The Preschooler

Take Advantage of State Parks

On a recent trip to Connecticut, my family was able to take advantage of a state park facility that was new to us.  In Rocky Hill, just outside of Hartford, Connecticut, is a dome-shaped building with lots of prehistoric surprises inside.  Before arriving at the center, I figured we would be seeing several dinosaur skeleton replicas and be presented with a steady stream of facts about the dinosaurs.  We were all delighted to find that there were real dinosaur footprints, children’s activities, educational videos presented several times each day, and a nature trail that had trees descended from prehistoric flora labeled with information.

Many of the state parks our family has visited have been very kid-friendly.  The cost is low, and they are always very educational for every member who attends.  Our children love these trips, and my husband and I enjoy them because we get to spend time together as a family where there is something for everyone. 

The cost is typically low for these short excursions so they are something we are able to do frequently.  We actually have a nature center about a mile from our house that we visit at least on a monthly basis.  It is free, and we have found most other state parks to be free or very reasonably priced.

State parks are often overlooked because they don’t typically have the whistles and bells that typically draw in children’s excitement.  However, I think you will find that kids quickly realize how much fun it can be to be immersed in nature, and all it has to offer.

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Written by Laura on April 29, 2011