Arts & Entertainment
Kid-Friendly Fun: A Petting Zoo, Planetarium and the Great Outdoors
Take advantage of time with your kids and get out and enjoy these hot spots in Middletown. Your Patch Passport gives you options for great local spots for kid-friendly fun.
Looking for some cool spots to hang with the kids? Middletown has plenty of great kid-friendly places that are fun for the whole family.
In addition to offering picturesque views of farmlands and delicious local and organic produce, meats, and cheeses (from their new goat dairy!), Simmons Farm also offers Middletown’s only petting zoo and the kids can’t seem to get enough of it. Pull in anytime during the day to get an up close visit with the goats, pigs, cows, llama, ducks, and other farm animals. Feed is available for 25 cents per cup and the animals are eager to dig in whether it is out of your hand or by sticking their noses right in the cup.
Krupkowicz Planetarium
Being in a community surrounded by nature, there are few times that we think to send the kids inside for fun around here. But when the Krupkowicz Planetarium at is open, it’s a great chance to combine science and fun. The program is run in partnserhip with the in Providence. Kids (and parents) ages 4 and up learn about a different space theme in a full dome show put on almost monthly year-round. Admission is $3 per person or $2 per child ages 4 to 7. Check out the schedule at www.mpsri.net.
This 325-acre wildlife refuge offers more than 7 miles of hiking trails along waterways and through the woods, including one path that leads to the top of Hanging Rock with spectacular views of Sachuest Bay. The welcome center offers ample reading material about the wildlife and a gift shop with something for everyone, while the Barn Museum offers presentations on the local eco-systems. Additionally, the Norman Bird Sanctuary offers a wide array of classes ranging from story hours for pre-schoolers to camps for kids of all ages. The sanctuary’s Harvest Fair is one of the island’s most popular children’s events of the year. Admission for the trails is $6 per person and $3 per child ages 3 to 12. Children under age 3 and members are free.
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Of all of the area’s beaches, Third Beach is probably considered the most family-friendly for its lack of waves, protection from the wind, and easy access to launch boats, kayaks, paddleboards, windsurfers, and more. For the family who likes to stay active at the beach and is looking for a quieter crowd, Third Beach is the place to go. And if you’re a Middletown resident you can get a free beach sticker parking pass for Third Beach access the whole summer.
Whether you’re looking to pick strawberries in June, pumpkins in October, tag your Christmas tree in December, or dance the night away while enjoying a summer picnic dinner, Sweet Berry Farm is a must-do in Middletown if you’ve got kids. With a wide menu of offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a fun variety of cookies, ice cream, and candy, and lots of space to run around, it’s great for a quick stop off or as a spot to plant yourself for a few hours. And don’t forget to check out their free Tuesday night concerts throughout the summer.
