Lake Compounce Family Theme Park in Bristol, Connecticut opened their doors on May 13, 2006 for their 160th season, making it the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the country. What a Connecticut treasure!

The story of Lake Compounce began in 1846 when scientists who were in search of a body of water for use in an "experiment in electricity" approached Mr. Gad Norton to use his 28-acre lake. The well-publicized event drew thousands of spectators to Mr. Norton's beautiful 300+ acres of property amidst woods and water. Though the scientific experiment was a dud, visitors were so enamored with Mr. Norton's property that he decided to open it to the public as a picnicking and swimming area.

From that day forward, the property grew as a family amusement park to include rides and a concert ballroom. In 1914, the Green Dragon, Lake Compounce's first electric powered roller coaster was opened. The genuine open-air trolley and carousel, both dating back to 1911, remain favorites of park visitors to this day.   More >

Fun, interactive experiences inspire The Maritime Aquarium's half million annual visitors to appreciate Long Island Sound and protect it for future generations. Hundreds of animals from the Sound, engaging exhibits, amazing IMAX movies, marine life study cruises, special events and more mean there's something for every member of the family to enjoy every time you visit The Maritime Aquarium.

Embark on an adventure into the waters of Long Island Sound, from the shallow salt marshes to the open ocean, and come nose to nose with steely-eyed sharks, inches away from fascinating harbor seals, in touch with the seemingly boundless energy of two playful river otters, up close to huge, wrinkly sea turtles, and a stinging tentacle away from a very large tank full of mesmerizing jellies. Get a real feel for the Sound's best ambassadors and get your hands wet at the Aquarium's two touch tanks. Graceful, gliding sting rays await your gentle touch just past the seal pool while crabs, sea stars, clams and other intertidal animals are there for you to meet and touch in a new, improved rocky tidal pool touch tank in The Maritime Aquarium's main galleries.

After you've visited with your favorite animals, it's time to head to "Dinosaur Island." This special exhibit features seven amazingly lifelike, swaying, roaring robotic dinosaurs. There's the double-crested Dilophosaurus, impressive Allosaurus and Stegosaurus, the armored and club-tailed Ankylosaurus, a mother Parasaurolophus tending her nest and, orcourse, the ever-popular, sharp-toothed "king of the dinosaurs," the Tyrannosaurus Rex (or T-Rex)...all in realistic island coast settings. Beyond the excitement and entertainment, "Dinosaur Island" carries an important conservation message, through the topic of extinction, thatresonates with exhibit-goers long after their visit. (Note: For the convenience of the Aquarium's younger visitors who might enjoy the dinosaurs more without their roars, the dinosaurs will be silent from 10 a.m. - 11a.m. every Saturday and Sunday.) In the center of the "Dinosaur Island" exhibit is "Dino Island II 3-D: Escape from Dino Island," an adventure ride that's sure to get your blood pumping. Join the Earth Science Team and help capture Tony, the only remaining male T-Rex in the world, before a volcano erupts and takes out all remaining life. Riders must be at least 36 inches tall to board. Tickets are $5.50 ($4.50 for Maritime Aquarium members).   More >

What's Happening

Jan 30th - Jun 15th	Maritime's IMAX Shows Feature Bugs and Dinosaurs The Maritime Aquarium presents two electrifying IMAX movie adventures, Bugs! and T-Rex: Back to Cretaceous. Come see bugs enlarged up to 250,000 times their normal size on the IMAX screen. “Bugs!” starring Papilio, a butterfly, and Hierodula, a praying mantis (which is the State Insect of Connecticut), follows the life cycles of a mantis and a butterfly, from their birth to their inevitable encounter in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, where predator meets prey. In T-Rex, Dinosaurs are very much alive...at least in the mind of one teenager. When a museum accident opens a portal to the past, Ally Hayden travels back to the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. More >
Jun 16th	The Duke Robillard Band Performs at FTC Jazz, blues and big band interpreter Duke Robillard, founder of Roomful of Blues, will bring his swinging live performance of a variety of blues styles to the Fairfield Theatre Company in one performance at 7:30 PM. His special guests are the Andy Laird Trio. Tickets are $32. More >
Jun 22nd - Aug 3rd	Headliners on Tap for Stamford's Alive @ 5 Concerts -- Including Hootie & The Blowfish Stamford Downtown brings music's top headliners to Columbus Park for 7 Thursday evening free concerts from June 22nd through August 3rd. The line-up features: The Bacon Brothers on June 22nd, Antigone Rising on June 29th, Average White Band on July 6th, The Radiators on July 13, Tito Puente, Jr., and his orchestra on July 20, The Nerds on July 27 and Hootie and the Blowfish on August 3rd. The concerts begin at 5 PM. More >
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