The Great Outdoors with Smaller Crowds —State Parks for Quiet Days Out

State parks in the Greater New Haven region that frequently see many visitors include Silver Sands State Park in Milford, Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, and Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden. Here's a list of other nearby outdoor places and businesses you can experience that are just as great... but probably less crowded.

• REI, Milford
• Scoot & Paddle, Milford
• Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center, Milford
• Quinnipiac River Trail, Wallingford
• Audubon Guilford Salt Meadow Sanctuary, Guilford
• Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth

Popular parks in the Mystic Country region like Bigelow Hollow State Park in Union, Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, and Gardner Lake State Park in Salem do tend to have many visitors.  If they're looking too crowded for you, give these nearby outdoor places and businesses a try:

• The Adventure Park at Storrs, Storrs
• Black Hall Outfitters, Old Lyme
• Paddle Mystic, Mystic
• Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold
• Mansfield Hollow State Park, Mansfield
• Bluff Point Coastal Reserve, Groton

In Fairfield County, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport often fills up quick. Here are several other nearby outdoor places and businesses you can enjoy:

• REI, Norwalk
• Connecticut Aububon Society Center, Fairfield
• Devil's Den Preserve, Weston
• Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum, Bridgeport
• Webb Mountain Discovery Zone, Monroe
• Sea Kayak, Westport

The Litchfield Hills region is home to many well-loved parks including Black Rock State Park in Watertown, Lake Waramaug State Parkin New Preston, Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield and Burr Pond State Park in Torrington. For alternate outdoor ideas nearby, try:

• Paugussett State Forest, Newtown
• Satan's Kingdome State Recreation Area, New Hartford
• Lover's Leap State Park, New Milford
• Southford Falls State Park, Southbury
• Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy
• Kent Land Trust, Kent
• Hidden Valley Preserve, Washington
• Topsmead State Forest, Litchfield

If you are looking for outdoor adventures in the Greater Hartford/River Valley area, some common destinations like Devil's Hopyard State Park in East Haddam, Miller's Pond State Park in Haddam, Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown, and Scantic River State Park in Enfield are known to attract crowds. Consider these other great nearby options:

• Penwood State Park, Bloomfield
• Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury
• McLean Game Refuge, Granby
• Collinsville Canoe & Kayak, Canton
• Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Westbrook
• Black Hall Outfitters, Westbrook