Giraffes Can’t Dance is coming to Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 17! This is one of my FAVORITE children’s books- and for good reason!
All the animals in the jungle know their own special dance, but Gerald the Giraffe can’t seem to move without a clumsy step. But with the help of a wise cricket, he finds his own song, and dances to the beat of his own drum! In this stage adaptation of the beloved children’s book, with puppets, African rhythm, and lots of dancing, Gerald learns that his differences are what make him special. Based on the bestselling picture book, this favorite children’s musical with original songs will transport you and your family to Africa where you will meet a cast of characters guaranteed to make you laugh and think. Most of all, Gerald’s story will remind you that we all can dance when we find music that we love.
In honor of the performance, we’re making a list of some of Connecticut’s most unique attractions.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Park, Lavender Pond Farm
Unique, Fun, and Cool Things that are Free:
- Ballard Puppet Museum, UCONN Storrs: Did you know UConn has a free museum entirely dedicated to PUPPETS? Visit to see over 3,000 puppets! For an extra fee, they offer workshops, performances, and more.
- Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill: See evidence of Dinosaurs Long Ago on the many trails, look for bats, and stop by the visitor center, which is free with a Library Pass!
- Lavender Pond Farm, Killingworth: Stroll along in fields of lavender, play giant lawn games, see the Fairy Garden, or pay an additional fee for a fun train ride.
- Charles Island, Silver Sands State Park, Milford: Thought to be home to Captain Kidd’s Lost Treasure, visitors can walk to Charles Island from Silver Sands State Park. Mind the tides- it can be dangerous at certain times. Make sure you listen to local authorities for safe crossing times.
- Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford: This is a state park with the most gorgeous gardens, a mansion that overlooks the water, and some incredible picnic areas. Visit during Kite Flying Days to watch dozens of kites soar across the sky.
- Northwest Park and Nature Center, Windsor: Meet some adorable animals, walk the trails, play on the playground, visit the free nature center and so much more at this beautiful park in Windsor! In the fall, it’s a popular spot for family photos.
- Elizabeth Park, Hartford: The Rose Garden is the stuff of fairy tales, and that’s just the beginning! They have some truly unique flower and plant varieties, and it’s definitely one of the state’s prettiest spots!
- Halfinger Farms, Higganum: This is one of our favorite ways to welcome Spring! Stroll among rows of daffodils, have a picnic. For a fee, you can even pick your own!
- Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven: Finally reopening March 26! The museum’s collections are legendary and they’ve been closed for YEARS! This has been deemed one of the largest collections of Natural History in the world- and it’s FREE to visit!
- Submarine Museum and the USS Nautilus, Groton: Did you know that the Nautilus was used to prove that the Arctic was not a landmass (unlike Antarctica?!?!) Tons of submarine history in Groton!
Photo Credit: Top Dog, Traveler Resturant
Fun Places to Eat:
- Traveler Restaurant, Union: A restaurant that gives every customer a FREE book to go!
- Louis Lunch, New Haven: Did you know that, according to the Library of Congress, the Hamburger was born right here in CT? Visit the birthplace of the hamburger right in New Haven!
- The Place, Guilford: This summer outdoor seafood restaurant cooks clams, lobsters, sweet corn, and more over a crackling wood fore. Visitors sit on adorable tree stumps and watch the food cook.
- Sift Bake Shop, Mystic and Niantic: Headed by the literal “Best Baker in America,” Sift features all sorts of incredible French inspired treats. Come Hungry.
- Arethusa Farms, Bantam: There are actually 3 restaurants here and they are ALL incredible. Their Cheese has won best Cheese in the US, and they’ve recently been featured by the Today Show.
- Parkville Market, Hartford: Connecticut’s first food hall always has something fun going on, and they’ve got so many incredible food choices for everyone.
- Back Again Board Game Cafe, Middletown: Family Friendly Coffee Shop featuring tons of snacks and BOARD GAMES!
- New Haven Pizza Places: Ok, so this could easily be its own article. CT has the best pizza in the country, and everyone has their favorite spot: Sally’s, Modern, Bar, Frank Pepe’s, and Zuppardi’s are just the start!
- Food Truck Paradise, Long Wharf, New Haven: Speaking of New Haven, there is a whole row of food trucks right by the water. Fun place to grab a bit and walk by the water!
- Eli Cannon’s, Middletown: this unique spot in Middletown offers a table with swings, a sandy outdoor patio, and tons of delicious pub style food.
- Little Aladdin, Storrs: A friend of mine from Egypt brought me here, and it’s legitimately some of the most authentic Mediterranean food I’ve ever had. The Shawarma is particularly fantastic.
- Top Dog, Portland: Hot Dog Stand that’s served out of a GIANT HOT DOG!
Photo Credit: CT Science Center, NE Air Museum
Unique, Fun and Cool Museums and Shops:
- Pez Museum, Orange: We’re talking over 4,000 square feet dedicated to all things PEZ! It’s apparently the largest, most comprehensive collection of PEZ memorabilia on public display in the world. Because why not?!?!
- Stew Leonard’s, Various Locations: This is, by far, the craziest grocery store of all time. It’s amazing. We’re talking
- Niantic Book Barn: This place is crazy cool. Thousands of books, many of which are outdoors, a playground, tons of cats that roam the grounds, goats, lawn games, and SO MUCH MORE.
- New England Carousel Museum, Bristol: Huge collection of carousel horses, plus an incredible kids play area, and an indoor carousel that you can ride! Free for kids for 2024.
- Mystic Seaport, Mystic: There are so many hidden gems within this one museum: FREE boat rentals, multiple children’s museums, and so much more!
- Hosmer’s Mountain Soda Shack: This place has been making soda since before WW1 and carries TONS of unique flavors. It’s so fun to go fill a case to enjoy!
- Avery’s Soda, New Britain: Make your own soda, tour a Soda Factory and so much more!
- All the Single Kitties Cat Cafe, Old Saybrook: This adorable stop is the purr-fect place to snuggle with a kitty- and, as a bonus, they’re all available for adoption!
- New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks: Climb into the cockpits of some very cool air craft, play in the kids play area, and delve into the world of aviation history. Kids can even experience flight in a number of different flight simulators!
- Kid Space at the CT Science Center: If your kid likes water tables, you absolutely have to spend some time here. They’ll end up soaked, but your house will stay dry!
Photo Credit: Glow Wild, Beardsley Zoo; Connecticut Renaissance Faire
Fairs, Festivals, and Active Fun:
- Essex Rail Bikes, Essex: Did you know that you can RENT bikes to ride (safely!) on railroad tracks? It looks like a blast- and a gorgeous way to see some CT scenery!
- Coventry Farmer’s Market, Coventry: This is CT’s Largest Farmers Market- we’re talking TONS of vendors and many other things to do! There’s also always live music and activities for kids!
- Brownstone Adventure Park, Portland: This quarry turned water adventure park has tons of areas to zipline, jump, and just have a fantastic time in the water!
- Sonny’s Place, Somers: Tons of family friendly attractions from go-carting to mini golf, to a 3 story enclosed play area, and everything in between!
- IT Adventure Park at Jordan’s Furniture, New Haven: This is a “you have to see it to believe it” situation. Hidden inside a regular furniture store is a 3 STORY indoor CLIMBING ADVENTURE COURSE. They also have a crazy water light show that you can zipline through. It’s nuts.
- The Dinosaur Place, Montville: Tons of LIFE SIZED GIANT dinosaurs along the trails, multiple kids play area, dino maze, and one of the largest splash pads in CT make this a hit with an dinosaur liver.
- CT Renaissance Faire and Robin Hood’s Faire: It’s like a character meet and greet experience without having to go to Disney World. They’re just a whole lot of fun!
- Maple Fest, Hebron: Tractor Parades, tons of maple goodies, and so much more at this annual Winter-Spring festival.
- Any of Connecticut’s Ag Fairs: Durham Fair, Four Town Fair, Hebron Fair- those are just a few of the DOZENS of fairs that make up fair season (end of summer-early Fall). Definitely one of our fav CT Traditions!
