# Weekend getaways from Fairfield County with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/fairfield-county-ct/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Fairfield County for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Last checked: 2026-10-29. ## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Nov 6–8 Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend. ## Weekend of Nov 13–15: New York City (about 1 hr 15 min) The Holiday Train Show opens Saturday at the New York Botanical Garden, with model trains running past New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts. - **Holiday Train Show at NYBG**, Sat Nov 14, Garden hours; evening hours on select nights, New York Botanical Garden. Timed tickets; see the event page. Opens 11/14; runs through 01/10. Model trains run past New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts. Evening hours run 5–8pm on Nov 27–29 and select December dates. Official page: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2026/ ## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Hartford and New Haven (about 1 hr 15 min) Glow Hartford opens Friday inside the Connecticut Convention Center, an indoor light festival with a trackless train, and kids 3 and under get in free. - **Santa at Glow Hartford**, Fri Nov 20, During Glow hours, Connecticut Convention Center. Free photo with Santa with a Glow ticket. Opens 11/20; runs through 12/23. Glow tickets are needed to get in. Official page: https://hartford.glowgardens.com/ - **Glow Hartford**, Fri Nov 20, Select dates; see the calendar, Connecticut Convention Center. Adults $34, kids 4–15 $24, 3 and under free (fees included). Opens 11/20; runs through 12/23. An indoor light festival with a trackless train and a holiday market. It takes about 2 hours, and you enter at a timed slot. Official page: https://hartford.glowgardens.com/ Also within reach: Philadelphia (about 3 hr 15 min): Christmas Village is free at LOVE Park and City Hall, and Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo runs 5 to 9pm with Santa's Workshop inside. ## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Providence (about 2 hr 45 min) The Holiday Lights Spectacular opens Friday at Roger Williams Park Zoo, a walk through 40 acres of lights that takes about an hour to an hour and a half, and strollers are welcome. - **Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo**, Fri Nov 27, 5–9:30pm, Roger Williams Park Zoo. $13–$15; buy online ahead. Opens 11/27; runs through 01/03. A walk through 40 acres of lights. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Strollers are allowed, and rentals are at the entrance. Official page: https://www.rwpzoo.org/event/holiday-lights-spectacular/ - **Rhode Island Lights Festival**, Fri Nov 27, See the ticket page, Centreville Bank Stadium. Tickets on sale Nov 10. Opens 11/27; runs through 01/03. A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa. Official page: https://centrevillebankstadium.com/pages/rhodeislandlights Also within reach: Philadelphia (about 3 hr 15 min): Jingle and Mingle with Santa in Franklin Square on Friday, 5 to 7pm, and Christmas Village at LOVE Park is open all weekend. ## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Philadelphia (about 3 hr 15 min) A Longwood Christmas is open daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and kids 4 and under are free. - **A Longwood Christmas**, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, Daily 10am–11pm, Longwood Gardens. Adults $45–$52, youth 5–15 $25–$32 by date; 4 and under free. Opens 11/20; runs through 01/10. Official page: https://longwoodgardens.org/visit ## Other family getaways within 5 hours We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on. - **Mystic Aquarium**, Mystic, CT (about 1 hr 45 min from Fairfield County). Beluga whales are the stars here, and the aquarium also keeps African penguins and California sea lions. Official page: https://www.mysticaquarium.org/ - **Bushkill Falls**, Bushkill, PA (about 3 hr from Fairfield County). Trails and bridges link a series of eight waterfalls in the Pocono Mountains, known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania. Official page: https://www.visitbushkillfalls.com/ - **Plimoth Patuxet Museums**, Plymouth, MA (about 3 hr 45 min from Fairfield County). An open-air museum in Plymouth that tells the stories of the Wampanoag and English people who met on this shore. Official page: https://plimoth.org/ - **Ocean City**, Ocean City, NJ (about 3 hr 45 min from Fairfield County). Billed as America's Favorite Family Vacation, with a boardwalk along the beach. Official page: https://www.oceancityvacation.com/ - **Cape May County Park & Zoo**, Cape May Court House, NJ (about 4 hr 15 min from Fairfield County). A county zoo with free admission and free parking, open every day except Christmas. Official page: https://www.capemaycountynj.gov/352/Cape-May-County-Park-Zoo ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Fairfield County with little kids?** Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Fairfield County are New York City, Hartford and New Haven, Providence, Philadelphia. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages. **Which cities are within an easy drive of Fairfield County?** New York City (about 1 hr 15 min), Hartford and New Haven (about 1 hr 15 min), Worcester (about 2 hr 30 min), Providence (about 2 hr 45 min), Lehigh Valley (about 3 hr), Albany (about 3 hr). Times are normal driving times without traffic. **What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Fairfield County?** Mystic Aquarium (about 1 hr 45 min), Bushkill Falls (about 3 hr), Plimoth Patuxet Museums (about 3 hr 45 min), Ocean City (about 3 hr 45 min), Cape May County Park & Zoo (about 4 hr 15 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go. **Why is the same city picked more than once?** Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety. **Are the times and prices current?** They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.