I love New York, but I'll always choose one of Connecticut's incredible beach towns over the Hamptons

5 days ago 24

Docked boats successful beforehand of pinkish and purple skies successful Old Saybrook

As a local, determination are a batch of Connecticut beach towns I'd take implicit the Hamptons successful New York.
Greenwich feels exclusive and filled with activities, and Fairfield is wonderfully laid-back.
Old Saybrook feels similar it's retired of a movie, and Mystic is simply a coastal gem filled with history.

There's thing similar a summertime on the Long Island Sound — though it touches New York and Connecticut, I've recovered astir of my favourite spots are really successful the latter.

I lived successful New York City for years and loved it, but thing has ever drawn maine backmost to my Connecticut roots.

And sure, I bask a bully trip to the Hamptons, but I'd take these coastal Connecticut towns implicit the erstwhile each time.

Here are immoderate of my favourite picks — arsenic a bonus, astir of them are little than 3 hours from NYC.

Fairfield feels similar a laid-back, Hamptons-esque escape.

Aerial presumption of houses, formation successful Fairfield, CT

Vacationers successful Fairfield tin consciousness similar locals arsenic they caput retired for a greeting run, deed up the farmers marketplace for a bouquet, drawback java astatine 1 of the galore cafés downtown, oregon simply unbend successful the sunshine.

I similar the town's larger beaches, Jennings and Penfield, which person pavilions serving up classical beachside eats. If I privation a much secluded feel, I caput to the smaller Sasco Beach.

I emotion feeling pampered connected a play getaway here. My favourite "treat myself" spot is Wine N Cheese Day Spa. I'll typically caput determination for a facial, good wine, and an aesthetically pleasing charcuterie board.

If I'm looking for a caller pasta diner to go, I halt by Centro. For a nighttime out, Sinclair is the spot to bid soiled martinis (with generously stuffed blue-cheese olives) and a cookware of mussels.

And, of course, a nightcap astatine J.B. Percival Co. Craft Cocktail Lounge and Speakeasy is simply a must.

Fairfield is astir an hr distant by bid from NYC.

Greenwich captures the amusive "see and beryllium seen" Hamptons mindset.

Sandy enactment with houses adjacent successful Greenwich, CT

I perfectly emotion Greenwich — it's a affluent city, which means galore celebrities and pro athletes person houses here. It's amusive to support an oculus retired for stars portion admiring impressively expansive section architecture.

The municipality feels exclusive and chill and has tons of activities, whether you're heading to Tod's Point to research 147 acres of scenic walking trails, chartering a yacht from the Delamar Hotel for an outing, vertebrate watching astatine the Greenwich Audubon Center, oregon buying the Avenue.

Either way, astatine sunset, there's thing similar kicking backmost successful an Adirondack seat astatine the Point and looking astatine distant views of Manhattan.

And, of course, I implicit my Hampton-esque getaways present with soiled martinis astatine Elm Street Oyster House and unrecorded euphony astatine OG Social.

Greenwich is astir 45 minutes from NYC by train.

Old Saybrook resembles a dreamy seaside retired of a Hallmark movie.

Pink location with flowers successful beforehand successful Old Saybrook

I deliberation downtown Old Saybrook offers historical Sag Harbor charm. Think: idyllic publication shops, antique stores, furniture and breakfasts, and creation galleries.

However, I deliberation this tiny formation municipality feels similar much of a hideaway from a Hallmark movie than the fashionable Long Island village.

Guests tin enactment astatine Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, wherever they tin rent a motorcycle and pedal into municipality for buying earlier heading backmost to ticker boats from the pool.

I besides suggest a halt astatine Harvey's Beach — an fantabulous spot for boating, seashell collecting, oregon simply kicking back.

While there, I suggest enjoying Fresh Salt's waterfront eating and picturesque barroom astatine sunset oregon stopping by Connecticut's beloved Little Pub for food and chips and brews.

To extremity their night, visitors tin drawback 1 of galore shows astatine the section Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center,

Old Saybrook is astir 2 hours from NYC by train.

Mystic is simply a beauteous coastal colony successful Connecticut.

Town with colorful buildings connected Main thoroughfare successful Mystic, Connecticut

Mystic has charming seafood spots, ice-cream parlors, boutiques, and a nautical past museum.

In addition, the adjacent vineyards — similar Jonathan Edwards Winery and Saltwater Farm Vineyard — person a Hamptons-style ambiance.

When I'm not sunbathing oregon sipping vino here, you'll find maine buying for earthy handmade soaps, indispensable oils, oregon braided rugs successful Olde Mystic Village.

The town's galore adjacent beaches don't disappoint, either, from Esker Point to Williams Beach to Bluff Point State Park. If I privation to get immoderate steps in, I locomotion down a scenic way to Bluff Point.

To headdress disconnected my nights, I'll usually caput to the Treehouse astatine Oyster Club, an outdoor eating platform nestled among the foliage with sweeping views of downtown Mystic.

Mystic is astir a two-and-a-half-hour thrust from NYC.