How one local mom turned an idea into a statewide adventure: The CT Kids Passport.

By Melissa Cole

Are your kids going stir-crazy? Are you feeling the February blahs? Maybe it’s time to hop into the car and start exploring all the great things this state has to offer. Sure, there are snow piles everywhere you look, and lately it’s felt more like the Arctic than New England. But there’s still plenty of fun to be had in Connecticut, no matter what’s happening with the weather.

Just ask mom of three Autumn Elmazi. She developed and launched the CT Kids Passport program in October.

“It’s a passport booklet that gives you ideas and a guide to go around Connecticut with your children and get discounts on your admission.”

Yes, it’s an actual booklet filled with destinations and businesses across Connecticut. As families visit each location, kids can literally stamp their passport, turning every outing into a mini adventure. Along the way, parents reap the benefits too, with discounts and special incentives offered at each stop. So how and why did this mom come up with such an idea?

“My children. I used to work for a winery, Hawk Ridge Winery, in Watertown. I was the GM, and I ran all of the events. I absolutely loved it. I lived right up the street from there.
It was so convenient. I got pregnant, had my first daughter. I went back part time. Shortly after, I got pregnant again, and after I had her, I just couldn’t go back to work. I was like, I want to be home with my kids.”

And so the wheels started turning. She began thinking about what she could build professionally for herself and for the community, while still maintaining the flexibility to be home with her three young children.

“So when I was at the winery, they had the Connecticut Wine Trail. So I was like, why is there nothing for parents and children? 
Like, there’s the wine passport. There’s the art trail passport. There’s the Connecticut Beer Tour. Nothing for children.”

Elmazi recognized both an opportunity and a need for a directory of family friendly places in every corner of the state. She reached out to businesses and was encouraged right away by the curiosity and positive response she received.

“Once I got my first five yeses, I was like, All right, I’m gonna follow through with this. And my first yes was the Hartford Yard Goats. Talk about feeling on top of the world, and I’m like, if they can see the value in what I’m doing, then every other business from here on out is going to see what good I’m going to do for the community and for the families.”

The CT Kids Passport, which officially launched on Oct. 1, is packed with 26 stamping businesses and 18 club businesses – all offering some kind of incentive. Stamping businesses are those that typically charge admission for families, such as museums, art studios, and slime labs.

In the Hartford area, participating spots include the Connecticut Science Center, the Hartford Yard Goats, and Hartford Athletic. In nearby Canton and Avon, families can enjoy Bounce Town and It’s Play Time. Across the river in South Windsor, you’ll find  both Nomads Adventure Quest and Revolutions Bowling.

Club businesses include restaurants, coffee and bagel shops, and even kid-friendly boutiques. There are 12 participating locations in the Hartford area, including two right here in West Hartford: Luna Pizza, where we conducted this interview, and Choccodiva on Park Road.

At Luna Pizza, families who show their passport receive 10% off their entire bill, drinks included. Owner Alex MacDonald said he’s excited to welcome new families through the program.

“I love being a part of it. Anything that brings kids in and brings them to the center to experience what West Hartford Center offers. You know, it’s amazing,” MacDonald said.

At Choccodiva, show the passport and receive a free brigadeiro, the shop’s signature chocolate truffle.

The idea is to map out a few participating spots that are close to one another and turn it into a full day of fun. Elmazi suggests an outing in the morning, a stop for lunch, and a sweet treat to finish it off.

“If you’re traveling to go to the Science Center, you’re most likely gonna be spending half your day there. You’re gonna be hungry, where are you going? If they wanted something a little more like Luna Pizza, they could come literally 10 minutes down the road and go get pizza,” said Elmazi.

She went on to say, “if you come here for pizza, you might as well go 5 minutes down the road and go get a little chocolate. It’s free. When you go in there, you’re hoping that the patrons are going to see, oh, that was delicious. Let me get some for home.”

If you’re looking to head a little farther out of town for an adventure, there are plenty of options. Have a child who loves race cars? Then a trip to Salisbury in the state’s northwest corner could make for the perfect day trip.

“Lime Rock! Who knew we had a racetrack in Connecticut? I didn’t until this started. We’re gonna be doing a big opening weekend with them on Memorial Day weekend. They have an entire kid zone,” Elmazi said.

Passports are available for $20 each, with an additional $10 for each additional child. The deals and discounts are valid through October 2026. After that, Elmazi plans to launch a brand new edition in November 2026, featuring a new line-up of participating businesses. In the meantime, if your family gets the whole passport stamped, an exciting adventure box awaits!

“It’s kind of just like a fun way to say, thanks for, you know, joining our business this year and doing our program. Here’s a little thank you.”

And to those who asked her why she didn’t want to launch an app instead of a hard copy passport? Well, the answer is easy: Back to the basics.

“I don’t want an app. I want old school. I want kids to touch it. I want them to read it. I want them to see it. Get off the phone, get off the tablet, and be able to do something and get them involved in it.”

Balancing motherhood and launching a new business hasn’t always been easy, but Elmazi’s found a system that works and hasn’t looked back. In fact, she’s hoping this model continues to grow and she may even expand to surrounding states in the years to come.

“My time is at 4 a.m. in the morning, I’m up. I’m answering emails. I’m sending out DMs. They probably hate me at 4 a.m. if they have their phone on. Or it’s when the kids go to bed at 8 o’clock from 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock, I’m now following up on all of those missed things. Or when it’s nap time, I do my calls. So I really try to not take their time away because then what was the purpose of this? The purpose was to stay home and be with my kids.”

You can find out more information, and even purchase a passport on https://www.ctkidspassport.com/. Also, follow along on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for special seasonal adventures.

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