6 Connecticut Beach Getaways

You’re smiling, and it’s not just because your little ones are already snoozing in the backseat. Truth is, you had as much fun as they did. New London’s Ocean Beach Park is endlessly entertaining even for multitasking types who fear beach-day boredom. Waves that lap a wide half-mile of powdery sand are the main attraction, of course. But a water spray park and Olympic-size pool provide cool refreshment, too. And an 18-hole miniature golf course, game room, water slides and amusement rides enhance the beach’s all-ages appeal. Grownups can even retreat from the sun and surf for an ocean view workout inside the health club. The park also features many nightly events. Choose from fireworks displays, entertainers for the kids, concerts and sock hops with a DJ. If dancing on the wood-plank boardwalk doesn’t whisk you back in time, the weekly Classic Car Cruise Night event will.

Want to dive even deeper into the past? New London is home to Fort Trumbull State Park, where kids can embark on a scavenger hunt while you explore coastal fortifications and exhibits highlighting 225 years of military history and ingenuity. Nearby is the departure point for Cross Sound Ferry’s popular Lighthouse Cruises. Nothing revs hunger like sea-salted air, so find your way to Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock for clam fritters and hot lobster rolls.

Think of it as a magic portal. Step through the tunnel under the railroad tracks at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, and on the other side, you’ll find shimmery blue water and a half-mile curve of beach where simple pleasures still captivate children. High on a rocky bluff, a majestic stone structure—the Ellie Mitchell Pavilion completed by the Works Progress Administration in 1936—is all the inspiration they need to build their own sandcastles. But even kids intently focused on construction leap to their feet to cheer when a train rumbles through. With picnic grounds, hiking trails and 160 affordably priced campsites, this 710-acre, state-owned treasure is an ideal place to grant kids their biggest wish: more fun-filled hours with you.

Families will find plenty to do in the East Lyme village of Niantic, too. Perfect beach reads are guaranteed to be among the half-million used volumes that cram shelves at the Book Barn. Hands-on activities at the Niantic Children’s Museum enlighten and challenge kids under 10. At Skipper's Seafood Restaurant, enjoy year-round seafood favorites the whole family will love.

Each rise and fall of the tide reconfigures the mosaic of pebbles and shells strewn along the beach within Fairfield County’s largest shoreline park. Frequent visitors to Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park know this is more than a place to splash and cool off. Meet mysterious creatures like hermit crabs and moon snails at the nature center. Fish from shore for striped bass and flounder. And walk—after September, your leashed dog can join you—and appreciate how Long Island Sound has sculpted this mile-and-a-half of Earth. Out at Sherwood Point, from which lower Manhattan is visible on clear days, Connecticut’s 9-11 Living Memorial inspires contemplation.

Stroll the theme gardens at Gilbertie's Herb Garden, the largest herb grower on the east coast. Stay for one of their demonstrations or workshops, and seasonal events. Stop at the favorite "joint" in town, Black Duck Cafe for lunch or dinner, which is located on the scenic Saugatuck River. Be on the lookout for the return of live music at The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, which typically hosts 50 Free Nights Under the Stars each summer. On Wednesday evenings, Westport Astronomical Society volunteers at the Rolnick Observatory will show you the heavens up close through Connecticut’s largest public telescope.

There are no signs to guide you to Jacobs Beach in Guilford, unless you count the dead-end sign at the top of Seaside Avenue. When you discover just how picture-perfect this petite sandbox is, you’ll understand why residents are thankful their town’s public beach is well hidden. You’re in for a visual feast, as clouds and blue sky reflect in clear water. In the distance, the lighthouse on Faulkner’s Island—the second oldest beacon in Connecticut—still performs its vital role. In town, the Henry Whitfield State Museum also honors the area’s history and welcomes visitors to tour the oldest house in Connecticut, built in 1639. 

Why not surprise someone special with a day in Guilford that indulges all of the senses? Start with Hen & Heifer’s handcrafted pastries. They’re almost too enchanting to eat. Guilford Lobster Pound is around the corner from Jacobs Beach, so before or after your dip in the Sound, relax on their deck and taste the freshest lobster rolls around.