We came here for what looks like our last beach day of the year.. plenty of parking available. We…read morewent out of season, so it was free. I'm not sure how much it costs in season. I love how there are so many establishments within walking distance. The beach itself is small but cute. The boardwalk is nice and refreshing. There are restrooms available. Just a nice spot overall.

Hole in the Wall Beach is a tiny private beach in Niantic. I was here on Thursday when we had…read morerecord high heat of 90+ degrees for mid April. The beach was filled with young kids and families. The beach is located behind Gumdrops & Lollipops Ice Cream Shop! Parking is free until Memorial Day, after that it's $40 per car. There is a beautiful boardwalk filled with benches. It is very clean and well kept. Overlooking the boardwalk, I could see a family of ducks, enjoying splashing in the water. Above the beach is a train track with an active train passing through. However being on the beach, I couldn't hear the train. I could only hear it from the boardwalk. I love how this beach is hidden, when you walk past Gumdrops & Lollipops you will see a "window" of the beach, you'll have to walk through a tunnel. Keep walking right for a lovely beach experience at this tiny beach!

Came by with the family a few weeks ago. Parking was easy since it was a week day. The beach was…read moreclean and bathrooms as well. We had fun and sat by the sand.

Not crowded clean CLEAR WATER leashed dog friendly soft sand…read moreThere was a wedding on the premises CT license plates are free

Gorgeous beach to enjoy on a bright sunny day. Sand is not too rocky and feels good to walk in…read morebarefoot. Decent amount of parking as well. Potentially more crowded on hot summer days, but was very empty on a fall Saturday.

My bf lives two streets over. We went there after a date just around midnight...walked. We both saw…read morea shooting star. Fate. I love this place.

I really enjoy walking around this area. They have the beach, the house, the garden. There's so…read moremany areas to walk around and take pictures. There's always an event going on.

Beautiful park. If no one is at the booth when you arrive, scan the QR code near parking and pay…read moreonline. Plenty of picnic tables are scattered around the park and a few charcoal grills. Lots of port-a-john near the beaches and a building closer to parking. No swimming was allowed at the beaches. Plenty of fishing though. Nice place to walk and look for shells. The mansion gardens are small and beautiful. Lots of colorful plants. Graceful collonade. Definitely a nice spot for photos. Lots of pollenators enjoying the gardens too. Pathways through the park are a mix of paved and gravel. Watch out for goose poop when crossing through the fields. Pets are welcome on a leash and be sure to pick up after them. State parks are "carry in, carry out" so there are no trash bins. Be sure to bring your own trash bag to dispose of your trash at home.

Four stars because it was pretty and the old asylum was a sight to see. The parking area is…read moreneedlessly far away from the building, under some shady trees. There are actual paved spaces that must have once been parking sports (maybe one a low budget basketball court) that would bring you closer and prevent walking exposed to the boiling summer sun. I cannot speak to any actual walking trails, but the dogs that were playing seemed to be having a great time. The old building is gated off, understandable, but you can tell from the outside it was made in an older era where aesthetics meant something and it wasn't all about saving a penny.

The Seaside State Park is quite a unique place as it hosts the infamous and now abandoned Seaside…read moreSanatorium, a building that was commissioned in the 1930 when tuberculosis was a major affliction. One of the treatments for this disease was fresh air, so many of these sanatoriums were built around the coast and around lakes, copying a trend that had taken over European lands. Over time it was discovered that fresh air not only helped tuberculosis but all types of diseases, particularly mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. As tuberculosis became a controlled ailment, the Seaside became a host to more people with mental illnesses as well as the elderly. Supposedly, during this period of the Seaside as a psychiatric ward, many irregularities took place and the consequence resulted in patient's deaths. I have no proof of this but that is how the story goes. All this information is found on the Connecticut .org websites. Arriving to this "haunted" and "damned" place, as many publicize it, is a unique experience. I parked in a lot with an abandoned garden house next to it, making even the parking area spooky. The building sits at the distance, and some people jog around or walk their dogs. The peculiar feeling of being watched is pervasive though, even though there aren't many people around. I walked the garden, walked a covered bridge that is very spooky, touched a water well that has dried up, walked by the beach and over a wall that protects the shore from erosion. I stayed on the paved path as much as possible because I felt that a certain order needed to be followed, even if there are no signs that say "Keep off the grass". One lap around this property is more than enough. I started on the left, and exited on the right. Once I exited, I didn't look back because I felt that I was being watched from behind the boarded windows. I was not interested in seeing a ghost looking at me or waving goodbye from the broken glass window... Spooky as it may seem, this is a beautiful place, the building is gorgeous, the view is amazing. If you are looking for serenity, this is a good place for it. The views of the Connecticut coast are amazing as well. I was very happy to have visited this active site in Waterford. This place is also known as The Seaside Sanatorium.

After coming back recently from vacation, then taking more time to enjoy what is left of Summer…read more This was a perfect spot and a wonderful time spent at Ocean Beach Park at New London, CT this past weekend. I dabble in a couple of hobbies and Photography is one of my many hobbies. We made a decision to be off technology and enjoy the time. Next time, more photos Our time spent was overall enjoyable and relaxing with family. There is plenty to do Arcade, Amusement Rides, miniature golf, Pool, Water Slides, Sandbar Cafe, etc. Some of their attractions appear old, but appear to be properly maintained. In respect of the Beach, Beautiful... The most part it is refreshing to view the scenery and soak in overall. We will be coming soon again to events at Ocean Beach Park, New London, CT

(3/5 stars) The…read morebiggest positives are that the sand is relatively clean, there was no seaweed during our visit, and lifeguards were on duty, which made the beach feel safe. Unfortunately, there were several negatives. The seagulls were extremely aggressive--they were going into people's bags and pulling out food. People were feeding the birds, which only encouraged this behavior. Another downside was the atmosphere. Several groups were playing very loud music, making it difficult to relax and enjoy the beach. Parking was $40 per car on a Sunday in July, which felt expensive. The boardwalk amusement rides are priced individually, and many of them seem very old and dated. Overall, while the beach itself has some nice qualities, the aggressive seagulls, loud environment, high parking cost, and aging rides made the experience less enjoyable than expected.

Elion beach has been in my family for generations. It's a place where, for the families whom own…read moreit, can gather and enjoy summer, whenever they want. It doesn't matter if your family is from CT or Pakistan. Elion beach family members can have fun, share stories with one another and experience the ocean as only the ocean can offer. This spot has shed many memories for me. My cousin benj showed me how to use muscles attached to the rock and how to fish with them. My uncle jack nearly drowned one of my dogs here. To my bubbie, this was home. It's a nice beach to come to and think back on my memories and enjoy the atmosphere- the fond memories of family, the water, the sand and the waves crashing in on the shore.

Private property and it looks like they would definitely shoot a trespasser. I didn't even try it…read more It is a pretty lighthouse and it's a bit of a bummer that you can't get close enough to it (from the land side) to avoid the overhead wires for a good photograph. Maybe there are other angles on public property but I couldn't find it. The New London Harbor Light is the oldest and the tallest lighthouse in Connecticut, 90 feet tall. This current structure was completed in 1801. [Review 18669 overall - 84 in Connecticut - 2191 of 2022.]

Neat little white light house. I love that it's perfect and white! Surrounded by private property,…read more'Do Not Enter' signs and 65+ race car drivers. There is no way to get close. It has about 8 floors in a spiral stair case. Even beaches nearby are for 'private use'. The light itself looks like many others. Neat photo on Long Island Sound! Rebel: 4