The Day takes you off the beaten path

January 17, 2020 11:01 pm • Last Updated: January 20, 2020 6:18 am

By Kristina Dorsey
Features Editor

07/02/2019 :: Region :: Baldelli :: A visitor runs along the rocks as the last colors of the sunset fade on Monday, July 1, 2019, at Stonington Point. Located at the tip of the peninsula that is the Stonington Borough the point is open to the public for free and boasts some of the best views along the shoreline. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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The Day’s Community Impact in 2019

The Day provides readers with plenty of quality hard news — information that you need to know about what’s going on in your town, city or state.

But The Day also offers you some fun reads, too, with a look at the lighter side of life.

Our Off the Beaten Path series that ran this summer was the latter, providing a peek at some entertaining and scenic places around the region that even folks who’ve lived here a long time might not know about.

Some sites were relatively new. The Richard H. Goodwin Trail, for instance, just opened in 2016, and it brings hikers through gorgeously bucolic territory as it winds from East Lyme to East Haddam.

The Niantic Bay Beach became an East Lyme town beach in 2015. It is the town’s biggest beach area but has its smallest parking area, so the site, which is a prime example of coastal beauty, never feels that crowded.

While the great outdoors were popular destinations for the Off the Beaten Path series (see, for example, the glorious views at Stonington Point and the flora and fauna at Stenger Farm Park in Waterford), art destinations and fairs had their place, too.

The outdoor, family-friendly Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds in Old Lyme offers that rare chance for visitors to touch sculptures, something most venues ban.

Every summer and into the fall, the Connecticut Renaissance Faire brings visitors back into the distant past, with the latest location having been the town of Lebanon.

When it comes to your finding a path less-traveled, The Day can lead the way.

A1/OTBP :: Florin :: 7/16/19 :: Joy Xu of Norwich walks along the lavender after posing for photos for friends while visiting Lavender Pond Farm in Killingworth on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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6/12/19 :: OFF THE BEATEN PATH :: MOSER :: Sculptures on the main lawn at Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds in Old Lyme on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. The private sculpture garden, owned by Gilbert Boro, features over 100 of the owner's works and a new summer showcase opened recently with more than 20 new sculptures. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Off the Beaten Path

HIKING AND BIKING

Air Line State Park Trail, East Hampton, Colchester, Hebron, Lebanon, Willimantic. More information at www.ct.gov/deep

The Richard H. Goodwin Trail, from Darrow Pond, off Route 161 in East Lyme, to Route 82 in East Haddam. Trail maps are available at http://www.eightmileriver.org

Shoreline Greenway Trail, 5.4 miles in Madison, Branford and East Haven.

SCENIC RELAXATION

Lavender Pond Farm, 318 Roast Meat Hill Road, Killingworth.

Niantic Bay Beach, off Route 156, downtown Niantic. More information: www.eltownhall.com

Stenger Farm Park, 9 Clark Lane, Waterford.

Stonington Point, end of Water Street, Stonington Borough.

RECREATION AND FUN

Connecticut Renaissance Faire, Lebanon Country Fairgrounds, 122 Mack Road, Lebanon. More information: www.ctfaire.org

Dodd Stadium, 14 Stott Ave., Norwich. More information: www.milb.com/connecticut

Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds, 80 Lyme St., Old Lyme. More information: http:/www.sculpturegrounds.com

For more information on these locations, visit www.theday.com/OTBP

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