Silver Sands State Park

Due to its sandbar access to Charles Island, Silver Sands is a distinctive location that attracts treasure hunters and nature enthusiasts. The "thrice cursed island" got its name because, according to folklore, Captain Kidd hid his final loot here before cursing the place and leaving for Boston, where he was apprehended and put to death. A 19th-century resort's ruins and a chapel from a 1930s religious retreat can both be found on the island.

Many seabirds use the island as a nesting ground today. You can approach it to see the shore throughout the months of May through August, but it is a protected nature preserve and is not open to visitors during those months. The sandbar is a half-mile long, so plan appropriately and give yourself plenty of time to get back before the tide starts to come in. Visitors who want to walk out to the island should be wary of the tides, which rise swiftly and can soon become very dangerous.

There is no parking fee, and the beach itself has a three-quarter-mile wooden boardwalk. Every day from Wednesday to Sunday, lifeguards are on duty. The Residence Inn Milford features suites with full kitchens, complimentary breakfast, self-serve laundry rooms, and a pool, in addition to its other amenities.

Address: 1 Silver Sands Parkway, Milford, Connecticut

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