Summertime has finally arrived and we are more than ready to enjoy the outdoors after a miserably long winter. It's time to gather the family and enjoy the natural and historical sites of Connecticut. There are many parks and forests to choose from across the state, but we chose to look at those on the shoreline and within an hour's drive from Norwich.
Bluff Point in Groton is a Coastal Reserve. It is a 11/2-mile-long, wooded peninsula that juts out into the waters of Fishers Island Sound and encompasses about 800 acres. To see the view of Fishers Island Sound from the bluff, you will have to go by foot or by a non-motorized vehicle. As you reach the bluff, there will be a small strip of beach beckoning you to re-energize for the hike back. Besides hiking and mountain biking, there is saltwater and shellfishing, the latter requiring a permit from the town of Groton. Parking is free.
Waterford has a "diamond" along its shoreline. Harkness Memorial State Park sits on more than 230 acres of lush green lawns, which is a favorite spot for kite flyers. Huge trees provide shaded picnic areas. Spectacular gardens surround the 42-room mansion, which was owned by Edward and Mary Harkness in 1907. It was a working farm and their summer home. The estate was left to the state in 1950. The mansion is open for tours on weekends and holidays until Labor Day. In the yard of the Carriage House, the Friends of Harkness staff a gift shop and sell plants and flowers for your garden. Another picturesque feature of Harkness is a white, sandy beach where saltwater fishermen try their luck. While dad is fishing, mom and the kids can picnic on the beach, but beware, no swimming is allowed.
Traveling west along the shore, we come upon the 710 acres of Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme. It is noted for its 160 wooded and open family campsites. There are a variety of trails in the park, one of which leads to a salt marsh where shore birds can be seen wading in their natural habitat. With binoculars, you may see an osprey or a fish hawk. For picnickers, there is a large stone pavilion atop a hill that provides a commanding view of Long Island Sound. If you want to swim, grab your bathing suit and cool off in the waters off the sandy beach. The beach is within walking distance from the campsites.
Madison houses the largest stretch of state-owned beaches. Hammonassett Beach State Park has 2 miles of seashore to enjoy and a boardwalk to stroll. There are trails from the west end of the park to Meigs Point on the east end, an ideal area for hiking or biking. Atop Meigs Point, there is a platform to view the beach below and the vast expanse of the Sound. A stone breakwater, extending out into the sea, is a popular saltwater fishing spot.
There is also the Meigs Point Nature Center, which offers programs and activities for visitors from late June to Labor Day. The land was a settlement of eastern woodland Indians, which farmed along the Hammonassett River. The translation of Hammonassett is "where we dig holes in the ground." In 1639, the first colonists arrived and in the late 1800s, it was owned by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. and used as a test site for their new rifle. It opened to the public in 1920, but during World War II, it was closed and loaned to the government for an Army reservation.
If you are 65 or older, you are eligible for a free charter oak pass, which enables you to visit any state park at no charge. For the frequent park visitor, Connecticut offers a special season pass at a nominal fee for access to any state park For informatiom visit dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/index.htm.
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