Nice little 55 acre state park to enjoy kayak, paddle boarding or extremely small boat (see railway…read moreclearance photo) if trying to get to the stream. Spacious parking area with about 25 spots to include designated handicap. No restroom facilities here and no trash receptacles, strictly carry in/out here. Short walk down to the railway for picturesque view of the waterway. Perfect for a bit of fishing here or just a quick picnic using the grassy table area that includes park style charcoal grills for use. Enjoy!

So, I have a number of gripes about this beach. Firstly, the parking. They want $30 dollars to park…read moreyour car. $30!!! That is obscene. They do not take card and they do not have an ATM on site. I am out of state visiting and so had to turn around and find a gas station with an ATM so I can get the cash for their obnoxious parking rate. There was no option to pay by mail and again they do not accept cards which is ridiculous. Once you finally get into the beach, it is OK for what it is but it is quite small and not a lot to do. The water and sand is nice but for the $30 price tag to park I was disappointed with the amenities, or lack their of. My daughter had fun which I guess is what matters but based on this experience I will not be returning.

We live nearby so we go there 4 or 5 times a week. It's a small beach with a large parking lot…read more You can watch private and military planes fly over from the nearby airport, also watch sailboats and ferry boats going back and forth. The snack bar has good hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, salads, grilled cheese, ice cream, and specials like steak sandwiches with peppers and onions, or fresh cod sandwiches at very reasonable prices. We really like it there and would recommend it for families with small children and older folks who like to just sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Teens and 20 somethings probably would not like this beach because there are no clubs, etc. It's just a small family beach with basketball courts and a little playground.

Nice 30 minute boardwalk along the Poquonnock River in Groton CT. Plenty of Mallards, Canada Geese…read moreand Woodducks to see.

Barn Island offers a 3 mi (5k) loop through a beautiful tidal marsh. I have been coming here since…read more1984 and never miss the chance to enjoy the walk. It is not aggressive or tedious but you should be ready for deer flies and mosquitoes.

I'm not a hiker but I love a trail that provides a nice scenic walk and Barn Island does just that…read more We walked on the red trail which you pick up from Palmer Neck Rd where there is parking for about 15 cars . Follow signs for the boat launch not your GPS , as that will bring you to another trailhead in a residential area whee there is no parking . The path is wide with some imbedded rocks/ stones and is predominantly flat. It runs through woods and marshes. This was a November day so there wasn't a bug in sight but when I looked into information, many hikers on a popular trail site noted the bugs. Although we didn't experience this, I took off a star knowing I'd never walk this at dusk or early morning and probably never in the summer knowing this ( CT and this area in particular had a EEE scare/ warnings this summer). The views across the marshes to the ocean and Little Narraganset Bay are beautiful. You can see across to Napatree Point and even see Watch Hill Light in the distance. The tidal marshes themselves are picturesque with swaying tall grasses and pools of water. The woods have many large lichen covered rocks along the perimeter and stone walls farther in. The path does have some areas that are muddy. We passed about 20 people some with dogs, a few with cameras and binoculars. Other than a few ducks we saw no wildlife. It was a nice flat picturesque walk over a portion of the 1000 + acre preserve. I'd definitely recommend it especially after a hard frost kills the bugs and we will definitely return!

You will not find a nicer marina on the CT river! The crew is helpful, you are protected from the…read moreweather from almost all points of the compass, and are on an island in a very safe environment. A complementary ferry service is available on demand to take you into downtown Essex where you can visit the iconic Griswold Inn, the Black Seal and a number of other fine restaurants all within easy walking distance. Two marine repair facilities are within 100 feet of their docks. I just finished the Americas Great Loop and have seen a lot of marinas. I really don't know how anyone could want for more than Dauntless Essex Island Marina.

This is the second year in a row they've pulled the bait and switch on us. They over promise and…read moreunder deliver. They totally screwed us with dockage. We were 3 boats suppose to be together on the river side. They threw us in the back of the marina where there's no view and no wind. You literally have to cross over mud piles to get to the pool. They put one boat in front of a launch and promised to move us all to the front of the marina then only moved the one boat only because they needed the launch. Lied. we look at mound of dirt and machinery . It's filled with bugs everywhere and the crew straight up lies to your face. The marina has huge chunks of wood floating everywhere. The restaurant is barely a restaurant and the hours they are actually open are ridiculous. I will never come back again. Ever!!!

A nice location, but i would say it's a park in name only. It's basically just a gazebo, small…read morestage, and some seats along a lake. It's a great spot in the heart of the city, but not what I consider a park. That said, it's nice relatively quiet, and a peaceful enough place.

I love the scenery at this marina... I have driven past it so many times enroute to Foxwoods,…read morefinally we decided to pull over and enjoy the beautiful day here instead. It's a small lil park off the main streets of the historical town of Norwich. It's known for its boat launch pad, running and walking trails. There's a gazebo and some picnic tables perfect for lunch and romantic walks with the view of the Thames and docked boats, also makes for perfect photo op... ah! just breathtaking.

Not a business, but a beautiful nature preserve that has some trails you can take. Great any time…read moreof year and a favorite for us locals around sunset. You can view lots of birds, and other native wildlife if you have the patience and fortitude to grab a chair and sit out in one of the fields. You sign in before your walk, and let it be known who is in your walking party with you. It's one of a few lovely places that you can walk on in the area. A must for nature lovers, and parents who are looking to get their children out exploring with them.

A fairly easy loop hike within a protected area that seems to get low to moderate traffic. The hike…read moreinvolves many different aspects of open land with wide cut paths to dense woods with narrow paths to very narrow paths between beaver ponds. There are no steep inclines and the hike reflects more gradual and limited inclines. The views of the water areas are plentiful and include several benches to take a break. The parking area should fit 10-12 vehicles but when we visited on a Sunday afternoon spring day there were two cars, so it does not appear to be a busy spot. One warning is if it recently rained it will be muddy in spot so dress appropriately and wear solid shoes that can stand up to mud. I would classify this hike as mostly flat and easy, so definitely bring the kids to get out and enjoy nature.

We recently attended a wedding at the Westerly Yacht Club and we both agreed that it was a very…read morenice venue. While it's no Watch Hill dockyard, the Westerly Yacht Club holds it's own as one of the premier boating and sailing locations in the area. The marina is extremely clean and very well organized and the building's interior reflects just the same. While there are of course some ongoing issues with membership and other issues not needed to be addressed here, on its face, the Westerly Yacht Club is a beautiful part of the town.