Hole-in-the-Wall Beach at McCook Point Park

PLEASE NOTE: This post was originally written in 2014. While it should still give you a great idea of the overall experience, it is also possible that it may contain some outdated information. Please visit their website or call 860-739-5828 for the most up to date information, especially for details like hours and pricing. If you notice something in this post that needs to be updated, please feel free to leave a comment with the updated information, or email us at outandaboutmom@gmail.com and we will be happy to make the updates. Hey, it takes a village, right? ?

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2014 Post

This past weekend was gorgeous, simply gorgeous.

On Saturday, we had nothing on our calendar and I told my husband I just wanted to go to the beach.  I wanted to enjoy the sunshine and get as far away as possible from my computer and my house (only because it desperately needed a good cleaning).

Of course, I couldn’t just go to any old beach, I needed to go to a new-to-me beach and check it out for the blog 🙂

I did a little research online and went through our ever growing list of reader outing recommendations and decided on a spot:  Hole-in-the-Wall beach at McCook Point Park in Niantic.

I was somewhat familiar with the area through previous visits to the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut and Dad’s Restaurant, but I had never checked out the local beach.  It was going to be another fun adventure!

Now, before I get into all the details, let me just mention a few of my favorite features of this beach destination:

• Quiet beach that is easy to manage with little ones
• Beautiful views of the long island sound
• Easy parking
• Clean restrooms
• Walking distance to Main Street with stores and restaurants
• Lifeguards
• Extra entertainment for the kids including:   A passing train, nearby park and playground, and views of the local drawbridge

Sounds nice, right?  Let me give you the grand tour . . .

The map below provides an overview of the area of Niantic in East Lyme, CT.

McCook Point Park includes a beautiful bluff overlooking the long island sound which is flanked by beaches on each side.  To the east is Hole-in-the-Wall beach and to the west is McCook Point Beach.

Parking for the beach is located off Main Street in East Lyme on Baptist Lane.  The turn is right next to a little yellow building which is home to Gumdrops and Lollipops.  I did an awful job attempting to capture a picture of the entrance as we drove by.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, a parking pass is required for parking and beach access.  The pass is $5 for residents and $20 for non-residents and can be purchased at the building located in the parking lot. You can also purchase a season pass, but that must be done at the East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department during normal business hours.

We pulled into the parking area and were greeted by a nice man at the check-in booth who directed us to the main building to purchase our pass.  The pass is good for entry to both Hole-in-the-Wall Beach and nearby McCook Point Beach.

We arrived in the parking area rather early that day (9:30 am) and had no problem finding a space to park.  By afternoon, though, the parking was much more challenging.

On one side of the building was the office area where passes could be purchased.  Cash or check only and you need to show your driver’s license.

The building also contained restrooms (which were impressively clean!)  I was happy to see they had a baby changing table available, and I used it to get Sweetheart in her swim diaper.

We purchased our beach pass and displayed it on our dashboard.  Then made sure the kids had a potty break and were completely covered in suntan lotion.  And finally it was time for the beach!

The kids were ready with their variety of beach toys.

And they LOOOVED that the beach entrance was a tunnel.

Once we made it through the tunnel, we saw the remains of the old boardwalk to our left.  They are currently working to re-do the boardwalk, which was destroyed in the storm.  I’m sure that will be a fun area to explore once it is done.

To our right was information on McCook Point Park and a beautiful view of the beach.

We had arrived fairly early and there were only a few families at the beach, so it was easy for us to find a spot.

The beach is open from 8:00 am – Sunset and there are lifeguards on duty from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

The kids were so excited about the sand, that it took us a little while to get them from the beach entrance to where we wanted to sit, but we finally made it.  We also realized later on that there was a pathway that ran behind the beach and was a much easier way to get a stroller further down the beach than trying to drag it through the sand.  I’ve included a picture below, but as soon as you get through the tunnel, it is immediately on your right.

Once we found a spot and were settled, the kids quickly got busy enjoying all that a beach has to offer.

One of the neat features about this beach was the extras that it offered.  Similar to the scene at Rocky Neck State Park, a train passes right by the beach area.  Wonderful entertainment for the kids!  Plus, there was a view of the nearby drawbridge which was additional entertainment.

Another nice feature of the beach, was the bluff and nearby playground.  Of course we had to check it out.  We followed the pathway around the bluff and took in the beautiful views and continued on our walk until we arrived at the playground.

On the other side of the bluff was several playscapes for the kids plus picnic areas and restroom facilities.  I need to do a full post on this playground at a later point!

And from the playground area, we could see McCook Point Beach below.  This beach has its own parking area and restroom facilities.

After exploring the whole park, we made our way back to the beach.  The kids were excited to play in the sand and water again and it ended up being a perfect time for my husband to take a quick walk downtown and grab us some lunch.  He took Bruiser with him and they picked up lunch from Cafe Sol right off Main Street.

While he was gone, the girls asked to be buried in the sand. Why didn’t I think of this before?  What an easy way to watch the kiddos!

Before long, our tummies were full from lunch and the kids were rubbing their eyes and ready to nap.  We stayed at the beach much longer than planned, but had a wonderful time.  Beautiful views, clean facilities, and a variety of entertainment options for the kids.  What more could you ask for?

Have you been to Hole-in-the-Wall Beach or visited McCook Point Park?  Tell us about your visit in the comments section below.  We love hearing about your experience!

 

 

 

Hole-in-the-Wall Beach at McCook Point Park

Baptist Lane, Niantic, Connecticut

For more information on the beach, contact the East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department at (860) 739-5828 or follow them on Facebook. 860-739-5828860-739-5828860-739-5828

Hours:

The beach is open 8:00 am – Sunset and lifeguards are on duty during the summer from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Pricing:

• Updated with 2015 rates
• A beach pass is required from Memorial Day to Labor Day
• Residents
  • FREE to walk in
  • $10 for a day parking pass
  • $35 for a seasonal pass
• Non-Residents
  • $10 to walk in
  • $25 for a day parking pass
  • $100 for a seasonal pass

Details:

• Stroller Friendly: YES.  As stroller-friendly as any beach can be!  Strollers are always a challenge to get through the sand.  I’ve always found it easiest to use a jogging stroller and pull it through the sand (instead of pushing it).  Also, this beach has a walking path that runs behind the sand area and can be used to easily get strollers further down the beach.
• Coffee Mug Friendly: YES.
• Baby Changing Station:  YES.
• Restrooms:  YES.  Indoor restrooms are available in the parking area.
• Parking:  A parking pass must be purchased to park in the beach’s lot.  You can park in Niantic and walk to the beach for a reduced rate as well.
• Food for Sale: NO.  There is no snack bar or other food for sale at the beach, but an ice cream truck did stop by while we were there and Main Street is within walking distance from the beach.  There you will find a variety of food options.
• Outside Food Allowed: YES.
• Cash Required: YES.  Cash or check are the only accepted forms of payment for the beach passes.
• Dress Code: NO.
• Evening/Weekend Hours: YES.

Beach Features:

• Quiet beach that is easy to manage with little ones
• Beautiful views of the long island sound
• Easy parking
• Clean restrooms
• Walking distance to Main Street with stores and restaurants
• Lifeguards
• Extra entertainment for the kids including:   A passing train, nearby park and playground, and views of the local drawbridge

Beach Rules:

• US Coast Guard approved flotation devices only
• Mask and fins are permitted
• No snorkles
• No ball or frisbee playing permitted
• No alcoholic beverages
• No glass
• No open fires
• No pets allowed from May 1 – September 30

Tips and Things to Bring:

• The usual beach accessories: chairs, umbrella, towels, sunscreen, toys, etc.
• Cash for parking fee payment.
• The playground is walking distance from Hole-in-the-Wall beach.  It is located near McCook Point Beach on the other side of the bluff.

• 4D Vision Gym – A vision training center located in Cromwell, CT where Dr. Juanita Collier, MS, OD and her staff show members how to utilize Vision Therapy to correct issues and make learning and playing easier and more fun.
• The Independent Day School – Located on a rural campus in Middlefield, CT this private pre-school, elementary and middle school serves families from over 20 communities.

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