What To Do With the Kids: All Summer Long

What To Do With the Kids: All Summer Long

Sleeping with Wolves, Wolf Conservation Center – Friday & Select Saturdays 6/2 -10/21: 6pm- 8:30am. Camp out overnight with 20+ wolves that call the WCC in South Salem home! It’s cheaper than a trip to Yellowstone – and you’ll leave a much smaller carbon footprint. The evening includes a pizza party with Ambassador wolves Atka, Alawa, Nikai and Xephyr, movies under the stars, tents for all campers, fireside snacks and a light breakfast. Pre-registration is required at www.nywolf.com)

Cool! Marine Life Study Cruises, Maritime Aquarium Norwalk – Sat, 4/29-Sat, 9/30: 1-3:30pm. Study the biodiversity of Long Island Sound’s interdependent marine life. Participants utilize such sampling techniques as a plankton tow, bio-dredge, mud grab and otter trawl that may bring up fish, crabs, lobsters, sea stars and more. A video microscope and touch tank on board enhance observations. Check dates. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

New Coral Reef Exhibit, Maritime Aquarium, Sun-Sat: 10am-5pm: The Maritime Aquarium recently debuted their new Coral Reef Exhibit featuring more than 40 species of reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific in their new 3000 gallon tank. Also new is a Sketch & Release video wall where kids can digitally color sharks, sea turtles and other marine animals onto their giant screen. (10 Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Sheffield Island Lighthouse Cruises, Norwalk Harbor – 5/27-9/25: 11am, 2 & 3:30pm: Board the 45-foot C.J. Toth catamaran for a cruise to Sheffield Island on the Long Island Sound for a lighthouse tour, a hike through Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and a picnic and beach front activities. Sails run on weekends & holidays in June and September and daily in July & August. (Norwalk Seaport Association Dock, 4 North Water St., Norwalk, Ct.; www.seaport.org)

Pride of the Hudson River Cruise, Newburg – 5/17-10/29: 1 & 4pm: See the majestic beauty of the Hudson River on this 2-hour narrated river adventure from Newburgh to West Point taking in the sights of Washington’s Headquarters, World’s End, Mt. Beacon, Bannerman Island, Constitution Island, Breakneck Mountain, and the town of Cold Spring. (Blu Pointe Landing, 100 Front St., Newburgh; www.prideofthehudson.com)

Rye Playland – Sat 5/20 – Mon 9/4: check times: There’s 42 carnival rides, entertainment in Kiddyland and the Music Tower Stage every day at Rye Playland – except Mondays! Plus a beach nearby. There are kiddy rides like the Kiddy Coaster, Carousel and Whip and family rides like the Gondola Wheel, Family Flyer and Bumper Cars. Plus thrill rides like the Sky Flyer, Dragon Coaster and the Playland Plunge. And fireworks every Friday at 9:15pm from 7/1-9/1. Gotta go once!  www.ryeplayland.org)

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Sat-Sun, 6/10-10/22: 10am-5pm: This “living” museum of antique aviation, offers one of the largest collections of early aero- planes (1909 to 1939) in the world plus weekend airshows and bi-plane rides (shown here). The museum displays aircraft from the Pioneer Era, World War I and the Lindbergh Barnstorming era. Museum hours are 10am-5pm. Air shows 2-4pm. (9 Norton Rd, Red Hook; www.oldrhinebeck.org)

Spirit of the Sound Lighthouse Cruise West – Sat, 6/10, 7/1, 8/5 & 9/2: 9am-4pm: The Norwalk Aquarium’s Spirit of the Sound catamaran’s 6 hour Western Long Island Lighthouse Cruise makes passes at Greens Ledge, Sheffield Island, Stamford Harbor, Great Captain Island, Execution Rocks, Stepping Stones, Sands Point and Eaton Neck. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Local! Armonk’s Third Thursdays, Chili Cookoff, Antique Cars, Street Circus – Thurs, 6/15, 7/20 & 8/17: 5-9pm: The Armonk Chamber of Commerce presents music, activities and special promotions from retailers and restaurants in downtown Armonk the third Thursday in June, July and August. Upcoming street fests will feature a Chili Cook-off from local restaurants on June 15; A Classic/Antique Car Show on July 20 and a “Street Circus” with performers throughout town on August 17. www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com)

Spirit of the Sound Lighthouse Cruise Central – Sat, 6/17, 7/15, 8/19 & 9/16: 9am-4pm: The Norwalk Aquarium’s Spirit of the Sound catamaran’s 4 ½ hour Central Long Island Sound cruise visits five century old beacons. Including Peck Ledge, Greens Ledge and Sheffield Island lighthouses in Norwalk, Penfield Reef Lighthouse in Fairfield and Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light in New Haven. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ride, Daily 6/17-8/27, Weekends 9/1-10/22: Take a 2 ½ hour narrated train and riverboat ride through what the Nature Conservancy calls “one of the last great places on earth,” the Connecticut River Valley. The train passes farms, waterfalls, and wetland habitats with blue heron and egrets. The riverboat cruise on the Connecticut River passes the historic Gillette Castle, Goodspeed Opera House and Haddam Swing Bridge. Check out their special Dinner Train, Riverboat Lunch and Sunset Excursions. (1 Railroad Ave., Essex, CT; www.essexsteamtrain.com)

Public Sails on the Schooner Soundwaters – Thurs-Sun, 6/22-8/6 & Fri-Sun, 9/1-10/1: check times:Board the 80’ Tall Schooner Soundwaters, the ship that Pete Seeger made famous, for a two-hour afternoon journey on the Long Island Sound. The Schooner Soundwaters, seats 40 and sails from Boccuzzi Park in Stamford. Sunset sails are offered on Friday and Saturday nights and Fireworks Sails on 6/30 & 7/1. (Bocuzzi Park at Southfield, 166 Southfield Ave., Stamford CT; www.soundwaters.org)