Between NYC And New Haven Is Connecticut's Underrated Beach Paradise That Was Once Part Of An Amusement Park

Have you discovered your favorite New England beach yet? It might be hiding on Connecticut's scenic Gold Coast. In between New York City and New Haven, you'll find the historic city of Norwalk. And, if you zoom in to its picturesque neighborhood called Rowayton, you'll find a former amusement park that's now a public beach. Though it flies too far under the radar to land on Tripadvisor's or NewEngland.com's "best Connecticut beaches" lists, the soft sand and clean water of Bayley Beach make it the perfect spot to enjoy a day along Long Island Sound.

Norwalk, a buzzy harbor city with art, New England charm, and oysters, sits along the central coast of Connecticut's Fairfield County. More than 20 miles of its shoreline borders Connecticut's coast – so it's not surprising that the city is lined with beautiful beaches. The southwest corner of Norwalk is now the tranquil seaside community of Rowayton, but it wasn't always this serene. From the late 1880s until the early 1940s, Rowayton was home to Roton Point Amusement Park, which had a roller coaster, carousel, miniature steam train, and hotel. Trolleys linked it with other Connecticut towns, while boats transported people from nearby New York and New Jersey. A hurricane and World War II eventually ended the fun, though. After Rowayton bought the land, it was turned into peaceful Neville Bayley Park and Bayley Beach, which were named after the last owner of the amusement park.

These days, Neville Bayley Park and Bayley Beach offer more low-key entertainment in Rowayton. The 10-acre park now features a jungle gym for little kids, as well as basketball and volleyball courts for the older kids. There's a pavilion with bathrooms; changing rooms; outdoor showers; and Di's Sea Shanty, a casual snack bar just steps from the sand. Or, if you prefer to bring your own food, grills and picnic tables are also available. Just watch out for the laughing gulls that are surely eyeing your lunch.

Once you're inside the park, your focus will, undoubtedly, turn to the beach. It's a stretch of golden sand that's bordered by a rocky outcrop on one side and the private Wee Burn Beach Club on the other. You can bring your beach chair and towel to sunbathe on the sand or grab one of the Adirondack chairs that stand in a row facing the water. During the summer season, lifeguards keep a close eye from their tower, too.

Then there's that sparkling water, of course. Along the edge, you'll find a boat launch to guide hand-operated vessels, such as kayaks and paddleboards, into the water. There's also a roped-in swimming area with a floating dock. But your favorite part of the day might just be walking along the edge of the water and enjoying the incredible view of Long Island Sound.

You'll know that your beach day is coming to an end when the air gets chillier, the lifeguards go home, and shadows start to spread across the sand. But Bayley Beach might actually be getting crowded again, as it's a perfect spot to watch the sunset. On Sunday evenings during the summer, there's even the free RCA Summer Music Festival.

As with most of the beaches along the coast of Connecticut, non-residents must pay a parking or walk-in fee to access Neville Bayley Park and Bayley Beach from Memorial Day weekend through September 15. The gates are open from 8 a.m. until just after sunset every day.

Given its location in between New York City and New Haven, New England's escape with local eats and a vibrant culture, there are multiple ways to travel to Bayley Beach. The closest airport, Westchester County Airport (HPN), is just 20 miles away along the New York and Connecticut border. The regional airport receives nonstop flights from roughly two dozen, mostly East Coast, cities. If you double the driving distance, you can check out flights to LaGuardia Airport (LGA), too. Flights from all around the country land at this New York City airport, which went from a total nightmare to one of the best in America. From Manhattan, you can also ride Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line from Grand Central Terminal to South Norwalk. The beach is then less than 4 miles from the station.