Where Darien Beachgoing Gets Practical…read more Pear Tree Point is the more, shall we say, functional, of the two Darien public beaches. Weed Beach, located across a bay from Stamford, has something of a mystical quality to it. It is where high schoolers go in the summertime to smoke out (yes, the name is a coincidence), where the passionate but slightly off-tune sounds of local bands fill humid night air. Weed Beach has woodlands to wander through, a hidden playground through a clearing of trees, paddle tennis courts that I think only ghosts use, and lots and lots of weeds, making every step into the water squishy and unsure. But Pear Tree Point is the beach where you get things done. It's got boat docks attached, so it's the starting point for many a "booze cruise", a favorite pasttime of the Darienite. Families love Pear Tree Point, probably because it's shaped in such a way that it's easy for the kids to stay in view; there's nowhere to disappear to. So children go about producing their childlike things: sandcastles, trenches for the water to flow through, holes to bury themselves in. Pear Tree Point has a gazebo at its center, perched on top of rocks. It's perfect for eating a hamburger and fries from the concession stand during the day, and for making out at night. Pear Tree Point is situated along Long Neck Point, location of some of the fanciest houses in this very, very fancy part of the world. If you're the kind of person who likes to gawk at luxurious homes a la Newport, Rhode Island, then it's worth a slow drive down Long Neck Point road until you get to the end, which is a former girls' school now converted, I think, into residences. The atmosphere is rarefied, elegant, and oh-so-preppy. Pear Tree Point, like all the beaches in southern Fairfield County, has a kind of rough sand, and the water's generally cold. Tahiti it is not. The sun, like so many phenomena in the New York area, is either too dim or too scorching. It takes a certain toughness to enjoy beachgoing in the northeastern part of the United States. But after a day being there, you feel as if you have accompilshed something, and accomplishment, after all, is the highest personal value among most Darienites who bring the never-stop-achieving ethos of New York City back to their town.

Pear tree point is lovely. A beautiful beach to go to during the sunset. Large amount of parking…read moreand can either be quiet or busy depending on when you go. The snack bar "uncles by the shore" is owned by uncles deli which is situated on the post road in Darien and closes around 3pm I believe which is pretty annoying. One star off for their gross bathrooms. This beach is smaller than weed beach and does not have a pavilion like weed beach but has a cute gazebo and plenty of space. If you're lucky enough to even get in.

This is a great municipal pool! Spacious and doesn't feel too crowded even on busy days & holiday…read moreweekends when you can hardly find parking (though the parking lot is quite large). There are a few picnic tables and grills on the lawn. No pool lounge chairs or towel service so bring your own chairs, picnic blankets, food/snacks and other accoutrements to enjoy a leisurely summer day. Facilities are clean and well-maintained. Very kids/toddler-friendly. The sizeable shallow end has several sprinklers/splash fountains for children to play in, and there are slides on both the kiddie and adult sides. Also a playground in the back (not affiliated with the pool). There are always many life guards on duty every time I've gone. The pool is accessible only to Clarkstown residents and their guests, so if you're not a resident befriend someone who is. You must obtain a Clarkstown resident ID card first at the registration office at 31 Zukor Road in New City. (The pool won't simply accept a driver's license.) Rates can be either daily or seasonal for individuals or family, and are very reasonable compared to similar community pools.

Back in the day we used to refer to this beleaguered mud hole as "Nanuet Snake" for the inundation…read moreof various slithering creatures who would join you on your swim in what was then a dark and unknowable crater that had more in common with Loch Ness than 20th century suburbia. It's no exaggeration that these monsters from the deep probably kept a legion of child psychiatrists in full time employment. On a recent visit it was nice to see that the previous snake-ridden den of iniquity has long been been replaced with a legitimate pool and that the mythological beasts of years past have been slayed by chlorine and actual cement walls. You can even see right to the bottom. What a concept. This is what Nanuet Lake should have been like all along... no thanks whatsoever to my parents who thought this was some tough love version of Shangri La, albeit minus the all consuming bliss one often finds in paradise. I kid about my parents (almost) and am happy to bestow five easy stars for a childhood reclaimed. I still hate snakes.

FDR park is a spacious 960 acre park. This open park has nice trails for long walks, jogging, and…read morebicycling. There are basketball courts, fields for playing soccer or softball, and a children's playground. I could not believe the many areas for barbecuing with plenty of picnic tables, charcoal grills, and some areas even had volleyball nets,. Perfect for cookouts, and nice pavilions for events. There is also a beautiful scenic lake where you can rent row boats, and fish. It is also home to the largest pool of all New York State parks that can accommodate 3,500 people.

Came here for the pool, really nice when it's not crowded. Clean and friendly staff! Entrance fee…read moreis $3 per person and you can spend a whole day here!

Nice little place and very secluded . I love the fact that even tho you're basically in the middle…read moreof nowhere , they have WiFi , nice bathrooms with air conditioner , large tables with umbrellas and everything is very organized . Good vibes . The only downside for me is the amount of bugs ..arghhh , I understand we're outdoors but Jesus you better have tons of bug spray . I was bit and stung by every single bug on earth for the rest of my life hahaha and there are creatures in the water , needless to say I didn't even go in .

Highlands Natural Pool has definitely blown up on social media lately, which is what put it on my…read moreradar. While it's a nice enough spot and the setting is scenic, the pictures floating around don't quite tell the full story. Yes, it's spring-fed and chemical-free, which gives it more of a forest pond feel than a traditional pool. That might be a plus for some people, but there are downsides. The water feels heavier than a normal pool, and there's no true shallow end--so treading water for long stretches can get tiring. If you go, I'd honestly recommend bringing a float to hang out more comfortably in the water. The facilities are basic. There are very few pool chairs--mostly just park benches scattered around a small paved deck. Seating is limited, and it was hard to find a place to set up. I'd recommend bringing your own beach chair if you have one. There are plenty of picnic tables farther back from the pool, which I assume is their way of keeping food out of the swim area. We arrived around 3 PM and that timing was probably my biggest gripe. The parking lot was full, so we had to find a random lot down the road and then walk back and hunt for the entrance. Not the easiest arrival. The $20 day pass would be fine if the setup matched the price, but for what it is, it felt a little steep. Also worth noting--cell service is spotty, and while they say there's Wi-Fi, it didn't work well for us. Overall, it's not a bad experience, but it didn't quite live up to the online buzz. If you go in with the right expectations (and a float, a chair, and some patience), you'll probably enjoy it more than we did.

I have been swimming laps at Wings Over Water for 9 years now and I love it! The staff is wonderful…read moreand always accommodating. The pool and changing areas are clean and well maintained. It is a great place to swim!

Our daughter started in the water babies program at 6 months old and is now 8 in the Olympian…read moreclass. Watching her progress through the stages of getting comfortable being in the water to learning all the competitive strokes and swimming lengths of the pool has been nothing short of amazing. If you are looking for a swim school that is supportive, safe and provides an excellent environment for kids to learn and love swimming, wings is the place.