With my parent’s car packed full of my things and pulling onto I-90 west out of Boston, I couldn’t help but feel the familiar spring of tears cropping up behind my eyes as I said goodbye to the city, school and people I love for four months. Two years in, the same feeling of panic that you experience when you first get dropped off at an unfamiliar place was once again setting in, although this time it was because I was leaving, as well as going back to the town where I had previously spent the first 18 years of my life. While I was so excited to see my family and familiar faces from home, I couldn’t help but dread the coming months in a town where the total population equals the amount of undergrad at my school, not to mention that with a move out date of April 29, I was essentially coming back to a ghost town.
Turning off the exit back into my small beach town that I have simultaneously hated and loved over those years, though, I remembered that while my friends and I might constantly complain about the lack of activity going on, there are hundreds of things to do on the Connecticut shoreline for the summer. This realization was a huge relief, and while I might still complain that I have nothing to do, I am still pretty excited to spend my last full summer in the town that I love.
For those of you who are still panicking about the next coming months, here are five things to do on the Connecticut shoreline this summer.
Spend a day at the beach
I’m fortunate enough to live in a town right on the coast, but even if you live inland, a drive to the beach is worth it. Hammonasset State Park, Surf Club, even a day trip up to Watch Hill in Rhode Island is doable and swimming in the ocean will always be better than a pool.
Go to the city
You can interpret this how you want. For me, my city of choice will always be Boston, but since Connecticut is luckily right between Boston and New York, each just a short train ride away.
Get some of the best seafood around
Living along the shore has its perks. Whether you want to go somewhere fancy like S&P Oyster Co. in Mystic or don’t mind eating next to a carousel at Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale in my hometown of Madison, you can’t go wrong.
Enjoy Connecticut’s natural parks
Between Hammonasset State Park in Madison, Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, and Bluff Head trails in Guilford, among many more, the Connecticut shoreline has tons of options if you want to get outside.
Taste the best ice cream in Connecticut
Nothing says summer like ice cream, and no ice cream is like Ashley’s Ice Cream, located in Madison, Guilford, Branford, Hamden and New Haven. You might think I’m biased because it’s in my town, but Ashley’s has accrued awards like Best in Connecticut, Best on the Shoreline, and has been Best in New Haven County for the past almost 30 years, so I think I have a reason to be.
Keep your countdown of the days until you go back to school, but keep these ideas in mind so you don’t go crazy between now and then. Hags.
