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Arts & Entertainment

No Child Left Inside: Great Day Trip Discounts

The Wilton Library has a special plan that allows parents to bring children to a variety of area attractions at deep discounts and, in some cases, for free.

Let's face it, kids get bored over the summer. But keeping them occupied day after day can get quite pricey. 

The Wilton Library's Museum Pass Program is a great way to entertain kids while enriching their minds and keeping costs in check simultaneously. 

"The program has been going on for many years here at the library. We offer free or heavily discounted admissions passes to many of the museums around Connecticut ranging from art museums to dinosaur museums," said library publicist Janet Crystal.

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Local museums abound in Fairfield County.  Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, for instance, currently has a "Build It!" exhibit for kids and adults to enjoy.  The pass offers a buy-one-get-one-free deal on tickets. Parking is also free.

Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center in Westport, houses a variety of "species ambassadors" many of which are permanently injured.  Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the nature center, which is located on 62 acres, is the largest open space area in Westport.  The pass is for free admission for a family of four.

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Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium is a favorite of area children, especially with the new Meerkat Exhibit.  Up to six passes can be used, and $2 is taken off of each ticket for the combination Aquarium and IMAX fee, which is normally $19.45 for adults and $14.45 for kids.

If you feel like travelling and day-tripping, The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford is America's oldest public art museum. Passes admit two adults and two children, but plan in advance since the museum is closed both Mondays and Tuesdays.

Mystic Aquarium is another day trip, and with the seaport nearby, an entire day can be spent exploring what this small Connecticut town has to offer. There are four passes offered which allows for discounted admission for two adults and two children.

Those who would like to take advantage of this cost-cutting program should reserve passes either by calling the library or in person.  Passes can be reserved up to a month in advance. 

Passes need to be returned the day after use and are loaned out for a total of three consecutive days, allowing for a day of pick-up, use and then return.  Participants are responsible for parking and other extra fees for special exhibits.    

If you would rather go outside and stay outside, the library also offers a Connecticut State Forest and Day Pass Program, which is part of the Department of Environmental Protection's No Child Left Inside Initiative.  The pass is valid from April through October and waves entrance fees into all Connecticut state parks and forests. 

Additional museums participate in the pass program and a list can be found on www.wiltonlibrary.org/. For more information on the DEP's No Child Left Inside Initiative and a list of state parks and forests go to: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=3900&q=335880&depNav_GID=1642

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