Outdoor adventure venues provide summer thrills and chills
Last summer, with most or many outdoor adventure venues closed due to COVID- 19, families found themselves looking for fun, challenging activities in their own backyards, where jungle gyms, swing sets, soccer goalposts, cornhole game sets, Slip and Slide, and possibly a pool served as the main sources of outdoor activity day after day after day. Now, however, with most of the state having reopened and life gradually returning to the new normal, outdoor adventure venues are opening up again, and here are just some of the options in Connecticut.
Backyard Adventures UTV Tours— Canaan
If you’ve ever pictured yourself behind the wheel of a utility terrain vehicle ( UTV), traversing terrain ranging from mild to wild, you might consider a visit to Backyard Adventures UTV Tours, where there’s a good chance you’ll drive over trails that will take your breath away, and you may also see deer, wild turkeys, hawks, and even an occasional black bear roaming about. Throughout the company’s 100 acres of private land, you can have the opportunity to drive a company- provided UTV, with a tour guide in another lead vehicle. According to the company’s website, “If you can confidently drive a car then you can operate a UTV. The UTVs that we offer have an automatic transmission, steering wheel, gas, and brake pedal.” A maximum of 4 people is allowed per UTV, and you can bring up to 3 additional family members or friends to ride along in the 4- seat UTV. Multiple people can take turns driving, and operators must have a valid driver’s license and be at least 21. Visitors age 17- 20 can drive as long as a licensed parent or legal guardian is present in the same vehicle, and kids age 5+ are allowed to ride as passengers. Anyone driving must provide proof of a driver’s license, and everyone is required to sign a liability and damage waiver before departure. Prices start at $ 119 per hour for the UTV and operator. Each additional passenger is $ 20 per hour. There are 60-, 90- and 120- minute tours. Booking is done through the company’s online booking platform only, and advanced reservations are required. Len Allyn, owner of Backyard Adventures UTV Tours, says, “We have been particularly busy during COVID, because we are an outside activity.” Backyardadventuretours. com
Adventure Park— Storrs and Bridgeport
A walk in the park is nice but imagine yourself on rope courses, ziplines, and trails that wind through nature for a real sense of adventure. Adventure Park, with two locations, offers all of this and more for all ages and ability levels, according to Candie Fisher, vice president of sales and marketing for The Adventure Park. The Storrs park sports 100 challenges, 8 treetop trails, and 21 ziplines, while the Bridgeport site ( part of The Discovery Museum), features 180 challenges, 13 treetop trails, and 24 ziplines. “Both parks offer the perfect day out for kids, youth, and adults of all skill levels,” Fisher says. “Kids aged 3+ can play in the park along with people aged 7+ enjoying treetop trails.” Trails are rated by difficulty using the same designations as ski resorts, so you can design your own path. “Also, the trails consist of platforms installed in the trees and connected by various configurations of cable, wood, and rope to form ‘ crossings’ of different kinds, including the zip lines,” Fisher says. Climbers wear harnesses that are doubly secured to safety cables using the park’s “always locked on” system of interlocking safety clips. Before venturing onto the trails, climbers receive an interactive orientation and practice session. In addition to trails, zip- lining, and treetop climbing, the parks offer an outdoor axe throwing activity, and “Firepit Friday” has returned, adding a campfire to the night climbs where guests can get cozy by the fire. “Plus, the regular ‘ Glow in the Park’ will return for the season with lights in the treetops, so aerial trails will be colorfully aglow at night,” Fisher states. Non- climbing family and friends are admitted free of charge to share the experience on the ground by following along on the walking paths below the courses, relaxing at the picnic tables, and enjoying the community firepit. Visit the website for ticket prices and additional information. myadventurepark. com
Farmington River Tubing— New Hartford
People just can’t seem to get enough of the water, whether they’re swimming, boating, paddle boarding, surfing, fishing, or more. Not surprisingly, then, we are invariably always looking for new ways to experience water fun, and at Farmington River Tubing in New Hartford, visitors can have the experience of floating 2.5 miles down the wild and scenic Farmington River on a specially designed inner tube. This is not a manmade amusement park ride; it is
A walk in the park is nice but imagine yourself on rope courses, ziplines, and trails...
an adventure that allows you to soak up some sun while floating down class 1, 2, & 3 rapids, amidst water, rocks, trees, and other obstacles. “COVID forced us to remain closed for the 2020 summer season, so we are grateful to be allowed to reopen for the 2021 summer season,” said Jeremy Harraden, manager. Since Governor Lamont lifted the mask mandate, guests here are not required to wear them ( although they are welcome to do so). The company’s website recommends that visitors bring a Ziplock bag to store their belongings while tubing down the river, and there are gallon jugs of hand sanitizer at the rental counter. “Wear bathing suits or shorts; or whatever you are comfortable swimming in,” the website states. “It’s also a good idea to wear something on your feet: Sneakers, Teva’s, water shoes, or wetsuit boots. Don’t wear heavy boots. Everyone must be of adequate physical capabilities and maturity levels to use the rented equipment properly and safely.” ( Visit the website to learn more about the rules and warnings). The company provides its own P. F. D. s ( life jackets), although you can bring your own Coast Guard approved P. F. D. to wear instead. Changing houses and restroom facilities are available, and the cost is $ 25 per person, cash only. farmingtonrivertubing. com
White Memorial Conservation Center— Litchfield
If you love the great outdoors, White Memorial Conservation Center— an environmental education center and nature museum located in the heart of the 4,000- acre White Memorial Foundation, which was created in 1913 by Alain C. White and his sister, May W. White in the hills of northwestern Connecticut— might be the place for you this summer. The center features horseback riding, biking, hiking, walking, birding/ wildlife viewing, camping sites, and much more. It offers 40 miles of scenic trails, including walking trails, which range from beginner to advanced; trails where guests can bring their dogs ( leashed only) for walks; and paths designated for biking. There are also spots for picnicking, and areas that are accessible only for horseback riding and which have a place to park horse trailers. Bantam Lake and Bantam River offer opportunities for fishing and boating, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming; both are accessible by White Memorial’s Point Folly Marina and Boat Launch located at 123 North Shore Road in Litchfield. White Memorial has several buildings and fields available for weddings, meetings, classes, birthday parties, outdoor events, family reunions, and more. Advanced registrations are required. whitememorialcc. org