In our house, we know there’s always something to look forward to each season. We love summer for its long days and seemingly endless hours of outdoor time. We savor the magic of fall, transitioning us from the bright summer days to the long winter nights. We appreciate the change winter brings, with its snow on the ground beckoning us to build snowmen and drag out our toboggans. And then there’s spring. And we just really, really love spring.
There’s just something about the springtime that makes us all giddy with excitement, likely because of the noticeable changes all around us: the longer days, the baby animals, and the clean smell of a good spring rain. Plus, we know it’s a steady march into summer.
Heading outside into your own backyard or taking a walk in the woods, or perhaps getting your feet wet are wonderful ways to really soak in the springtime splendor. There’s so much magic to experience with your families during the spring, so head outside and enjoy the show in some of these hidden gems throughout our community.
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Coastal Center at Milford Point
For an afternoon of seaside exploration, head to the Coastal Center at Milford Point, a hidden treasure at the Western-most tip of the city. Buffered by an expanse of sea grass dunes stretching to the end of the point, the sandbar extends into a curved peninsula, offering a safe haven for shorebirds like piping plover and egrets to nest. You can spend hours combing this shoreline, dipping your toes in the water and marveling at all of the seashells glimmering like tiny beach tokens. Oysters and Conch shells, Sea Scallops and Mermaid’s Toenails. Inside the coastal center, visit the snakes, turtles, and fish or you can try and spot some shorebirds. Be sure to climb the spiral staircase to the tower for spectacular views of the marsh and Long Island Sound. Tucked down the hill just beyond the new splash pad and our beloved Bodie’s Place playground is an extensive network of trails making up Eisenhower Park.
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Eisenhower Park
Meandering alongside the Wepawaug River, wetlands, vernal pools, and forested areas, there are family-friendly flat trails to traverse intersecting nearly every portion of the 200-acre park. And the best part? You can dip your toes in the Wepawaug River that flows the entire length of Eisenhower Park. Part of the river is diverted to a pond and forms a small island connected by bridges, where there are always frogs to catch, turtles to discover, and streams to dip your toes in. Tip: Bring a butterfly net and a bucket.
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Silver Sands State Park
Silver Sands State Park offers miles of preserved natural beach connecting the Walnut Beach and Fort Trumbull Beach neighborhoods. The 47-acre park features the beach, a restored salt marsh and a three-mile boardwalk stretching from the end of East Broadway to Walnut Beach. From the shore of Silver Sands State Park, particularly at low tide, it’s difficult to resist the lure of Charles Island. Only a half-mile walk from Silver Sands along the tidally submerged sandbar, only visible at low tide, Charles Island is a 12-acre wildlife sanctuary serving as a haven for shorebirds. On a clear day, you will see groups of beachcombers making their way along the sandbar out to Charles Island, known as the "thrice cursed island" and home to many legends and artifacts of Connecticut history. There are plenty of well-documented legends surrounding the island but none are more exciting than the tale of Captain William Kidd landing in Milford and burying his final treasure.
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The Racebrook Tract
A hidden treasure in Orange, The Racebrook Tract encompasses 230 acres of trails to explore stretching all the way to the Maltby Lakes. This marvelous wildlife area is a perfect under-an-hour walk for kids. Pack a picnic and your binoculars to view the waterfowl and other wildlife during the spring bird migrations. Butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies can also be discovered just alongside the stream belts, forests, wetlands and meadows. Pack a fishing pole to cast a line from shore and keep an eye out for turtles and other amphibians.
