When summer vacation clicks into high gear, and you and the kids are hot and sweaty, it's time to look for a body of water! Pack up the food, the kids, and the water toys, it's beach time!

Nymetroparents.com score big with recommendations for some of the best beaches in Connecticut for the entire family. When you're planning an all day outing with the kids, you want to make sure you tire them out with a bunch of activities in addition to swimming.

1. Calf Pasture Beach (Norwalk) - Still one of the best beaches in New England, Calf Pasture offers softball fields, volleyball courts, skate park, and basketball courts. You can also rent sailboats, kayaks, and windsurfers too. Admission is free for Norwalk residents, and for non-residents, it's $25 on weekdays and $30 on weekends.

2. Silver Sands State Park (Milford) - Silver Sands is the perfect choice if the family's looking for a beach that's a bit smaller, remote, and quieter. The only negative for some beach goers is the long walk to get to the beach on the boardwalk. The views are gorgeous, the seashells are prevalent, but there are no food stands or changing facilities. Parking is FREE!

3. Penfield Beach (Fairfield) - Penfield Beach is quite the opposite of Silver Sands. There's a huge play area and picnic tables with grills, but make sure you get there early. Penfield also has food concessions and restrooms. Parking is expensive, $20 on weekdays and $50 on weekends. Doesn't that seem excessive?!

4. Compo Beach (Westport) - Compo offers a 29 acre park that includes a softball field, basketball courts, along with a skate park. The cost of parking is also expensive at $30 on weekdays and $50 on weekends.

5. Sherwood Island State Park (Westport) - Sherwood Island was rated 4 out of 5 on Yelp.com. Yelp reviewers enjoyed the white sand, clean beaches, and the lack of throngs of people. One mom commented that it's perfect for kids who don't like those big waves. Weekday parking is $9 for Connecticut residents and $15 for non-residents. On weekends, it's $13 for residents and $22 for non-residents.

 

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