley Zoo
Located nearby in Bridgeport, the Connecticut Beardsley Zoo has hundreds of different animals and rotating exhibits. Operating for over 100 years, the zoo is a long-standing community tradition and brings nature and scientific education to the community. The zoo also hosts many family activities, such as light-up zoo nights, fairy tales told in the zoo, and educational programs led by scientists.
#4 The Steppingstones Museum for Children
In the town next door in Norwalk, the Steppingstones Museum for Children features many exciting exhibits for children of all ages. With exciting rotating exhibits and even exhibits you can rent and take home, there’s plenty of wonder and fun at this museum. Examples of exhibits include energy labs, lightscapes, dinosaurs, and multimedia experiences. The museum also hosts ongoing programs as well as camps for children and families such as storytelling, music making, and STEAM programs.
#5 The Maritime Aquarium
Nearby the Steppingstones Museum for Children is the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. With 75 different exhibits featuring over 7,000 animals, there’s no shortage of things to do at the Maritime Aquarium. Jellyfish, river otters, sharks, sea turtles, corals, and many species of fish call the aquarium home. Fairfield residents can visit these creatures all year round and even interact with some in the touch tanks. In addition to live exhibits, the aquarium also has a wide range of educational programs for children, including virtual programs, camps, and sleepover events.
#6 Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center and Planetarium
In Bridgeport, the Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center and Planetarium offer science and space exhibits that are fun for everyone in the family. The museum features a large planetarium with a 3-foot diameter dome and a dual-projector 4k laser projection system that will make you feel like you’re in the stars. In addition to the planetarium, the museum also has many exhibits featuring exciting information about our solar system and beyond, as well as educational programs and community events.
#7 Sports Center of Connecticut
Photo courtesy of Sports Center of Connecticut
Located about twenty minutes outside of Fairfield in Shelton is the Sports Center of Connecticut. This amusement center has everything an active family could need for a day of fun and connection. The complex includes both indoor and outdoor activities for all ages. Families can enjoy a round of miniature golf and then head to the arcade to compete in classic games. After lunch families can burn off the energy with a game of laser tag, a bowling tournament, or ice skating. The complex hosts over twenty different activities that will keep the family busy and bonding all day.
Curious about living in Fairfield?
There’s no shortage of fun things to do for your whole family in Fairfield, Connecticut. With great schools, beautiful homes, outdoor space, and many educational activities, Fairfield, Connecticut is one of the best places to raise a family in Connecticut.
If your family is ready to make the move to Fairfield Connecticut or the surrounding neighborhoods, you’ll need an excellent realtor to help you navigate the competitive market. Shoshana Snyder and her team are some of the leading real estate agents in the Fairfield area and have over a decade of expertise in New England real estate. Shoshana knows the importance of getting to know her clients and always puts her clients first. Her integrity and commitment to client satisfaction have resulted in stellar client reviews and hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate sold.
If you’re looking for Fairfield homes, or are ready to sell your Connecticut home, Shoshana and her team are ready to help you with your next move. From listing your home, or searching online all the way through the negotiation process, Shoshana is ready to assist you in meeting all of your real estate goals.