Though not off the beaten path by any means, the two full miles of flat, sandy beach at Hammonasset Beach State Park handily accommodate summer crowds. This is the ideal beach at which to set up an umbrella-chair, crack open a book and forget about the world. The surf is tame, making swimming superb; restrooms and showering facilities are clean and ample; and a wooden boardwalk runs the length of the park. There is no entry charge in the off-season. Stroll the boardwalk all the way to Meigs Point at the tip of the peninsula and visit the Nature Center before heading out on a trail that meanders through saltwater marshes. Excellent bird-watching here. Hammonasset is a Native American word for ‘where we dig holes in the ground, ’ alluding to agricultural practices. These days it’s more likely to refer to the holes of tent stakes.
