Top Day Trips On A Budget Near Connecticut

Spending a day or weekend away from home can come at a cost. To avoid breaking the bank, consider some of the activities and museums that Connecticut has to offer as places to go on a budget. Public parks or farms, museums and the PEZ Visitor Center offer unique and fun opportunities at an affordable rate. When planning your next day trip, consider one of these fun spots.

Brooksvale Park
524 Brooksvale Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518
(203) 287-2669
www.hamden.com

A little secret the residents of Hamden have been keeping is Brooksvale Park. It is the perfect place to spend your day outdoors. The activities at Brooksvale are family friendly and free. Children will love the animals at the barn, the toddler playground and the open play area. Adults will love the 500-acre wildlife sanctuary and wildlife garden. Pavilions are available to enjoy lunch. Seasonal activities include ice skating and a maple sugaring shack.

Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum
55 Bridge St.
Willimantic, CT 06226
(860) 456-9999
www.cteastrrmuseum.org

An affordable museum to explore is the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum. Take a guided tour with staff. Children will get the chance to be an engineer, operating an 1850s-style car along part of the railroad. Locomotives and vintage railroad buildings decorate the museum. Admission is $5 per person, only $1 per child ages 8 to 12 and free for children under 8.

PEZ Visitor Center
35 Prindle Hill Road
Orange, CT 06477
(203) 298-0201
www.pez.com

Get a glimpse into the PEZ factory at the visitor center located in Orange. For a reasonably cheap price, visitors can learn about PEZ candy history, play trivia games, see PEZ collections from the very first to the most recent designs and buy candy to bring home. During working hours, visitors can view workers making the sugary sweet candy from behind a clear glass. For each admission ticket purchased, you will get $2 back to spend in the store.

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Bishop's Orchards
1355 Boston Post Road
Guilford, CT 06437
(203) 453-2338
www.bishopsorchards.com

Bishop's Orchards is the ideal spot to enjoy time outside during the autumn months. Its outdoor activities attract families and friends. Some of the activities include picking your own fruit such as pears and apples or finding your pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. Seasonal events this fall include the little red barn which features a corn maze, tractor track, donkey rides and face painting. The aroma of freshly popped kettle corn will fill the air. To save money, visit during the week as prices for activities increase on weekends. For adults age 21 and over, Bishop's Orchards is part of the Connecticut Wine Trail and features a winery with samples indoors.

Stamford Museum & Nature Center
39 Scofieldtown Road
Stamford, CT 06903
(203) 322-1646
www.stamfordmuseum.org

There are so many options to entertain when spending a day at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. Fan favorites include Heckscher Farm, the playground and the animal embassy. Pack a lunch to save money and enjoy a picnic at the meadow or along one of the trails. Seasonal events cater to both children and adults. Admission price is reasonable. Admission is reduced for children and free for those under age 3.

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