Summer Sports Camp

Begin your camp at the appropriately named SportsCenter of Connecticut in Shelton. Here you’ll find batting cages, mini-golf, ice skating and hockey, a golf driving range, target paintball and laser tag. That should be enough to get this Getaway off to a good start.

Next, head north to Southbury for an actual round of golf on a par-3, 9-hole course. Gainfield Farms welcomes kids, and its country setting and short holes are just about perfect for children, especially those who aren’t too experienced.

For an overnight, the Heritage Hotel in Southbury is practically right next door and it offers even more sports options for kids. There are indoor and outdoor pools, table tennis, real tennis and more.

Up early and fully rested, now it’s time to head over to Portland and the extraordinary Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park. This sports playground, built within and around an old brownstone quarry, offers swimming and snorkeling, rock climbing, scuba diving, cliff jumping, wakeboarding, zip lines (some that end up splashing into the water), kayaking and hiking/biking. Really.

In winter, Powder Ridge in Middlefield is a ski mountain, but when the snow is off the slopes, mountain biking trails open up. Be prepared to take on some of the state’s most challenging trails.

And if you and yours still haven’t had enough, make an evening visit to the Berlin Batting Cages in Berlin. The batting cages, bumper boats, Go-Kart raceway and two mini-golf courses will bring this camp to an appropriate conclusion.