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.

Parking was free the day I came here. The beach wasn't crowded at all. There's a nice restaurant…read morewith a decent variety of food options. The food quality was pleasantly surprising. The playground for the kids is a nice touch. The women's rest rooms need some serious upkeep though. It was pretty gross.

Awesome place to fish if you do not want to go on a boat and just want to fish from a pier…read more Pier has cleaning stations and fresh water hoses only down fall you have a little walk to the bathrooms but nothing crazy.

This place is a hidden gem and an absolute breathtaking place for meditation, solice and…read moreappreciating life.

Especially beautiful at sunset, that view from Bowman's Way is incredible! Small beach and not…read moresuper well known, but a great place to go!

Came here for a walk along the beach in end of October because my in laws live in the Atlanta area…read moreso they don't get to see the beach often haha. It was nice and refreshing, beautiful views with fresh air.

A super adaptable park, here you can get your cardio along the walking trail or workout equipment…read more You can stroll slowly between the sand and clam beds, or you can sit and watch the waves, or let your kids have fun at the playgrounds. Though you need resident parking during swim season, it's a great winter escape for all between Labor Day and Memorial Day. People decorate memorial benches for the winter holidays, and jingle bell horse rides go on during the December holiday season. It's a park near and dear. At some point we'll make it to the museum, but the historic interpretative signs helped us make do. Kids can sled the hills by the entrance, and everyone can find beach glass along the cove itself. Whether you're looking for nature or exercise, this is a great local escape.

Penfield Beach is one of the 6 public beaches in Fairfield, however, from the Memorial Day weekend…read moreto Labor Day, you must either have a season pass (open only to Fairfield residents) or pay a daily fee to park and visit the beach: $50 a day for weekends and holidays, $40 for weekdays in 2025 (I guess you could walk or boat in). I vist out of season and it's a nice, clean, beach, with a view of 2 lighthouses. It's a good sized beach to walk along, enjoy the views, catch a sunrise or sunset, particularly when barely anyone is there. Plenty of parking and not too far a walk to the beach (except when it's packed).

We had our wedding at the Jacky Durrell Pavilion in September 2024 and it was absolutely amazing!…read more This is a hidden gem in Connecticut offers views over looking the beach and is perfect for sunsets! It also has a lit up wrap around deck and a fireplace for those chilly nights! There is also a warming kitchen (no grill/stove access) a stand up fridge/freezer, and tables/chairs available for rental if needed. VERY reasonable price to rent out this venue hall considering it's in Fairfield and on the beach. This is a perfect venue for any type of reunion, party, wedding, or simply going to the beach and enjoying the summer weather. The staff were very accommodating for what was needed during the rental process!

Quiet, alcohol and pet free bay beach and park. Lots of parking, clean and close beach from parking…read morelot. No boardwalk nor eateries but they do have restrooms. Rocky beach and no waves because it's on the bay. Parking is $22 for non residents. Wish the water was clearer but it's natural. Brought water shoes but didn't really need them if you're careful. They have an East beach and West beach within park. West allows bbqs, larger fields and nice views. East beach is more like a beach due to lifeguard staff. Nature center located on east beach as well. My photos are from west beach only.

I've come here a handful of times and it's always great. This time around, I came to the beach with…read moremy family for the 4th of July. I arrived at 11ish, paid $22 (non-Connecticut residents have to pay) and found parking immediately. Around 12:30 the parking lots were at capacity and closed. I love how there's so much to do at the park. You can grill, go to the beach, go for a walk and even ride your bike. It's a great time. The beach is small and full of rocks and pebbles. The water was freezing even in the hot weather. The walk towards the water is even worse. There's rocks everywhere you step and can be extremely painful. My sister and I both cut our feet trying to get in and out of the water so I HIGHLY recommend getting some water shoes! My favorite parking lot is the west side only because there's a bathhouse where you can change, use the bathroom and take a shower. Highly recommend to come here for a fun beach day or picnic or grilling. Love love this place!

Im not gunna hate on Shady. As much as i would love to just bash it for being, well, what it is…read more I didnt know any better growing up near here, and it was a decent spot back then, and its still a decent spot now! Find a chill bench, roll a blunt, and accept it for what it is. I personally would NOT advise anyone to go "swimming" at this beach, but i guess i understand why people do go in that filthy water. Lemme just say that, while i do appreciate Shady, being here, makes me truly appreciate living in San Diego that much more now! Sorry Norwalk...oh, and yall can keep your humidity too!

Don't go here. It is a pre-setting for non-resident parking. Our car being towed here only 15…read moreminutes. We actually asked twice before we entered the 3rd parking space. And because we parked at right , not left, our car being towed only 15 min later. They asked $150 CASH ONLY and no receipt. You need to pay another $150 to town for parking violation. In order to get back our car, we need to find the closest ATM to get cash and very rude person in the garage. They made me go through such a pain process and my 4 yr old daughter just stayed outside in chilly wind. We finally got back our car. But my daughter got a fever that night.

A marine educational center, tennis center, lots of piers and docks to fish and launch kayaks and…read moresmall boats. I used to love going to the village beach here, play tennis & bike.

Great Little Spot to enjoy a festival walk around in plenty of parking wheelchair handicap…read moreaccessible, which is important because I have a lot of people in my family disabilities and something generally healthier to do with the family so it's a plus and on a nice day is perfect to enjoy

Compo Beach is located in Westport, Connecticut…read more I was invited to this beach for their annual Fourth of July celebration, which consisted of an awesome fireworks display. The beach is nice and clean. They have a concession building that serves many desirable beach day food options, like hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers, ice cream, etc. It's nice to have a place to eat without having to leave the beach. Nice plus for me. There are indoor bathrooms that are very clean which is also a nice plus. They have volleyball nets, a playground, places where you can grill out and more. Great for the whole family. This beach is located in a nice suburban neighborhood so the surrounding area is nice as well. I really enjoyed myself and hope to be back one day.

We went on a very windy and cold Sunday so it was easy to park. I'm told it's harder to park on the…read moreweekends in busy seasons, but for us it was lovely nice path along the water, etc..

This is a lovely spot to hang out with friends and family of all ages. Lots of places to…read moresit--benches, a gazebo, and of course right by the water. There are a lot of recreational areas, including a nice kid playground. Keep in mind that this is the bay, not 'the beach.' You can swim in the water and lay on the sand, but it's rocky (this is the north shore, after all). Some ocean-going purists may not like it, but it's fine by me! I also love that this is so close to the main drag in Oyster Bay. It's super convenient to pick up some food or drinks if you didn't pack your own.

Oh, it's changed. When I was here in the mid-80s, there were no ball field or tennis courts. There…read morewas a big stretch of road where the firemen used to practice their ladder skills and the local drivers ed learned how to drive. Since then, many improvements. The park now has tennis courts, a softball field, picnic shelter, a playground and a huge parking lot. There are several memorials including one to Theodore Roosevelt. You'll also find a boat ramp and a view of Oyster Bay Harbor. [Review 15330 overall, 832 of 2021, number 215 in New York.]