Summer has officially begun. The kids are out of school, the days are longer, and the weather is warmer. This combination makes summer the perfect time to get out and explore. Here are suggestions for daytrips within an hour's drive of Newtown that will not break the bank. Load the gang into the car with water, snacks, and maybe even a deck of cards, and explore this state we call home.Weir FarmThe Adventure ParkAt The Discovery MuseumThe Mark Twain HouseConnecticut State Capitol BuildingSteep Rock PreserveElizabeth Park Rose Garden

Wilton - 30-minute drive

Open Wednesday through Sunday

Free

nps.gov/wefa

This 60-acre property on the Wilton/Ridgefield border contains the home and estate of American Impressionist painter Julian Alden Weir, who acquired the land in 1882 for just $10 and a painting. Weir Farm is one of two sites in the country established by the National Park Service with a focus on visual arts. Take a tour of the Weir house and studio and see examples of original J. Alden Weir paintings hanging inside. Walk around the estate's gardens and down a 1.5-mile round-trip hike to Weir Pond or sign up for a workshop to learn how to paint like an Impressionist.

Bridgeport - 30-minute drive

Open every day

Admission: Ages 5 and 6: Free. Ages 7-9: $39. Ages 10-11: $48. Ages 12 and older: $53

discoveryadventurepark.org

Looking for a thrill? Try the climbing and zip-lining park at The Discovery Museum, which features bridges, obstacles, and tightropes stretched above the ground between the trunks of a grove of trees. Afraid of heights? Do not fret. A harness complete with a set of carabiners and cables keep climbers secure.

Hartford - one hour drive.

Open every day (from 9:30-5:30)

Tours: Under 6: free. Ages 6-11: $11. Ages 17-64: $20. Ages $65+: $18

marktwainhouse.org

Take a guided tour of the 25-room house where well-known American author, Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, lived with his wife and three daughters from 1874 to 1891. Sam and his wife Olivia designed the home themselves and enjoyed some of their happiest years there. Learn about the lives of the Clemenses, as well as the staff that served them. Buy tour tickets ahead of time.

Hartford - one-hour drive.

Tours: Monday through Friday

Free

cga.ct.gov/capitoltours

Look around the inside of the historic, gold-domed, Connecticut State Capitol Building, which was completed in 1878 after seven years of construction. Featured on the tour is the Hall of Flags, which displays flags carried into battle by Connecticut soldiers, the House and Senate chambers, and the Charter Oak Chair, which is made out of the famous oak tree where the state's self-governing charter was hidden from the British in 1687.

Washington, Conn. - 30-minute drive

Open every day

Free

steeprockassoc.org

This 974-acre nature preserve has nine trails that traverse forests, fields, and the Shepaug River. Take the Steep Rock Loop trail to reach a summit with stunning views of the surrounding forest. Stop by Marty's Café or Washington Pizza for a snack before or after your hike.

Hartford - one-hour drive

Open every day

Freeelizabethparkct.org

Visit a collection of more than 15,000 rose bushes and 800 types of roses in Hartford's Elizabeth Park. Marvel at the rose-covered arches and vine-covered gazebo. An outdoor concert series takes place on the rose garden lawn from 6:30 to 8 pm every Wednesday throughout the summer. The roses are in bloom from late June to early July.

Remember that there are plenty of things to do right here in Newtown. Visit a town park, hiking trail, or one of your favorite restaurants. Eichler's Cove and Treadwell Park offer swimming; the Newtown Forest Association and the town manage numerous trails; visit the Farmers Market every Tuesday afternoon at Fairfield Hills; enjoy concerts and outdoor films; EverWonder Children's Museum, Parks & Recreation camps and programs, and more all add to the summer fun.