A good spot to hang out and chill alone or accompanied. You can observe nature, bike, jog, walk or…read moreget in the water & do kayak, boating, swim or paddle board if you desire. It's a beautiful park. Check it out.

Beautiful hiking spot with easy to navigate trails and stunning ocean views. We were able to see…read moreFisher's Island, Long Island, and Groton. The port-a-potties were a nice amenity too. It was a little loud due to small airplanes taking off and landing at the nearby airport but it added a layer of intrigue. There are picnic tables and plenty of spots to sit along the water. Next time, I'll bring food and a book.

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.

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.

A beautiful seaside park that was surprisingly busy on breezy November weekend. We walked around a…read morefew of the gardens which I imagine will be even more impressive in the spring and summer.

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.

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.

Grew up swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at this spot. Bygone days where the Guthrie Beach raft would…read morebe the happening spot to swim to, play the diving game with a Popsicle stick, and get ice cream sandwiches from the truck. Spend a whole day here and lose sight of all that matters in the world. Meet the cousins, hang with the friends, relax and let the seagulls try and steal your grinder crumbs.

Not my cup of tea personally for a beach. Get here early enough it's peaceful and have better…read morechances in finding beach glass. Once the kids started showing up and screaming for no reason was where I made my decision. Looks like plenty to do though. There's a plentiful of volleyball nets. Looks like a play place as well.

I was a little disappointed this time around. This is usually my fave beach b/c of the white clean…read moresand,pool,& ocean. The ocean water was dirty & I've never seen that before @ this beach. Came on a Saturday so parking for non New London residence is $40. I was super bummed b/c the pool was closed. Worker said it was closed b/c it rained in the early morning. In the forecast there would not be rain after that & it didn't rain. I stood the whole day @ the beach. I tried getting in the water but it was dirty & freezing. It is always colder than lost beaches b/c it's off the Long Island Sound. I was not a happy camper especially after paying $40 to not really have a good time & couldn't even get a swim in.

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!

Well, this beach has changed massively! My rating is based on teenage memories, childhood memories…read more Going there as a kid there was so much freedom and fun. We could have campfires on the beach and you could be on the beach 24/7. Parking was a breeze, but we always rented a cottage across from Corsino's .... best fried dough and calzones I've ever had... Ever! It was definitely a month of family, fun. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, and friends! I see now it says carousel shop?? It used to be just an awesome carousel where you would grab a ring every time you went around and if you got the golden ring, you got a free ride. My cousin was able to grab the rings so quick she'd grab two with two different fingers on one hand. Of course, the boys running the carousel would give her free rides anyway lol. Jimmy Palumbo maybe ha ha ha ha ha ha not sure lol I think one of the boys was related to Mr. Scaliban who owned a row of cottages. Rooster was one I know we stayed in. I wonder if they're still there... The cottages. There was a huge arcade with lines and lines of pinball machines. There was also a place that made leather snap bracelets that you could put your name on. I have the one that my Memere wore ... It says Chickie on it. That's what my Pepere called her lol Even the cops were nice! I remember live music at the Ocean Spray right at the end of Hartford Avenue... Just past the best lemon ice with the squeeze cups, so you could get every last drop! We would dance and eat while our parents drank and sang! Sounds like it's a lot different now.

They will find a way to fine you 90$ for anything and everything. Do not waist your time or money.read more

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.