Whether you're planning a quick weekend getaway or a week-long family escape, there are many reasons to choose Connecticut as your destination. These Family Fun Plans offer suggestions to help you fill your days with enjoyable activities for kids, parents, and even grandparents. Use them as a starting point to design an itinerary that's right for you.

A Wet and Wild Summer Weekend

Who says a brief weekend getaway can't be fun-filled? Here's how to make the most of a two-night summer jaunt to Connecticut.

Friday Night: Check in to the Clarion Hotel in Bristol (42 Century Drive, 860-589-7766, www.choicehotels.com) early enough to allow time for a dip in the indoor heated pool. Then enjoy an all-you-can-eat seafood dinner at the hotel's Jillian's Restaurant.

Saturday: In the morning, wet your whistle by visiting Avery's Beverages (520 Corbin Avenue, New Britain, 860-224-0830, www.averysoda.com), where soda is still made in small batches using generations-old recipes. Founded in 1904, Avery's is one of New England's oldest bottlers, and kids will love sipping soda flavors like strawberry, pink lemonade, and orange cream. Call ahead, and they'll give you a tour of the factory and even let you concoct your own unique beverage. Enjoy a light lunch at The Flatbread Company (110 Albany Turnpike/Route 44, Canton, 860-693-3314, www.flatbreadcompany.com), where chewy, wood-fired pizzas are topped with organic local ingredients. Then, get ready for a wild river ride at Farmington River Tubing (Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area, Route 44, New Hartford, 860-693-6465, www.farmingtonrivertubing.com). Dry off back at the hotel, and head out to Frankies (1195 Farmington Avenue, Bristol, 860-584-9826, www.frankieshotdogs.com) for a famous “Frankie” topped with anything from chili to bacon; you'll find burgers, fried clams, chicken wings, Philly steaks, and plenty of kids' menu items, too.

Sunday: Spend the day at Lake Compounce (822 Lake Avenue, 860-583-3300, www.lakecompounce.com), home to Connecticut's largest water park, Splash Harbor, plus thrill rides, kiddie rides, shows, and more. There's plenty to do until it's time to bid Connecticut adieu.

Five Days in and Around Hartford

Connecticut's centrally located capital city makes a great home base for exploring the state. The Residence Inn Hartford Downtown (942 Main Street, 860-524-5550, www.marriott.com/property/propertypage/BDLRI) is a good choice for extended family stays; all suites have full kitchens, and room rates include a hot buffet breakfast daily and a light supper weekdays. Hartford's free Star Shuttle picks up passengers at a stop across the street from the hotel.

Day One: Explore downtown Hartford: the State Capitol Building (210 Capitol Avenue, 860-240-0222), the Old State House (800 Main Street, 860-522-6766, www.ctosh.org), Bushnell Park (Trinity Street at Elm Street, 860-232-6710, www.bushnellpark.org), and the Wadsworth Atheneum art museum (600 Main Street, 860-278-2670, www.wadsworthatheneum.org).

Day Two: On the western outskirts of the city, visit the Mark Twain House (351 Farmington Avenue, 860-247-0998, www.marktwainhouse.org) and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (77 Forest Street, 860-522-9258, www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org). If time allows, travel farther west on Farmington Avenue and explore the shops in West Hartford Center. Plan an early-evening picnic in the fragrant, historic rose gardens of Elizabeth Park (Prospect Avenue, 860-231-9443, www.elizabethpark.org), or dine at the park's Pond House Café (860-231 8823, www.pondhousecafe.com).

Day Three: Take a day trip to Bristol, where you can explore The New England Carousel Museum (95 Riverside Avenue, 860-585 5411, www.thecarouselmuseum.org) and spend the rest of the day playing at Lake Compounce (822 Lake Avenue, 860-583-3300, www.lakecompounce.com).

Day Four: Spend a low-key day visiting some of the area's best free places for kids, including Jonathan's Dream (335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford), the first playground designed for children of all abilities, and Westmoor Park (119 Flagg Road, West Hartford), a demonstration farm where you can walk nature trails and see barnyard animals up-close. If your kids are a bit older, head to Talcott Mountain State Park (57 Gun Mill Road, Bloomfield, 860-242-1158), and hike the mile-and-a-quarter Tower Trail to the summit, where you can climb Heublein Tower for panoramic views. After a day outdoors, treat yourselves to an entertaining dinner around the Japanese hibachi tables at Ginza (14 Wintonbury Mall, Bloomfield, 860-242-8289, www.ginzacuisine.com).

Day Five: Before you take off for home, visit the New England Air Museum (Route 75, Windsor Locks, 860-623-3305, www.neam.org), located about twenty minutes north of Hartford near Bradley International Airport. Here, kids can learn about aviation, participate in hands-on activities, and even take the controls of a computer flight simulator.

A Week along the Connecticut Coast

Connecticut's shoreline is rich in history, but kids will find this week-long escape anything but boring. Along the way, there's fun for Mom and Dad, too, and plenty of good food, including famous pizza and burgers, and of course, seafood.

Day One: Start out at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk (10 North Water Street, 203-852-0700, www.maritimeaquarium.org) to explore the marine life of Long Island Sound and take in a colossal IMAX movie. In the afternoon, take I-95 North to exit 27 and visit the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport (820 Main Street, 203-331-1104, www.barnum-museum.org), a monument to the Greatest Showman on Earth.

Day Two: Continue north on I-95 to exit 47 for New Haven, home of historic Yale University. Tour the campus in the morning, and spend the afternoon exploring one or two of the university's splendid museums of art, rare books, or natural history. When your gang gets hungry, be sure to stop by Louis' Lunch (261-263 Crown Street, 203-562-5507, www.louislunch.com) to eat flame-cooked burgers prepared just as Louis Lassen made them when he invented the hamburger in New Haven in 1900.

Day Three: Continue north on I-95 to exit 63, stopping in Clinton at the Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets (20-A Killingworth Turnpike, 860-664-0700, www.premiumoutlets.com), or to exit 65 for the Tanger Outlet Center in Westbrook (314 Flat Rock Place, 860-399-8656, www.tangeroutlet.com) to scout for bargains. If the temperatures are sweltering, spend some time relaxing and cooling off at nearby Hammonasset Beach State Park at exit 62 in Madison. Have dinner overlooking Long Island Sound at Bill's Seafood in Westbrook (548 Boston Post Road, 860-399-7224, www.billsseafood.com), located off I-95 at exit 65.

Day Four: Take Route 9 North from I-95 to explore the Connecticut River towns of Old Saybrook, Essex, and East Haddam. The quirky Gillette Castle in East Haddam (67 River Road, 860-526-2336, www.dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/gillettecastle.htm) is a must-see. Essex is home to the Connecticut River Museum (67 Main Street, 860-767 8269, www.ctrivermuseum.org), whose changing exhibits focus on the region's history and eagle cruises depart during winter months. You'll find quaint shops, art galleries, and seafood restaurants tucked away in these river towns. Plan to dine aboard the 1920s-era Essex Clipper Dinner Train operated by The Valley Railroad Company in Essex (One Railroad Avenue, 860-767-0103 or 800-377-3987, www.essexsteamtrain.com).

Day Five: Well, I-95 should feel like an old friend by now. Heading north once again, stop at exit 90 for the town of Mystic, one of Connecticut's most popular destinations. Explore the town's whaling history at Mystic Seaport (75 Greenmanville Avenue, 860-572-5315 or 888-973-2767, www.mysticseaport.org). Grab a slice of heaven at Mystic Pizza (56 West Main Street, 860-536-3700, www.mysticpizza.com), made famous by the movie. Then spend the afternoon with whales, sea lions, and penguins at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration (55 Coogan Boulevard, 860-572-5955, www.mysticaquarium.org). If it's a perfect summer evening, dine in nearby Noank at Abbott's Lobster in the Rough (117 Pearl Street, 860-536-7719, www.abbotts-lobster.com), where you can feast on the freshest seafood at a picnic table overlooking the Sound as the sun sets.

Day Six: Had enough family togetherness? Part ways for a bit at Mohegan Sun Casino (1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, 888-226-7711, www.mohegansun.com), located just a short detour off I-95 in Uncasville. Grownups can gamble or shop while little ones ages six months to twelve years enjoy supervised play activities at Kids Quest. Reconnect for a memorable meal at an all-you-can-eat buffet, Geno Auriemma's Fast Break — the food court named for the Basketball Hall of Famer and University of Connecticut women's basketball coach, or one of the casino's fine restaurants.

Day Seven: If you're returning home on I-95 South, stop at exit 86 and submerge yourself in the nautical marvels of the Submarine Force Museum at Groton (One Crystal Lake Road, 860-694-3174 or 800-343-0079, www.ussnautilus.org), where you can tour the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.