Harkness Memorial State Park is a gorgeous spot in Waterford, right on the Long Island Sound.

Sitting between the Harkness mansion Eolia and the water, you can imagine what it was like for the Harkness family that lived in the manor and enjoyed the 230-acre property before leaving it to the state in 1950.

The gardens around Eolia are glorious. Swimming isn’t allowed at Harkness, but that’s about the only drawback. Admission is free for cars with a Connecticut license plate.

While Harkness is the best-known park in Waterford, it’s far from the only one. If you’re elsewhere in town and want to go out on a bit of a hike, here are a couple of suggestions: Stenger Farm Park off Clark Lane or Leary Park off Vauxhall Street Extension.

Harkness Memorial State Park, 275 Great Neck Road, Waterford; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Harkness-Memorial-State-Park.

Stenger Farm Park, 128 Clark Lane, Waterford.

Leary Park, 739 Vauxhall Street Ext., Waterford.