by Cornelia Fortier

In warm weather, it's hard to tear ourselves away from Fairfield County, with all there is to see and do. But sometimes, mid-summer melt-down sets in, with the kids feeling pent up and us parents, looking for relief. The perfect antidote? Piling in the car for a day trip to explore attractions beyond our county's borders. Take this prescription and it's likely everyone will return restored and ready for a healthy dose of fun at home.

Famous People Lived Here

Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT, 203-777-1833, http://www.eliwhitney.org/museum.htm. Not just a museum, though some of Whitney's brilliant inventions are on display, but also a workshop where kids can buy kits and get to work building them, with guidance if needed. The grounds also offer a picturesque walk and a waterfall.

Gillette Castle, 67 River Road, East Haddam, CT, 860-526-2336
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325204&depNav_GID=1650. In the early 20th century, William Hooker Gillette, noted actor, director, and playwright, built this quirky, twenty-four room mansion, with its secret passages and unusual woodwork, modelled on a medieval castle. It sits on 184 acres featuring trails and vistas.

Mark Twain House and Museum,  351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 860-247-0998, http://www.marktwainhouse.org. Samuel Clemens commissioned the building of this unusual and ahead-of-its-time 19 room Victorian house where he and his family lived from 1873-1891. Designated a National Historic Landmark, it attracts more than 60,000 visitors a year. The museum contains rare manuscripts, photos, artifacts, fine and decorative arts.

Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street, Coventry, CT, 860-742-6917, http://ctlandmarks.org/hale.php. "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," declared Captain Nathan Hale moments before the British hanged him as a spy in 1776. Connecticut's official State Hero, he was born here and spent most of his short life (he died at 21) on this 400-acre farm. The Homestead remains very much as it was in 1776.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest Street, Hartford, CT, 860-522-9258, http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/index_home.shtml. The restored home of the celebrated author of Uncle Tom's Cabin also features materials including books, manuscripts and artifacts of 19th century Americana.

The Henderson Cultural Center at Hunt Hill Farm, 44 Upland Road, New Milford, CT, 860- 355-0300, http://www.hunthillfarmtrust.org/index.php?/cultural/. The property of musician and conductor Skitch Henderson is now the Skitch Henderson Museum, dedicated to Maestro Henderson's collections, which cover aviation, banks and musical instruments, including a signed Steinway piano. There is also a gallery, cooking store and 40 acres of farm and woodlands.

Strictly for Fun

Aida, at Triarts Sharon Playhouse, 49 Amenia Road, Sharon, CT, 860-364-7469, http://triarts.net/mainstage.php. From July 31st through August 17th, enjoy Elton John and Tim Rice's hip version of  Aida, a reworking of the classic opera set in ancient Egypt. A powerful love story, it also has a modern, rock 'n roll vibe.

Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte. 7, New Milford, CT, 508-896-1975, http://www.etflea.com/index.htm. Open Sundays only, the market sits on 55 acres choc-a-block with dealers offering: glassware, health products, vintage and new tools, vintage clothing, coins, decoys, old and new books, shrubs, plants, flowers, garden ornaments, cassette and videotapes, CD's, rugs, antique toys, collectibles, antique furniture, Depression glass, jewelry, pewter, electronic equipment, new and second-hand clothing, garden supplies, dried flowers, old bottles, craft items, hair accessories, baseball cards, toys, outdoor tents, weather vanes, art deco items -- and more!

Ocean Beach Park, 1225 Ocean Avenue, New London, CT,  860-447-303, http://www.ocean-beach-park.com/. For a day of outdoor fun, this park is a giant-sized entertainment center, offering the ocean, a boardwalk, an olympic-sized pool with triple slides, nature walks and a family fun center.

The Dinosaur Place, 1650 Route 85, Montville, CT,  860-443-4367, http://www.thedinosaurplace.com/. Over 25 life-sized dinosaurs set along 1½ miles of easy walking trails, as well as an indoor center with hands-on interactive activties.

The Goshen Fair, Route 63, Goshen, CT, http://www.goshenfair.org/. An old-fashioned agricultural fair (tractor pulls, woodcutting demonstrations, farm animals) with plenty of modern entertainment and traditional fair food, taking place over three days, August 30th, 31st and September 1st.

The International Skating Center of Connecticut, 1375 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, 860-651-5400, http://www.isccskate.com. Rated one of the top 10 rinks in the U.S. by Forbes Magazine, this world-class, twin-rink training facility which boasts of being homebase for Ekaterina Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov, Viktor Petrenko, Oksana Baiul and Ilia Kulik, among many others, offers regular public skates.

The Litchfield Jazz Festival, Goshen Fairgrounds, Route 63, Goshen, CT, http://www.litchfieldjazzfest.com/. Three days, August 1st through 3rd, of top-notch jazz as well as unusual and elegant crafts and food for many palates, ranging from terrific Thai to memorable four-alarm chili. This year's line-up of performers includes Dave Brubeck, Paquito D'Rivera and John Pizzarelli and orchestra.

A Trip Back in Time

The Institute for Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT 860-868-0518,  http://www.birdstone.org/. Celebrating Native American culture, this gem of a museum features an indoor re-creation of an Algonkian longhouse, containing both original and replicated artifacts, an interactive kids' Discovery Room and other recreated spaces and exhibits.

American Clock & Watch Museum, 100 Maple St., Bristol, CT, 860- 583-6070, http://www.clockmuseum.org/. An extensive collection of American manufactured clocks, the museum contains over 1,500 clocks and watches including old advertising clocks, punch clocks, grandfather clocks, blinking-eye clocks, railroad clocks and even Hickory Dickory Dock clocks.

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, One Railroad Avenue, Essex, CT, 860-767-0103,  http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/. Get on board for an hour-long train ride or ride the train and follow the trip with a riverboat ride. Both explore the pristine Connecticut River Valley.  An interactive museum, River Valley Junction, adds to the fun at the Essex station.

Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd., Middlebury, CT,  203-577-2181, http://www.goldenagetruckmuseum.com/. Over 40 antique trucks, carriages, cars and boats in a rotating collection, as well as other collectibles, photographs, vanity license plates and a kids' area.

Naugatuck Railroad, At The Railroad Museum of New England, 242 East Main St., Thomaston, CT, 860- 283-RAIL, http://www.rmne.org/. Take a 20 mile  round trip scenic train ride for one hour and 15 minutes. All trains depart from the historic 1881 Thomaston Station. Also, on August 1,2,3 and 8,9,10, take a 25 minute ride with the classic storybook  engine Thomas the Tank Engine. Meet Sir Topham Hatt and build with Legos, during the museum's Discover Thomas days.

New England Air Museum,  Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT, 860-623-3305, http://www.neam.org/exhibits/exhibits.asp. Over 125 aircraft and 200 aircraft engines as well as aviation artifacts are on display. Exhbits cover: the Wright Brothers engine exhibits and photos, the Tuskegee Airmen, Lafayette Escadrille of WWI, Kosciuszko Squadron Exhibit and more.

New England Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Ave., Bristol, CT,  860-585-5411, http://www.thecarouselmuseum.org/.The Museum houses one of the largest collections of antique carousel pieces in the country, which are also restored on site. Guided tours are available.

Natural Wonders

The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, Route 148 in Hadlyme and Chester, CT http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1380&Q=259724&dotPNavCtr.
On foot, by bike or by car, cross the CT River from Hadlyme to Chester or vice versa, in an open, self-propelled craft, 65 feet long and 30 feet wide.  The vessel can accommodate 8 to 9 cars and 49 passengers, and the views are outstanding.

Kent Falls Park, Route 7, Kent, CT 860-927-3238, http://www.ct.gov/Dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325228&depNav_GID=1650.   
A series of waterfalls in a mountain stream come together into falls cascading down 70 feet.  A steep trail, facilitated by wood stairs, allows hiking up beside the falls for scenic views. There are also picnic tables and bathrooms.

Farmington River Tubing, Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area, Route 44, Hartford CT, 860-693-6465,http://www.farmingtonrivertubing.com/.
Ride 2.5 miles down the Farmington River in a tube, taking in the scenery -- and navigating three sets of rapids!