Connecticut Summer Bucket List: 13 Things to Do Before Summer Ends

There’s no better feeling than warm sunshine on your shoulders, hot sand between your toes and a cool breeze gently kissing your suntanned face. But wait! Back-to-School sales are splashed all over TV, coupons are filling up your mailbox and emails from teachers and coaches are flooding your inbox. You know what that means… summer’s almost over.

The pressure’s on to squeeze in as much summer fun as possible before the sands slipping through the hourglass have officially run out. Patch asked friends, readers and colleagues what their must-do things were and here’s what we came up with.

Top Summer Things To Do in Fairfield & New Haven County

• Build a sand castle at Compo Beach in Westport: Compo Beach is located in Westport on the Long Island Sound. This gem of Connecticut beaches has it all-- volleyball courts, a playground, snack bar, grills, picnicking areas, dressing rooms with showers and a gorgeous view. Lifeguards watch over swimmers as they splash in the clean, clear water. Parking is $30 a day during the week or $50 on the weekends. Compo Beach is located at 60 Compo Beach Road, Westport.

• Enjoy finger-lickin’-good barbecue at Hoodoo Brown BBQ in Ridgefield or the Wire Mill in Redding: Low n’ slow is the tempo for these pigmasters to cook up the most tender, succulent ribs, wings and pulled pork. Bringing the kids? These family-friendly eateries serves up burgers, fries and chicken. Eating healthy? There’s heaps and tons of fresh green salads to choose from.

• Check out a free concert at the new Levitt Pavillion: Tuesdays are comedy nights, Wednesdays are kids’ nights and during the rest of the week, there’s bands playing jazz, rock, blues, Motown and more to keep your toes tapping and your fingers snapping. Click here for the current schedule.

• Take a ride on the wild side on a camel at Beardsley Zoo: More than 300 North and South American species of animals welcome visitors. And now there’s camel rides too! Toby, Goliath and Noah the camel will take kids for rides from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Rides are $5 per person. The Beardsley Zoo is located at 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport, CT.

• Set sail on a study cruise on the Long Island Sound: The Maritime Center in Norwalk offers educational boat rides on the Sound at 1:00 p.m. daily during the month of August. Study marine life from the water’s surface down to the bottom of the ocean. A video microscope and touch tank is onboard to add to the experience. Passengers must be over 42” tall. The Maritime Center is located at 10 N. Water St, Norwalk, CT.

• Grub & Golf at the Olde Sawmill Grill: Enjoy some good old American fun with a game of minigolf and some tasty seafood and burgers. The Olde Sawmill Grill is located at 345 Oxford Rd., Oxford, CT. And dessert is not too far away.....

• Enjoy the best ice cream cones in Connecticut at Rich Farm or compare cones at Ferris Acres CreameryBest of Connecticut winner, and Yelp and Roadfood top reviews make this creamery a must-taste dairy delight. Over 25 everyday flavors and more than 30 specialty flavors will make it hard to choose. Rich Farm is located at 691 Oxford Road, Oxford. Ferris Acres Creamery on Dodgingtown Road (Rt. 302) in Newtown is a summertime favorite. Creamy, homemade ice cream set on a dairy farm will have you feeling like it’s really summertime in New England. Try the Moose Tracks.

• Ride the carousel at Lighthouse Point Park: A unique historic facility, an antique Carousel and beautiful views of New Haven Harbor await your arrival. Walk the boardwalk along the beach, enjoy a bite to eat at the Shore Shack and enjoy the sunset at this hidden treasure. Lighthouse Point Park is located at 2 Lighthouse Rd, New Haven, CT.

• Pick your own berries at Jones Family Farm: Strawberries and blueberries and blackberries, oh my! Nothing says summer like fresh, succulent, fresh-picked berries. This 400-acre family farm has been in operation since 1848 and should definitely be on your must-see list for the summer of 2014. Jones Family Farm is located at Route 110 and Walnut Tree Hill Road, 266 Israel Hill Road, Shelton, CT.

• Thrill seekers will love Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park in Portland: Swim, kayak, snorkel or scuba dive or explore the quarry's 100-foot freshwater depths. The old-fashioned rope swing is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.

• Feel the mist in your face with Clarke Outdoors Whitewater Rafting Tours in West Cornwall: Paddle a six or ten mile section of the Housatonic River on sometimes smooth, sometimes fast-moving water. The famous Covered Bridge in West Cornwall marks the halfway point of the whitewater rafting trip and is one of the most scenic spots along the river.

• Bask in Bayou Bay at Lake Compounce in Bristol: Crocodile Cove is Connecticut's largest waterpark. Bayou Bay is filled with thousands of gallons of refreshing water to splash in.

• Cool down in Splash Away Bay at Quassy in Middlebury: Water slides, Saturation Station and many wet and wild water park attractions await at Saturation Station.

Did we miss one of your favorites? What’s on your “Summer Bucket List?” Tell us in the comments!

Photo: Centerville Beach, Cape Cod. Credit: Wendy Mitchell