4-day Family-Friendly Itinerary for Old Lyme, CT

  • Day 1: Florence Griswold Museum
    5 minutes (1.5 miles) from Old Lyme Inn

    Florence Griswold Museum is a historic museum that used to be an artist's colony in the early 20th century. The museum has a beautiful garden and exhibits paintings from that period. Kids can enjoy various activities.

  • Day 2: Mystic Aquarium
    30 minutes (25 miles) from Florence Griswold Museum

    Mystic Aquarium is home to over 300 species of marine animals, and interactive exhibits, and experiences like a ray touch pool, beluga whale encounters, and more.

  • Day 3: The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village
    25 minutes (20 miles) from Mystic Aquarium

    The Dinosaur Place has a variety of activities, including a maze, a playground, a dinosaur trail, and direct encounters with life-size model dinosaurs.

  • Day 4: Gillette Castle State Park
    20 minutes (14.5 miles) from The Dinosaur Place

    Gillette Castle State Park offers hiking trails and a visit to a 24-room 'castle' built by William Gillette, and offers views of the Connecticut River.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Florence Griswold Museum (2 hours, $15 adults, $14 senior, $5 students, free for children 12 and under)
  • Mystic Aquarium (4 hours, $40 adults, $37 senior, $29 children 3-13, free for children 2 and under)
  • The Dinosaur Place (3 hours, $14.99 per person, free for children under 2)
  • Gillette Castle State Park (2 hours, parking fee $7 per car, free for pass holders)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $176.99

Transportation

While transportation options are limited in Old Lyme, renting a car would be the most convenient way to travel to the itinerary's locations. However, taxi and ride-sharing services are available in the area. The estimated cost for a rental car for four days is $200, and taxi rides vary depending on the destination.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you may consider adding Essex Steam Train and Riverboat or Old Saybrook Point. If you have less time, you may consider removing The Dinosaur Place from the itinerary.

Airports

The nearest airport to Old Lyme, CT is Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (HVN), which is about 30 miles southwest of the city center.

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