Family Fun Weekend
Families can enjoy endless fun for a weekend away in Norwalk!
Whether you are coming from near or far, Norwalk is the perfect destination for a weekend of family fun.
From the educational, to the creative, to the food, families can find plenty to do while visiting this beautiful and bustling shoreline city based right on the Long Island Sound.
Where to stay
Hotel Zero Degrees — the cool and trendy Hotel Zero Degrees offers incredible on-site dining, a fitness center, and a fabulous roof-top deck complete with a giant chess game and areas to lounge.
The Residence Inn by Marriot — Located in the heart of the exciting South Norwalk area, this inn offers walking distance access to acclaimed dining, fun shopping, museums and waterfront walks and playgrounds. It also offers a rooftop with a spectacular view of the Sound.
For more options, visit our Places to Stay info page here.
What to do
Families with younger children will love Stepping Stones Museum, which offers kids a chance to play and learn — it has standing and changing exhibits to enthrall your little one’s imagination and creativity.
All ages will be swept away by the magic of the Maritime Aquarium in the heart of South Norwalk. Visitors can sit by the large panoramic view of a floor to ceiling shark tank and watch the majestic, finned friends glide by along with their smaller counterparts. Young children will marvel at the magical jellyfish tank and love the interactive touch tanks and live feeding of the seals.
Step into history with a tour of the Lockwood-Mathews Museum, which has served as the backdrop of many blockbuster movies. Built by renowned financier and railroad tycoon LeGrand Lockwood from 1864-1868, the mansion’s unparalleled architecture and interiors illustrates the beauty and splendor of the Victorian Era.
For some shopping and dining fun, the sparkling new SoNo Collection shopping mall offers many opportunities for families, especially at Pinstripes, where visitors can take in some bowling before or after enjoying classic pub food.
Where to play
No visit to Norwalk would be complete without spending time at the stunning Calf Pasture Beach. It offers baseball/softball, volleyball, skate park, a playground, refreshing splash pad, sun and sand sports, the sailing school, bocce, basketball, and 3/4 of a mile of scenic coastline with tremendous views. Non-residents can visit free through May 15, after there is a fee of $40/car on weekdays before 5:00pm, $20/ car after 5:00pm. and $65/car on Saturday and Sunday.
It wouldn’t be a shoreline visit without a scenic boat ride. From May through September, visitors can visit take a three-hour excursion on a 45-foot C.J. Toth to visit the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, which is owned and maintained by the Norwalk Seaport Association.
What to eat
Norwalk offers critically renowned dining ranging from casual to elegant. Families will love the area favorites, like Letizia’s or Colony Grill’s thin crust pizza, or dining on the water at SoNo Seaport Seafood, Rowayton Seafood or Harbor Lights. A variety of cuisines can be found in the center of South Norwalk, whether it be the traditional pub fare at Donovan’s or O’Neill’s, ramen or pho at Mecha Noodle Bar, a culinary visit to Europe at Bruxelles or some sports bar fare at The Blind Rhino.
No matter what your family enjoys eating, they will find the best of it in Norwalk.
There are endless ways for a family to enjoy the vibrant, culturally diverse and stunning city of Norwalk, whether you are coming from next door or the next state.