The Perfect Beach Day with Grandkids: A Fairfield County Guide

There’s something about a beach day that grandkids never forget. The salt air, the hunt for shells, burying toes in the sand — it doesn’t take much to make it magical. But a little planning goes a long way toward making sure the day is magical for you too.

Here’s what we’ve learned from doing this in Fairfield County.

The Best Beaches for a Grandparent-Grandkid Day

Sherwood Island State Park, Westport is the most grandparent-friendly beach in Fairfield County, full stop. It’s a Connecticut state park — not a town beach — which means no local parking permit required. The parking lot is large, the walk to the beach is flat and short, restrooms are near the entrance, and there are picnic pavilions with shade. The beach itself is on the Long Island Sound, so the water is calm. It’s the one beach that just works.

Compo Beach, Westport is beautiful but requires a Westport resident sticker in peak season. If you have family in Westport or visit early in the morning (before 9am is usually safe), it’s worth it — the facilities are excellent and the beach is well-maintained.

Tod’s Point / Greenwich Point Park is another Sound beach with calm water, walking paths along the shoreline, and good shade from trees. Same deal: Greenwich resident sticker required in summer, but the morning window before 9am is often open.

Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk has a playground right at the beach — genuinely useful when a two-year-old loses interest in the sand after twenty minutes. Norwalk residents only in peak season, but off-season or early morning it’s accessible.

Parking: The One Thing That Makes or Breaks It

This is the part parents often don’t think about until they’re already in the parking lot at 10:30am on a Saturday being turned away.

• Go early. Most town beaches open their lots to non-residents before 9am. Aim to arrive by 8:30am.
• Check for day passes. Some Fairfield County towns sell non-resident day passes. Call the parks department in advance — it varies by town and season.
• Default to Sherwood Island if you can’t confirm parking. State parks accept a state parking fee, no residency needed.
• Have a backup plan. If you arrive and the lot is full, knowing your second choice in advance prevents a meltdown (yours or the grandkids’).

What to Bring (The Grandparent Edition)

The classic mistake is over-packing for the kids and under-packing for yourself. After a few beach days, you learn.

For the grandkids:

• Change of clothes (plural — they will be wet)
• Sunscreen applied before you leave the house, not in the parking lot
• Snacks they actually like (this is not the day for adventurous eating)
• A bucket and shovel — still the best $4 investment in existence
• A dry bag or ziplock for wet bathing suits on the way home

For you:

• A proper beach chair with a back (not a low sling chair — getting up from one with a toddler in your arms is a liability)
• Sun hat and long-sleeve UV shirt — the Sound reflects more sun than you expect
• A small cooler with cold water and something easy to eat one-handed
• Your own dry clothes, because you will get wet too

Timing the Day

The sweet spot for a grandkid beach day is 9am to 1pm. You beat the parking rush, you’re out before the hottest part of the afternoon, and you still have enough energy left for an ice cream stop on the way home.

Toddlers and young grandkids typically hit a wall around noon. Don’t fight it — build in an exit before the meltdown and you end on a high note. Leaving while they’re still asking to stay is the goal.

Making It a Tradition

Some of the best grandparent-grandkid memories are the ones that repeat. Same beach, same summer, year after year. The grandkids grow, the buckets get bigger, eventually they’re the ones helping you carry the cooler. Find a beach that works for your family and make it yours.

Sherwood Island is a good starting point. Pack a picnic, get there early, and let the morning take care of itself.

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