Bold Adventure

Lovers of outdoor adventure sports will really fall for this historic old brownstone quarry by the Connecticut River. The park offers rock climbing, cliff jumping, wakeboarding, kayaking, scuba diving and much more - plenty of ways to get your summer thrill.

Billed as “Connecticut's first aerial adventure park,” traverse a network of platforms, walkways and zip lines ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert. In all, there are 15 treetop “trails,” six challenge levels, and 44 zip lines, ensuring a different adventure each time out. And for something really special, try the Adventure Park's Glow in the Park, where you can night climb and zip line after dark on Fridays and Saturdays. Zipping among the strings of lights can feel quite magical.

Although it's most widely known for its roller coasters (the Boulder Dash having been named the No. 1 wooden coaster in the world), the ever-expanding water park at Crocodile Cove is now officially giving the coasters a run for their money.

Get ready to get wet - whether you make a splash in Saturation Station (a kind of watery jungle gym) or relax on the pedal boats that ply the lake waters. On land, there's the classic Wooden Warrior roller coaster and FRANTIC, previously named one of the best thrill rides in America.

Head for the seashore with this sandy beach front park and impressive menu of things to do. The 50-acre park offers an Olympic-sized freshwater pool, miniature golf, a carousel, rides and a full schedule of summer events. There's even a nature walk and observation deck for viewing shore birds in their natural habitat.