I'm looking to get away for a weekend or overnight with the lady in August and wanted to do something closer and less crowded than the hamptons or jersey shore (given it's somewhat last minute) and have heard there are some hidden gems along the Connecticut coast.
Can anyone speak to any beaches or towns in particular that wild be nice for a short trip? Thinking something along the lines of Madison, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook etc. Any suggestions on beaches, towns, restaurants and/or places to stay?
As far as lodging, were open to anything from beach resorts, historic inns, bed and breakfast, etc.
I'd go slightly further north to RI and if you want more seclusion I'd say look in Charlestown, RI if you want solid beach you could look around Westerly near Misquamicut and if you want a more legit beach town then go further north to Narragansett. Narragansett gets crowded though, they all kind of do, just less so than the Jersey Shore, Cape Cod, or the Hamptons.
all have B&B's, Inns and quaint motels along the way. I've only ever rented houses though.
Go to Misquamicut, Blue Shutters, or East Beach, all easy to get to and are way cleaner. Misquamicut is the busier of the three with plenty of other stuff to do in the area, might be better if you have kids, the other two are a little more tucked away and laid back. I grew up in western CT, outside of Waterbury, and as long as you leave by 7 a.m, it wouldn't take much longer than an hour to get there. Like the poster before me said, RI Beaches are infinitely better and worth the extra 15-20 minutes worth of driving.
But seriously, for an excursion, Misquamicut, RI is great, not too far and there are plenty of places to stay, though I have none to recommend since I usually just do day trips there. It's about 90 mins to 2 hrs from Norwalk depending on traffic.
I haven't been there in years, but it was a nice town when I visited.
As for places to stay, Madison Beach Hotel is nice. Saybrook Point Inn. Waters Edge in Westbrook is cool, and is a resort. They have a pool and spa and stuff.
Bigger problem is that the state has abandonded upkeep and only has lifeguards thurs -Sunday at the state beaches from budget cuts. The town beaches are much nicer. Norwalk, Westport, Greenwich, Fairfield all have nice facilities
I'd go slightly further north to RI and if you want more seclusion I'd say look in Charlestown, RI if you want solid beach you could look around Westerly near Misquamicut and if you want a more legit beach town then go further north to Narragansett. Narragansett gets crowded though, they all kind of do, just less so than the Jersey Shore, Cape Cod, or the Hamptons.
all have B&B's, Inns and quaint motels along the way. I've only ever rented houses though.
+1 to what PJ said. I agree with everything.
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Hammonasset state beach in Madison is the only really passable non-private beach IMO.
I'd go slightly further north to RI and if you want more seclusion I'd say look in Charlestown, RI if you want solid beach you could look around Westerly near Misquamicut and if you want a more legit beach town then go further north to Narragansett. Narragansett gets crowded though, they all kind of do, just less so than the Jersey Shore, Cape Cod, or the Hamptons.
all have B&B's, Inns and quaint motels along the way. I've only ever rented houses though.
+1 to what PJ said. I agree with everything.
Others also rightly mentioned Waters Edge in Westbrook/Lyme, and the Spa at Saybrook Point. Mystic is kinda cool also.
In Rhody, Watch Hill - unless you want the equivalent of a DMB show (drunk kids running around) at Misquamicut (NTTATWWI - been there, done that). Narragansett also Ok. Try Block Island, easy to get to (short ferry) and beautiful beaches/mopeds and great seafood.
Other Towns along the shore that are OK -- Milford, Branford, Guilford, Westbrook, Old Lyme, Saybrook...
Good Luck