Davis’s recommendations in Fairfield
Beaches
USE UBER OR LYFT - CANNOT PARK HERE WITHOUT A FULL SEASON PASS FROM MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY.
South Pine Creek Beach is the smallest of all the beaches. There are bathroom facilities and a small parking lot. The beach hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
South Pine Creek Beach is free and open to the public, however from Memorial Day Saturday to Labor Day only residents with a beach sticker are permitted to park in the lot. There are no daily fees.
South Pine Creek Beach
USE UBER OR LYFT - CANNOT PARK HERE WITHOUT A FULL SEASON PASS FROM MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY.
South Pine Creek Beach is the smallest of all the beaches. There are bathroom facilities and a small parking lot. The beach hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
South Pine Creek Beach is free and open to the public, however from Memorial Day Saturday to Labor Day only residents with a beach sticker are permitted to park in the lot. There are no daily fees.
My personal favorite, but technically only open to residents of Fairfield. You can generally get around that by taking an uber/lyft, get dropped off out-of-sight of entrance, and walk-in. Anyone can go during the offseason.
Located just to the south of Southport Harbor and the Country Club of Fairfield on Long Island Sound, this 9.9 acre property is a somewhat secluded beach compared to the other Town beaches and may be accessed by Residents only. The beach hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
6 localnici recomandă
Sasco Beach
My personal favorite, but technically only open to residents of Fairfield. You can generally get around that by taking an uber/lyft, get dropped off out-of-sight of entrance, and walk-in. Anyone can go during the offseason.
Located just to the south of Southport Harbor and the Country Club of Fairfield on Long Island Sound, this 9.9 acre property is a somewhat secluded beach compared to the other Town beaches and may be accessed by Residents only. The beach hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Penfield Beach is a 3.5 acre beachfront property that is a favorite for many Fairfielders. A great place to swim and sun along the Long Island Sound, it offers a long stretch of sandy beach which abutts Rickards Beach. Part of the Penfield Complex, the property boasts two waterfront Banquet Facilities, sailboat racks, lockers to rent for the season or for the day, a large covered deck, handicapped accessibility and bathroom facilities. Lifeguard schedule. The beach hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
There are picnic tables and charcoal grills set up on the beach for visitor use on a first come-first served basis; remember to bring your own charcoal and matches. There is a concession where visitors can purchase snacks if grilling your own food is not on your agenda.
Along with swing sets for the kids, Penfield is a site of The Sandy Ground: Where Angels Play' Project. Twenty six playgrounds have been built to honor the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. The playground in Fairfield celebrates the life of Jessica Rekos.
USE UBER OR LYFT TO AVOID PARKING FEES
DAILY FEES - CREDIT CARDS ONLY.
$50.00 – Weekends
$40.00 – Weekdays
Free in the offseason.
21 localnici recomandă
Penfield Beach
323 Fairfield Beach RdPenfield Beach is a 3.5 acre beachfront property that is a favorite for many Fairfielders. A great place to swim and sun along the Long Island Sound, it offers a long stretch of sandy beach which abutts Rickards Beach. Part of the Penfield Complex, the property boasts two waterfront Banquet Facilities, sailboat racks, lockers to rent for the season or for the day, a large covered deck, handicapped accessibility and bathroom facilities. Lifeguard schedule. The beach hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
There are picnic tables and charcoal grills set up on the beach for visitor use on a first come-first served basis; remember to bring your own charcoal and matches. There is a concession where visitors can purchase snacks if grilling your own food is not on your agenda.
Along with swing sets for the kids, Penfield is a site of The Sandy Ground: Where Angels Play' Project. Twenty six playgrounds have been built to honor the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. The playground in Fairfield celebrates the life of Jessica Rekos.
USE UBER OR LYFT TO AVOID PARKING FEES
DAILY FEES - CREDIT CARDS ONLY.
$50.00 – Weekends
$40.00 – Weekdays
Free in the offseason.
Walks / Hiking
Great walking trails through the woods and along the wake. Swimming area that's great for kids. And dog-friendly!
Technically closed in 2021, but I wont tell on you.
During the summer months, the man made fresh water lake is open to swimmers in a designated area supervised by lifeguards. There are ropes at several depths, and young children aren’t allowed beyond a certain point without an adult. The large beach is sandy and sunny. There’s little natural shade, so beach umbrellas are a must.
In addition to the swimming, Lake Mohegan has a sprinkler park for children. Built and paid for by the volunteer organization Safe Parks and Recreation for Kids (SPARK), the fun zone is full of spouts, faucets and misters that will delight tiny toddlers and their older siblings too. The lake also has a playground, a snack bar, picnic shelter and restroom facilities. Fairfield Parks and Recreation holds swimming lessons in the calm lake waters for children beginning at age four.
Mohegan Lake
Great walking trails through the woods and along the wake. Swimming area that's great for kids. And dog-friendly!
Technically closed in 2021, but I wont tell on you.
During the summer months, the man made fresh water lake is open to swimmers in a designated area supervised by lifeguards. There are ropes at several depths, and young children aren’t allowed beyond a certain point without an adult. The large beach is sandy and sunny. There’s little natural shade, so beach umbrellas are a must.
In addition to the swimming, Lake Mohegan has a sprinkler park for children. Built and paid for by the volunteer organization Safe Parks and Recreation for Kids (SPARK), the fun zone is full of spouts, faucets and misters that will delight tiny toddlers and their older siblings too. The lake also has a playground, a snack bar, picnic shelter and restroom facilities. Fairfield Parks and Recreation holds swimming lessons in the calm lake waters for children beginning at age four.
For a quicker stroll through the woods, walk to the end of the cul-de-sac on pheasant lane (plug 130 pheasant lane in your GPS), and take the trail through the woods — all the paths lead to the same spot. When you hit the road, make a right, then make another right on Brookside Dr. and walk back along the brook.
Springer Glen Open Space
1348 Stillson RoadFor a quicker stroll through the woods, walk to the end of the cul-de-sac on pheasant lane (plug 130 pheasant lane in your GPS), and take the trail through the woods — all the paths lead to the same spot. When you hit the road, make a right, then make another right on Brookside Dr. and walk back along the brook.
Mt Laurel Park Open Space
Great walking trails, cliffs, vegetation, views (if you're willing to climb a bit)
Location and Access
This open space area in the Mill River watershed is in the central part of Fairfield. It includes about 24 mostly forested acres south of the Merritt Parkway, just west of the Samp Mortar Rock Open Space Area and not too far from the Lake Mohegan Open Space Area. The river and Black Rock Turnpike are a short distance to the east. The area is surrounded by residential neighborhoods and its southern boundary adjoins Mountain Laurel Road.
The main entrance to the area is from Mountain Laurel Road where there’s space for a few cars to park carefully along the north side of the road.
Another point of access is from the Town right-of-way at the end of Holly Dale Road. There’s currently no parking here and this access is used by neighborhood residents.
History
This property was acquired by the Town in 1966 and dedicated for conservation purposes. It’s now managed by the Conservation Commission to protect its forest habitat and other natural values and to provide opportunities for walking and hiking and passive enjoyment of the natural environment.
Topography
The open space area is essentially a big ravine. An unnamed stream flows almost directly south through the center of the area, eventually draining into the Mill River. The land rises steeply on either side of the stream and there are several high, rocky overlooks affording scenic views of the forested landscape. The area’s highest elevations are between 200 and 250 feet above sea level on the western hillside.
Vegetation and Wildlife
The area is almost entirely forested with mature hardwood species including oaks, maples, and tulip trees with some birch trees mixed in too. The under-story is made up of mostly spicebush and dogwood along with some dense thickets of the open space area’s characteristic mountain laurel. The forest floor is composed of brier, raspberry, viburnum, and various herbaceous plants. There’s a small meadow near Mountain Laurel Road at the entrance to the open space area.
Buttercup, partridge berry, smartweed, pokeweed, bittersweet, and spotted touch me-not are among the wildflowers that you will see in the area.
The mountain laurel thickets provide winter cover for deer, turkeys, and song birds. Other mammals that frequent the area include squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, opossum, raccoon, and skunk. Some of the birds you’re likely to see include grouse, cardinals, oven birds, mocking birds, sparrows, and woodpeckers.
Trails
When you walk into the open space area, you can turn right or left to follow the “yellow” loop trail. Either way, you’ll soon be walking up onto the higher ground of the slopes that are found on both sides of the stream course. You can do a full loop of about 8/10 of a mile that will involve climbing and traversing some fairly steep slopes.
You can also walk directly north on the “red” trail that follows the floor of the ravine, alongside the stream course, for a distance that’s less than ¼-mile. Then you can turn around and walk back on the same trail or follow the yellow trail back. There’s also a shorter “blue” trail near the property’s eastern boundary and the entrance to the area from Holly Dale Road.
Mount Laurel Park Open Space
Mountain Laurel RoadMt Laurel Park Open Space
Great walking trails, cliffs, vegetation, views (if you're willing to climb a bit)
Location and Access
This open space area in the Mill River watershed is in the central part of Fairfield. It includes about 24 mostly forested acres south of the Merritt Parkway, just west of the Samp Mortar Rock Open Space Area and not too far from the Lake Mohegan Open Space Area. The river and Black Rock Turnpike are a short distance to the east. The area is surrounded by residential neighborhoods and its southern boundary adjoins Mountain Laurel Road.
The main entrance to the area is from Mountain Laurel Road where there’s space for a few cars to park carefully along the north side of the road.
Another point of access is from the Town right-of-way at the end of Holly Dale Road. There’s currently no parking here and this access is used by neighborhood residents.
History
This property was acquired by the Town in 1966 and dedicated for conservation purposes. It’s now managed by the Conservation Commission to protect its forest habitat and other natural values and to provide opportunities for walking and hiking and passive enjoyment of the natural environment.
Topography
The open space area is essentially a big ravine. An unnamed stream flows almost directly south through the center of the area, eventually draining into the Mill River. The land rises steeply on either side of the stream and there are several high, rocky overlooks affording scenic views of the forested landscape. The area’s highest elevations are between 200 and 250 feet above sea level on the western hillside.
Vegetation and Wildlife
The area is almost entirely forested with mature hardwood species including oaks, maples, and tulip trees with some birch trees mixed in too. The under-story is made up of mostly spicebush and dogwood along with some dense thickets of the open space area’s characteristic mountain laurel. The forest floor is composed of brier, raspberry, viburnum, and various herbaceous plants. There’s a small meadow near Mountain Laurel Road at the entrance to the open space area.
Buttercup, partridge berry, smartweed, pokeweed, bittersweet, and spotted touch me-not are among the wildflowers that you will see in the area.
The mountain laurel thickets provide winter cover for deer, turkeys, and song birds. Other mammals that frequent the area include squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, opossum, raccoon, and skunk. Some of the birds you’re likely to see include grouse, cardinals, oven birds, mocking birds, sparrows, and woodpeckers.
Trails
When you walk into the open space area, you can turn right or left to follow the “yellow” loop trail. Either way, you’ll soon be walking up onto the higher ground of the slopes that are found on both sides of the stream course. You can do a full loop of about 8/10 of a mile that will involve climbing and traversing some fairly steep slopes.
You can also walk directly north on the “red” trail that follows the floor of the ravine, alongside the stream course, for a distance that’s less than ¼-mile. Then you can turn around and walk back on the same trail or follow the yellow trail back. There’s also a shorter “blue” trail near the property’s eastern boundary and the entrance to the area from Holly Dale Road.
Food scene
My go-to spot for a quick breakfast is Country Cow, a 2-minute drive, or a 10-minute walk away. It's a cash-only deli with delicious breakfast sandwiches. Try their locally famous bacon egg and cheese on a Portuguese roll. (If you order anything but an egg + cheese + some sort of protein sandwich, you will get funny looks. If you order double eggs, double cheese, add Tabasco, salt and pepper, and fried onions, you will earn respect.)
Country Cow Deli
2505 Black Rock TurnpikeMy go-to spot for a quick breakfast is Country Cow, a 2-minute drive, or a 10-minute walk away. It's a cash-only deli with delicious breakfast sandwiches. Try their locally famous bacon egg and cheese on a Portuguese roll. (If you order anything but an egg + cheese + some sort of protein sandwich, you will get funny looks. If you order double eggs, double cheese, add Tabasco, salt and pepper, and fried onions, you will earn respect.)