Connecticut’s largest city sits on Long Island Sound, and its parks are among its biggest draws: Seaside Park stretches along the waterfront while Beardsley Park is home to Beardsley Zoo, the state’s only AZA-accredited zoo, with exhibits ranging from a rainforest building to South American wildlife.
Circus legend P.T. Barnum lived here and served as mayor, and the Barnum Museum honors his legacy alongside a statue at Seaside Park. The Discovery Museum & Planetarium offers more than 60 interactive STEM exhibits and immersive dome shows.
A historic downtown theater hosts concerts and comedy year-round. May and September bring ideal walking weather, while late June through early September offers the warmest water for swimming.