Take Advantage of the Off-season with Your Child

During the summer, SE CT can be frustratingly crowded and unenjoyable. I am not one to go stand in a crowd and wait to see some big thing, or sit on a beach with towels inches from mine filled with people I don't know, and I especially don't want to do those things while out with my toddler. That is why, for us, this is the best time of year. 

The weather is still tolerable for extended time outside - lately, it has been so warm I forget it is September - and all those people crowding up the place are gone - back to their homes, their jobs, school. It is me and Cecilia against the world, and we can really enjoy it, without waiting in line or pushing through people. Some of our favorite quiet(er) places to visit are:

• Hole in the Wall beach, Niantic - During the summer, you need a parking pass to go to this beach, which I do not have. Also, it is located right off one of the busiest places, Main St. in Niantic, and as I can imagine gets pretty cramped as it is rather small. However, the water is calm, the parking lot is close to the beach so I don't have to lug anything a mile away, and, most importantly for Cecilia, there is a train track runnign along the back. That means we get to play in sand, feed seagulls expensive organic crackers, AND see a train go by a few times an hour. Right now, you can park free and enjoy a nice day there with only a few other people. While your there, you can also head down the street to Gumdrops and Lollipops and pick up some delicious chocolate covered gummi bears, or head down the the Children's Museum and play in the smaller crowds indoors. 
• Mystic Aquarium, Mystic - WOW. I have never seen somewhere as crazy as this place before than when I went this summer on a random Thursday. The aquarium isn't very big, and when you pack at least a thousand people from the surrounding states int here it feels much smaller. We have a membership, so it isn't bad to slip in quickly, say hi to the fish, and escape the madness mid-July, but it is also nice to really be able to enjoy a day there. Right now is the perfect time to do just that, especially on a week day. Take your time, count the eels, pet the big, fake snapper turtle and make up silly names for the penguins. There will be plenty of room for you to breath and take in all the sights and sounds of the aquarium, including the fun outdoor features that are less appealing in the colder winter months. 
• Eastern Point Beach, Groton - Yes, another beach, because they can get really crazy here during the summer. Once again, this beach requires a parking pass during the summer but doesn't right now. It also has a playground, a really great one, with swings and a climber facing the water. This is a great place to play, have a picnic, and wade looking for hermit crabs to race on the shore. Or, as Cecilia experienced a few weeks ago, run screaming into the water with all your clothes on. Either way, you will enjoy yourself, and you can grab some dinner at Paul's Pasta afterward and call it a day!
• Anywhere requiring travel on I-95 - I have been known to completely stay within the confines of Waterford and towns reachable by Rt.1 for extended periods due to the nightmare that is 95 in the summer. Now that it is a little clearer, we are able to make day trips to fun places like Ikea, the Beardsley Zoo, and even all the way down to Stepping Stones in Norwalk and be fairly certain we won't be trapped between 2 exits for hours on end because someone was texting and driving into other people. 

What are your favorite places to visit in the fall in the area?